Chapter 182: I thought he had only one daughter

Julianna scoffed inwardly at Clara’s words.

Does this fool think I’m going to repeat the same mistake I made at the boutique? I already checked the surveillance around this place. There isn’t a single camera nearby that could capture anything.

The last time Julianna had tried to frame Clara as a thief in front of Grace, she had failed to notice the security camera installed outside the changing room. This time, however, she had made sure to inspect the area and prepare everything before putting her plan into action.

"Fine," Julianna said, crossing her arms. "Call security and have this entire area checked."

One of the staff members immediately hurried away to contact the security team.

Clara turned toward the approaching guard.

"I need you to check the surveillance footage from this area," she instructed. "I want to know who came here before Mr. Graham fell ill."

The guard pursed his lips, looking uncomfortable.

"What’s wrong?" Clara asked. "Why aren’t you saying anything?"

The man glanced at her anxiously before answering.

"Madam, I’m afraid there are no surveillance cameras installed in this area."

The moment Clara heard those words, realization struck her.

So she already knew there were no cameras here. No wonder she’s been so calm this entire time.

Clara should have known that Julianna wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. This time, she had come better prepared and had clearly considered every possible detail.

"See?" Julianna stepped forward, her voice loud and confident. "There’s nothing you can prove, Clara. Just admit that you poisoned Mr. Graham."

Her eyes flickered with satisfaction.

She dared to cross my path. Now she’ll pay for it.

Clara met her gaze. She could see straight through Julianna’s act, and that only made her more furious.

"I didn’t do anything," Clara said firmly.

There was no chance she would give Julianna the confession she was desperately trying to force out of her.

"But I can find the person who tried to frame me and create this entire mess."

The moment Clara took a step forward, maintaining her calm and unwavering gaze, Julianna’s expression faltered.

What is she talking about? Did she find Thomas?

Julianna had made certain that Thomas left the venue without being noticed. There was no way anyone could have seen her meeting him.

No. She couldn’t have seen Thomas. She’s only trying to confuse everyone.

"Stop making up stories to distract the guests, Clara," Julianna snapped. "Everyone here saw what happened to Mr. Graham. He ate your delicacies and collapsed. You’re only trying to buy yourself some time."

Julianna refused to back down. She was convinced that Clara was attempting to divert everyone’s attention, and she wasn’t going to let her escape so easily this time.

***

Meanwhile, at a table across from the gathered crowd, Grace calmly sipped her juice while Jonathan anxiously watched the confrontation unfolding before them.

"Honey, what do you think will happen now?" Jonathan asked, his eyes fixed on Clara. "Julianna is cornering her, and everyone seems to be taking her side."

He turned toward his wife and pursed his lips.

Jonathan was growing increasingly worried about how the situation would unfold. However, Grace remained remarkably calm, as though there was nothing for them to be concerned about.

"Well," Grace began, taking another slow sip of her juice.

Jonathan stared at her. "Well, what?"

Grace lowered the glass and glanced toward him.

"Do you really think Clara would stand there so calmly if she had no idea what she was doing?"

"That’s not what I’m worried about," Jonathan replied. "I know Clara isn’t guilty. But the crowd doesn’t know that. They’re already accusing her, and Julianna is making sure everyone hears her side of the story."

Grace’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Julianna can say whatever she wants. That doesn’t mean her words will become the truth."

"But what if the police arrive before Clara can prove her innocence?"

"Then they’ll investigate," Grace answered simply. "And if Clara has nothing to do with what happened, the truth will come out."

Jonathan frowned. "You’re acting as if you already know something."

Grace looked at him for a moment before turning her attention back toward the crowd.

"I don’t know everything," she admitted. "But I’ve seen Julianna try something similar before. She relies too heavily on the confidence of the people watching her."

"And you think Clara has a plan?"

"I think Clara is waiting for Julianna to make a mistake."

