Vivia Fuller felt her body tremble involuntarily, her gaze fixed intensely on Hope Williams.
The collision of their stares; Hope was calm and composed, Vivia burning with hatred.
"Don’t panic, she doesn’t have any proof, but be careful, she’s too smart and will try to trick you," Henry Fuller whispered a warning to Vivia, gently pushing her forward.
Biting her teeth, Vivia nodded, her eyes locked on Hope as she walked forward with her head held high and her chest puffed out.
She kept reminding herself in her heart that she was not the one who was wrong. Hope was the one without any evidence. Hope was just bluffing, and today, she would be the only winner.
As she thought, Vivia walked onto the stage with a fragile and pitiful expression already across her face.
Whether intentional or not, Vivia only wore a white knit dress today. Its body-hugging design further accentuated her slender figure, adding a sense of vulnerability in the winter day.
Her eyes brimming with tears, she looked at Hope, her pale lips quivering weakly, "Hope, what more do you want? Isn’t it enough? I am already in this state, and you still won’t let me go? Do you really have to push me to my death before you’re satisfied?"
Now, everyone’s gaze was focused on the two women on stage, one strong and dominant, the other soft and pitiful—a stark contrast. People often sympathize with the weaker party, and without a doubt, everyone felt sympathy and compassion for Vivia at this moment.
Vivia, with her head bowed silently wiping tears, further incited the protective instincts of many men present.
Hope raised her chin towards Vivia, "Miss Fuller, during your hospital stay, did I physically assault you, encourage you to jump off the building, and also, are the injuries on your hands caused by me? Is that the case?"
Vivia couldn’t understand why Hope was asking this, and she frowned at her.
Vivia gritted her teeth, not knowing what Hope was getting at, but still, she nodded firmly, "Yes, you did all these things to me."
Vivia felt uneasy under Hope’s calm gaze, "I am sure. Why do you ask that? The facts are right in front of us, and you did it yourself. You know very well whether it’s true or false."
"Of course, I know it’s false. I haven’t done these things—when did they become real? Besides, I also know that you’ve always been normal, you’ve never been insane!"
As Hope finished, not only was Vivia shocked, but the audience also couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.
"How could that be? Is she talking nonsense? Is Miss Fuller faking insanity?"
"Impossible, the hospital has proof. What is this woman talking about? Knowing that she’s bound to be charged this time, is she starting to lash out at others?"
"Exactly, to say someone is faking insanity is ridiculous."
"Does she dare make such a statement without any evidence?"
Vivia’s face suddenly paled, and her eyes darted about in panic.
"Hope, what nonsense are you spouting? I fell down the stairs trying to save your child, and I was deemed insane by the doctors after I hit my head. I ended up trying to save your child, and now you’re still framing me; it’s truly disheartening," Vivia said with a pained expression.
The audience became even more indignant, demanding that Hope provide evidence or else stop slandering people.
Hope remained as calm as before, "Well then, since you put it that way, let’s listen to a recording first."
Vivia’s already pale face turned even whiter, and she looked at Henry Fuller for help.
Henry glared at her, and Vivia, in her fluster, braced herself to calm down.
Soon, a clear recording was played for everyone to hear.
First, it was Vivia’s screaming voice, "Hope, was it you?"
Hope, "What are you talking about?"
Vivia, "Did you send that email? What does your recording mean? Twenty million, are you crazy about money? That’s blackmail, I could sue you."
Hope, "What twenty million? What blackmail? Miss Fuller, why are you so anxious..."
Vivia, "Do you think you can turn defeat into victory just with Jaxon Bailey’s testimony? Dream on. If you’re so capable, then release it, let everybody know that Jaxon Bailey was hired by us. Isn’t Hope usually very smart? How can you be so foolish now, you’re definitely going to lose."
Hope, "Blackmail? Jaxon Bailey? Miss Fuller, what are you talking about? I don’t understand. Also, Jaxon Bailey was hired by you? I didn’t know, but thank you for telling me."
Vivia, "Wait and see, Hope. I’m waiting for you to be ruined, and the Lewis Family won’t get away with it either."
The whole venue was in an uproar.
"What’s this situation now?"
"Yeah, that’s Miss Fuller’s voice in there—so normal-sounding, not the slightest bit insane."
"Indeed, it’s completely the tone of a normal person. Wasn’t she supposed to be insane? How could this be?"
"She couldn’t possibly have been pretending to be insane..."
"It’s not like that," Vivia shouted.
At that moment, Henry Fuller stepped forward, took the microphone, and addressed everyone, "Firstly, this recording is real, so I’m very sorry, Young Madam Lewis."
Vivia looked at Henry Fuller in shock, biting her teeth and whispering, "Are you crazy, what are you doing?"