The Rejected Principessa Returns novel Chapter 95

Chapter 11

Julian was naturally on the guest list for the annual Army-Navy Gala.

I had been determined not to attend, but I couldn’t withstand his persistent wheedling over the past few days.

“Darling,” he leaned close to my ear, his voice lowered, feigning hurt, “You’d really abandon me to handle that

kind of crowd alone?”

When I turned away, ignoring him, he pressed closer, his eyelashes fluttering, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Besides… are you really that confident? A man with my looks… what if some Senator’s daughter sets her

sights on me? I might not be able to fight her off.”

His act made me crack a smile, and I playfully reached to pinch the soft part of his waist.

In the end, I gave in and attended the gala with him.

The moment we stepped into the banquet hall, eyes from all directions converged on us like shadows.

Hushed whispers floated in the air,

“Did you hear? General Caldwell’s daughter, the one who drew a name in a fit of pique at her debutante ball

and picked some wheelchair-bound veteran, turns out he’s General Shaw from SOUTHCOM!”

eally! Rumor has it the higher-ups wanted to set him up with Senator Davis’s granddaughter, but he publicly

eclared he’d only marry Miss Caldwell! He even went through with a full procession to fetch her from her

home, just like a scene from a romantic drama!”

Someone in a corner chimed in sourly, “And just like that, she becomes a General’s wife? Let’s be real,

General Shaw’s power base is in the South. Does a wedding held here even count?”

I subconsciously tightened my fingers, clutching Julian’s sleeve.

As if sensing my slight unease, his warm hand immediately covered mine, giving it a gentle, reassuring

squeeze.

The gala was in full swing when the banquet hall doors were thrown open abruptly.

“General! It’s terrible! The Clark family’s grandson has fallen into the lake in the back garden!”

The entire hall fell silent instantly. The General at the head table stood up abruptly, and everyone followed

the guard rushing toward the hotel’s rear garden.

Just past the arched gateway, we saw a crowd gathered by the lake.

Drawing closer, we found Isabella and James being restrained by two security personnel, their arms pinned

behind their backs.

“What happened?” the General asked sternly.

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The head of security immediately stepped forward to report.

“General, these two were the only ones present in the western part of the garden when the incident occurred. We apprehended them immediately upon our arrival.”

Before he finished, a nanny rushed out from behind the crowd, crying and pointing at Isabella.

“It was her! The young master was playing with his drone by the lake and accidentally bumped into this young lady. The child was about to apologize when she just shoved him into the water!”

Isabella trembled all over, her face instantly turning ashen.

She frantically scanned the crowd, her gaze finally locking onto James, and she screamed with a tearful

voice,

“It was my brother! My brother pushed him because the kid was in the way! I couldn’t stop him!”

“What did you say?” James’s head jerked up. His restrained body struggled violently as he stared at her in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock and betrayal.

“Isabella! You’re lying! It was clearly you…”

“James!” Isabella cut him off sharply, tears streaming down her face. “It was you! You just said this child had

no manners and was in your way! How can you deny it now?”

James looked at her distorted expression, his mouth opening and closing without a sound.

He closed his eyes and said in a low voice, “It wasn’t me. I ran over when I heard the cries for help.”

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