Jonathan glanced toward Clara again. She stood with her shoulders straight and her expression composed while Julianna continued accusing her.

After a moment, he sighed.

"I hope you’re right."

Grace lifted her glass again, her eyes remaining on the unfolding scene.

"I usually am."

***

Back among the gathered crowd, Clara studied Julianna’s expression before speaking.

"Tell me something, Julianna. Why are you so desperate to make me admit to something I didn’t do?" she asked. "Could it be because you’re the one trying to frame me?"

Her voice was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

"After all, no one saw me putting poison into the cookies. I made them myself, and I know exactly what went into them."

Julianna’s lips twitched. She stared at Clara, who responded with a faint, confident smirk.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Julianna demanded. "Why would I frame you, Clara? I’m merely stating what everyone here witnessed."

Clara nodded slowly.

"Well, not everyone witnessed it. There were hardly any people around when Mr. Graham collapsed. Most of the crowd only gathered after you started shouting about poison."

Julianna’s expression tightened.

"That doesn’t change the fact that he fell ill after eating your cookies."

"No, it doesn’t," Clara replied. "But it also doesn’t prove that I poisoned him."

Before Julianna could answer, Dorothy stepped forward, her expression filled with disapproval.

"Enough with these excuses, Clara," she said. "Why are you trying to twist the situation? Julianna is only trying to help everyone understand what happened."

Vincent stood beside her and nodded.

"She’s right. Instead of taking responsibility, you’re accusing someone who has done nothing but point out the truth."

Clara turned toward them, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"And what truth would that be, Dad?"

The moment Clara called Vincent "Dad," the people around them fell silent.

But the silence lasted only a few seconds before whispers began spreading through the crowd.

"Dad? Is Vincent Hayes her father? I thought he had only one daughter."

"I remember something about this," another guest said. "Didn’t he admit years ago that he had another daughter before Julianna?"

"So, is she the daughter he kept hidden from the public all these years?"

"What an ungrateful girl," someone else muttered. "She should be making the man who accepted her proud instead of dragging his name through the mud."

Clara heard every word being whispered around her. Not many people knew that the statement Vincent had released years ago—that Clara had been born before his marriage—was a complete lie.

He had fabricated the story to protect his reputation and prevent the media from exposing a scandal that could have damaged his business.

Meanwhile, Dorothy and Vincent both released a quiet sigh of relief. Vincent, in particular, had never expected Clara to call him "Dad" so suddenly.

Though he had brought Clara into the Hayes family, it had never been something he wanted to do. If he hadn’t been desperate to stop the media from dragging his name through the mud and damaging his business, he would never have acknowledged her.

After all, he had never truly accepted Clara—or her mother—into his life.

The only reason he had claimed Clara as his daughter was to protect his own image.

Now, however, her unexpected words had given him precisely the support he needed.

"See?" Dorothy said, looking at Clara with renewed confidence. "Even your own father knows what kind of trouble you’ve caused. Instead of bringing shame to the Hayes family, you should be apologizing."

Vincent remained silent, allowing Dorothy’s words to strengthen the impression that he stood firmly against Clara.

Clara slowly turned toward him.

For years, Vincent had hidden behind a carefully constructed lie, allowing the world to believe that she was an illegitimate child born before his marriage. He had never cared about the truth or the damage his lies had caused her.

And now, he was once again using that same false identity to turn everyone against her.

Clara’s eyes grew colder.

"If you’re so concerned about the Hayes family’s reputation," she said calmly, "perhaps you should start by telling everyone the truth."

Vincent’s expression changed the moment he heard Clara’s words.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, forcing a confused look onto his face.

Clara took a step toward him, her gaze never leaving his.

"You understand what I am talking about."

The corners of Clara’s lips curled into a faint smile as her thoughts drifted back to the moment she had rushed over and overheard a few people talking.

"That Vincent is shameless. Even after Adrian Graham rejected the project he was desperately trying to pursue, he’s still attempting to get close to him."