Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3254

"I was wrong, I was so terribly wrong! I'm sorry, Mr. Hanson! I'm sorry, ma'am!" Celia sobbed, tears and snot streaming down her face. "My son just graduated, and I put all my life savings into buying him a house. I couldn't afford to pay for the dress, so I panicked and lied. I swear I didn't mean any harm!"

Norah scoffed. "The ones you should be apologizing to are the cat you framed and its owner."

Celia raised a trembling hand and slapped herself across the cheek. "Yes, you're right. I'm sorry, Gonzalez! I'm sorry to Circe! I'm a terrible person!"

Hannah frowned deeply, reprimanding her sharply. "You foolish woman. It was just a dress. Did you honestly think I would force you to pay for it out of pocket?"

"I was so stupid!" Celia wailed, delivering another sharp slap to her own face.

Hannah turned to Simon, her expression pleading. "Simon, she made a mistake out of panic. Please, let's forgive her just this once. Everyone messes up sometimes."

Norah let out a heavy sigh. "You're certainly very forgiving toward people who make mistakes, Hannah. It's a shame you couldn't show that same grace to Gonzalez... and his cat. The double standard is staggering. If I were Gonzalez, my heart would be shattered."

Hannah's carefully cultivated image of the loving, benevolent stepmother was being systematically dismantled by Norah, and it was driving her insane. But because Norah was a Lamont heiress, Hannah couldn't show a shred of her fury. She swallowed her rage and forced a placating smile.

"You have every right to criticize me, Norah. I was overly emotional at the time and didn't investigate properly. I wrongly accused Gonzalez."

Norah shifted her gaze back to Simon. "This just goes to show how easily things get distorted by rumors and intentional sabotage. I wouldn't be surprised if every rumor about Gonzalez was just like this."

Simon's face was livid as he tore into Hannah. "You accused my son without even checking the facts! You and Yvonne cornered him so relentlessly that day. Think about how betrayed he must have felt. You're the foolish one here, not the maid!"

Yvonne bit her lip, unable to utter a single word in her defense. She kept her head down in feigned regret.

Hannah continuously murmured her apologies.

Unwilling to make a bigger scene in front of Geoffrey, Simon summoned the butler, his voice like ice. "Celia May destroyed my wife's gown and framed my son's cat. She doesn't need to pay for the damages, but you will pay out her wages for the month and escort her off the property immediately."

Realizing her fate was sealed and she had no choice but to leave, Celia didn't dare push her luck. "Thank you, ma'am," she mumbled miserably. "Take care of yourself, Mr. Hanson, Mrs. Hanson."

Hannah averted her gaze, acting as though she couldn't bear the sight of the woman a second longer.

Celia staggered to her feet and followed Randall out to settle her final wages.

Hannah looked at Simon, her face a mask of profound shame. "I honestly had no idea. If I had known, I would have gladly thrown the dress away without a second thought. I never wanted Gonzalez to be subjected to such awful treatment."

Simon was drowning in his own regret. "He was innocent all along. I'll call him right now. I'll tell him we cleared the air and ask him to move back home."

"And when he gets here, I'll apologize to him personally," Hannah added hurriedly.

Norah was momentarily stunned. She had fought to clear Gonzalez's name, but in doing so, she might have just lost her favorite neighbor.