The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 29

With that, Jocelyn took out her phone and opened the voice recording app.

Soon, Claire's voice filled the room.

A perfect recreation of their earlier conversation.

After it finished playing, Jocelyn put her phone away, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Did everyone hear that? Is that enough proof for you?"

No one had expected Jocelyn to be recording. For a moment, they were all stunned into silence.

Michelle was the first to find her voice, though it was strained. "Jocelyn! What is the meaning of this! Did you deliberately set a trap to make a fool of us?"

Jocelyn let out a cold laugh. "See? Even when I present the evidence, you still find a way to accuse me. I guess no good deed goes unpunished in this house."

Michelle snapped, "Don't you get all literary with me. I think you did it on purpose! You deliberately provoked Claire into saying those things, recorded it, and then lured us all out here just to watch us make fools of ourselves!"

"Make fools of yourselves?"

Jocelyn's smile was unreadable.

"Mom, I've been a part of the Lowell family for three years, and this is the first time I've heard you assess a situation so objectively."

"You're right. You have made fools of yourselves."

"You!"

Michelle nearly lunged at her, but a look from Eleanor stopped her.

Eleanor knew she had been tricked. She was furious, but she knew she couldn't show it.

To lose her temper now would only make the Lowell family look tyrannical and unreasonable.

Having lived decades longer than Michelle, Eleanor was much better at hiding her anger.

"It seems this incident was indeed started by Claire."

Eleanor's expression changed, suddenly becoming much more grandmotherly.

"Jocelyn, dear, Claire is still young and doesn't know any better. Don't hold it against her."

Then, she turned to Claire. "Claire, apologize to Jocelyn right now."

There was no way Claire was going to bow her head to someone she despised.

Eleanor knew she was cornered.

If she didn't punish Claire, she would lose all authority in front of Jocelyn.

She never imagined her eldest granddaughter-in-law was so formidable.

She had truly underestimated her.

Eleanor steeled herself. "Claire, go kneel in the courtyard."

Claire stomped her foot. "Grandma! I don't want to!"

Eleanor's voice was firm. "Go now! You made a mistake, and you must be punished!"

Claire's eyes filled with tears. "Mom!"

Michelle wanted to say something, but she knew better than to interfere and kept her mouth shut.

Eleanor had spoken. What could she do?

Claire pinned her last hope on Adrian.