Chapter 34
Claim
Chapter 34 Settling the Score
Gwen’s retort rendered Jake speechless. He had always sided with Caitlin and Sarah. Not once did he ever ask for Gwen’s side of the story. Was that one of the reasons she insisted they divorced?
Guilt, true and bitter, coursed through him as he considered the possibility of this. He turned to Caitlin and ground out, “Apologize to her.”
However, Caitlin adamantly kept quiet. She would not apologize. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“I doubt that a simple apology could erase the hurt and betrayal Gwen went through in her three years of marriage,” Henry interjected as he came to a stop next to Gwen.
Rage rolled off him as he surveyed the Hall family with a grimace. These were the people who had hurt his sister, and it took every bit of his self–control not to snarl at them.
He shot a menacing look at Sienna and said, “I took the liberty of looking into the article that tarnished my company’s reputation. I know who had that article written and published.”
Sienna nearly balked under his intimidating gaze. She clutched her dress to keep herself from shaking, repeatedly telling herself that Henry was only bluffing.
There was no way her tracks had been discovered. She had sent in those pictures of Gwen anonymously, taking care to cover up her identity.
“The article has twisted the narrative and made slanderous claims against a member of Savant Group’s executive management. It has seriously impacted Savant Group’s image on the internet.
“The police are on their way, and I’d appreciate it if you could go with them once they arrive to assist in their investigation, Ms. Charles,” Henry continued.
The blood drained from Sienna’s face when she heard this. Her heart leaped to her throat as she backed away. Upon meeting Jake’s questioning gaze, she shook her head vehemently.
Tears streamed down her cheek as she pleaded, “Jake, you have to believe me. I would never do something like this!” Jake pulled her behind him and shot Henry a frigid look. “Has there been a mistake, Mr. Lawson?”
“Mistake? Please. The both of them are only trying to pin the blame on Sienna! Look at that sweet, delicate woman. Does she look like she’s capable of scheming against you?” Caitlin piped up from behind Sarah.
She stepped forward to defend Sienna. “She’s pregnant. If she suffers a miscarriage because of the shock you put her through, can we hold you accountable for it?”
Gwen scoffed. “Why don’t you go with her to the police station if you’re going to defend her so avidly?”
Caitlin fumed at the words. “What are you trying to say?”
“Did you forget what you did? I’ve yet to settle the score with you after you smashed up my boutique the other day.” “H–How did you know it was me?” Caitlin gaped at her.
After Gwen had humiliated her at the boutique, she could not live down the shame and had a couple of hooligans smash up the store.
Caitlin hadn’t heard from Gwen after that and thought she had gotten away with the incident. She had luxuriated in her triumph, never once expecting such ruthless payback
“I’ve tracked down the hooligans you hired, and the police got a confession out of them,” Gwen drawled as if it were a simple feat.
She looked up and fixed a dark look at the figures before her. “You damaged my property, made slanderous claims against me, and tried to settle an old grudge… How shall I tally my losses and settle the score with you?”
Caitlin’s knees buckled at the threat in Gwen’s words. She didn’t know what to do. She was the mastermind of all the crimes Gwen had listed out, and the police were sure to take her away once they showed up.
She clutched Jake’s arm and begged, “Jake, help me! I don’t want to go to prison!”
Sienna inched closer to him and folded herself into his embrace. She still insisted on her innocence. “Jake, I didn’t do anything, I swear!”
Anger crested like a tidal wave within Jake. He would have snarled at Caitlin and called her a damned fool, but he resisted the urge to do so after taking a deep breath. She was still his sister, after all.
“Ms. Lawson, let us settle the matter privately. Caitlin didn’t know any better,” he said.