When the Fake Heiress Ate Her Words

Claire sighed and reached for my hand.

"This wasn't your fault at first, but Amanda, how could you be so foolish? Why did you keep getting involved with them?

"The first time was forced, but later… how could you keep meeting up with them voluntarily? The neighbors near the alley all said that every few days, they'd see those men going in and out of your place half-naked."

She stopped talking at just the right moment and lowered her head, as if she couldn't bear to say more.

"Outrageous! How can you be so shameless!" Dad roared, his face flushed an angry red.

Mom clutched at her chest and pointed a trembling finger at me in despair. "Amanda, tell me this isn't true."

"Amanda, you have no sense of shame!" Ethan glared at me furiously. "The Hartley family doesn't have room for someone like you. Get out of this house right now!"

I looked at their twisted expressions and suddenly found the whole situation absurd. I'd never done any of this, but even if it had really happened, shouldn't my own family be concerned that I'd been violated?

"Amanda, even though… even though you've been reckless, I believe you won't continue down this path." Claire looked at me pleadingly. "As long as you're willing to admit your mistakes and cut ties with those men, Mom and Dad will definitely forgive you."

I laughed lightly and looked at her calmly. "I don't know any thugs. Why would I apologize? Besides, Claire, didn't I just tell you? Lies have consequences."

"Amanda, why do you keep saying that?" Claire forced out a few tears, her performance flawless. Her hand trembled as she pulled out her phone and thrust the screen in front of everyone. "If I'm lying, then how do you explain these photos?"

In the photos, I wore revealing clothes and lay suggestively among several men. As if that wasn't damning enough, she swiped to another photo of me holding a baby.

Mom and Dad looked livid.

"Those photos are fake," I replied. I then reminded Claire once more. "I'm telling you again. Lies have consequences."

"I'm not lying! I—"

"Fine," I cut her off calmly. "Just don't regret it later."

With the rebound system in place, I had nothing to lose. Her words would come back to haunt her. Claire could wait for her own actions to come back and bite her.

Seeing how unconcerned I was only made Mom, Dad, and Ethan angrier.

"Amanda, it's good that you're willing to admit it." A smug smile tugged at Claire's lips as she offered fake comfort. "Mom, Dad, don't be angry anymore. Amanda just made a mistake."

Mom pulled her into a warm embrace. "Claire, you're so understanding. You're not feeling well, so your dad and I won't bother you anymore. Get some rest. If you still feel sick, I'll take you to see a doctor tomorrow."

With that, they reluctantly closed her bedroom door. The looks they gave me were full of contempt.

I didn't care in the slightest. My smile widened.

The next morning, I slept soundly until dawn. Suddenly, a roar shattered the quiet.

"Claire! What happened?"

"Who did this? Who the hell did this?"