Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 550

Susanna's face instantly drained of color, her breathing turning erratic. She looked at Clayton in panic. "Clayton... don't, don't listen to her nonsense! I have no idea why she's suddenly trying to frame me like this. I really am the little girl from the orphanage. You've already investigated it yourself, haven't you?"

Susanna's face was etched with sheer terror, desperate that Clayton might actually believe Jade.

Clayton's expression remained stoic, his eyes betraying almost no emotion. Once Susanna finished stammering, he gave a slow nod, his voice surprisingly gentle, almost soothing. "Ignore her. She's been a liar since she was a little girl."

Jade's footsteps faltered. In a flash, her eyes swam with unshed tears. She spun around, glaring at Clayton with fierce indignation. "Believe whatever the hell you want!"

She's been a liar since she was a little girl...

Clayton's words felt like a serrated blade driving straight into the most fragile, bleeding part of her heart.

It hurt so much because he was telling the truth.

She was a liar. She was consumed by jealousy. Growing up, she had pulled every trick in the book just to get her grandfather to love her...

She had been a liar her whole life. Everything about her was built on deceit.

But this time... this time she wasn't lying.

Sniffling hard, Jade didn't bother trying to explain herself further. She walked out.

Every ounce of her pride had shattered the moment she dropped to the floor and begged Clayton the night before. Yet even now, that tiny, pathetic sliver of remaining dignity made her tremble uncontrollably.

She forced the tears back the entire way to the front gate.

But when she finally glanced back to see Clayton's butler pulling the heavy doors shut, and Susanna standing there flashing a vicious, triumphant smirk, she broke. The tears cascaded down her face.

It was probably because she had lied so much growing up that even when she finally told the truth, Clayton didn't believe her.

Turning away, Jade had no idea where to go. If Brandon found her, he would subject her to a fate worse than death.

She had outlived her usefulness, and she knew far too many secrets belonging to Brandon and the Gentleman. They would never let her walk away without bleeding her dry and silencing her for good.

Back in the dining room, Clayton ate his breakfast in total silence.

Hanging up, Natalia immediately forwarded the update to the Gentleman. Jade had flipped and warned Clayton. This meant there was a massive risk she might expose the Gentleman's secrets next.

There was absolutely no way the Gentleman or Brandon would let Jade live now.

Natalia and Jade had never gotten along to begin with. If they hadn't both been working for the Gentleman, they would have clawed each other's eyes out over Clayton years ago.

Both women had been deeply infatuated with him since childhood. Jade was just prouder—she loved him but utterly refused to admit it.

...

White Corporation, Seaview City branch.

Alicia had barely stepped into her office when Felix walked in. "Jade is downstairs. She says she needs to see you."

Alicia paused, glancing at the time.

Jade... showing up at this hour. This didn't look like a casual visit to stir up trouble.