The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 73

Catherine knew she couldn’t just stay silent. That would basically be admitting she was guilty.

She kept her eyes on Lance, her voice trembling with a sadness she could barely hold back.

“I have no reason to betray SilverLeaf Industries. Or you.”

Adelina let out a laugh and stood up abruptly. “I gave you a chance to explain. I don’t want to hear your excuses.”

Catherine ignored her, not sparing Adelina even a glance. She only looked at Lance.

Even though she felt completely defeated, a tiny spark of hope still flickered inside her. Maybe, just maybe, Lance would believe her.

If he did, it wouldn’t matter what the rest of the board thought. She wouldn’t have to wear the label of traitor.

“Lance.”

Adelina noticed Catherine staring at him and quickly grabbed his arm. “You said you’d be fair. The proof is right here. What else does she need to say?”

Lance’s jaw was tight. He glanced at Catherine, his eyes deep and hard to read.

“So that’s why you sound so sure of yourself, Catherine. Now that Gavin’s on your side,” he said.

Catherine felt her heart drop. That sounded like a verdict, not a question.

On the table, messy piles of photos showed her with Gavin, frame after frame, like everything was already decided.

“I agree with Ladd. We can’t just let her go. She should be fired and face legal consequences,” Adelina pressed, eager to make her pay. “Lance, call legal right now…”

Catherine couldn’t breathe for a second. She bit her lip, watching Lance, searching for any sign that he might defend her.

Lance checked his watch, his brow furrowing, as if he was waiting for something.

A heavy knock sounded on the meeting room door, breaking through the tension in the air.

Aaron came in.

“Lance, Gavin is here.”

“Wow. You’re ready to blame Catherine just because of a few photos? That’s pretty quick, even for SilverLeaf Industries.”

He picked out a few where he and Catherine looked especially close, then tucked them into his pocket.

“I’m keeping these. Maybe I’ll get them framed for my place.”

He glanced at Lance, watching for a reaction.

Lance rubbed his wrist, his face so dark it was almost stormy. “Get to the point.”

Gavin grinned, holding up one of the photos. “This one? Catherine was visiting me in the hospital for Lance. Someone must’ve snapped it without us noticing.”

He picked up another. “Here, Catherine wasn’t feeling well, so she went for a check-up. We just happened to bump into each other.”

“And this one,” he said, pausing, “was when I picked Catherine up from work outside the building. That sealed envelope she gave me had… something special in it…”

He let the sentence hang, his eyes sliding from the board members back to Lance.