She Turned Her Grief Into Wings novel Chapter 65

"If the people backing Rosalie can rig a major competition, it means they have serious power. If she gets exposed right after my scandal dies down, people will inevitably think I orchestrated it. I'm on my own now, and Evegrace is just getting off the ground. I can't afford to make powerful enemies recklessly."

"The evidence isn't solid enough. Even if I win, it would be by a hair. If I lose, I lose everything."

Furthermore, she planned to visit Felipa Pembroke soon. Without knowing the full extent of Rosalie's relationship with the master, making a blind move was too dangerous.

She couldn't burn her bridges just to satisfy a momentary urge for revenge.

"So you're just going to let them get away with it? Are you kidding me? They almost ruined your life! Forget it, stay out of this. I'll find someone to expose them. You think I'm scared of Helga Sutton?"

Yara had been carrying a heavy load of guilt ever since she had lied to Shera. Now that she finally had a chance to help, she was desperate to prove her loyalty, making her understandably agitated.

Seeing Yara practically bouncing off the walls, Shera quickly grabbed her arm to steady her.

"Bestie, calm down. I refuse to drag you into this mess. Your relationship with your family is strained enough; don't make it worse."

"So what? We just let the guilty walk free?"

Shera glanced at the official announcement on her screen. "Don't we still have the great Mr. Hayes? With him involved, I won't even need to lift a finger."

"Caden? You're saying he's going to handle this for you?"

Shera corrected her. "Not for me. For himself."

Knowing Caden, the realization that he had been played like a fool would infuriate him. He would rip the situation apart until he found the truth.

If there was one thing that man hated, it was being used as someone else's weapon.

Investigating Rosalie would lead straight to Helga.

Even if he spared Helga, he wouldn't let Rosalie slide.

One way or another, there was going to be hell to pay.

[To ensure fairness and transparency, the committee has decided to introduce a public voting mechanism for the finals. The judges' scores will account for 50%, and public online voting will account for the remaining 50%.]

When Shera saw the trending news, she wasn't surprised by Rosalie's apology or the committee's decision. Everything was playing out exactly as expected.

——

By eight-thirty on Monday morning, Shera was already sitting on the steps of City Hall.

The office didn't open until nine. She was early.

She had experienced a rare bout of insomnia the night before. Tossing and turning, her mind replayed her first meeting with Caden, the day they signed the papers, and their wedding.

She didn't even know when she had fallen in love with him.

Was it when they exchanged rings at the altar? When he gently fed her medicine while she had a fever? Or when he stood up for her in front of the entire Hayes family...