Chapter 396: Where Is Your Conscience
Fiona Vaughn walked gracefully, her high heels clicking as she stopped in front of Cecilia Vaughn, her face showing a gentle facade that barely concealed her smugness.
"Sister, I’m doing this for your own good. It seems like all the women here have men supporting them. At the very least, they’ve had a heart lit up for them. You wouldn’t want to be at the bottom of the list, completely bare with not even one Flower Protector, would you?"
Cecilia Vaughn slowly raised her head, a cold smirk played on her lips, her eyes chill enough to startle.
"Fiona, do you really enjoy putting others down so much?"
Fiona covered her mouth as if wounded, tears welling up, as if Cecilia’s words might make her cry at any moment.
"Sister, how can you say that about me? I was genuinely thinking of you."
The Cupid’s Night competition was already at a fever pitch. Tyson Law was placing his bids, but his competitors were numerous, relentlessly keeping up with him.
The charity auction was already nearing the thirty million mark, and Tyson contemplated that, just like last year, the bids would continue fiercely. Noticing Fiona’s absence, he hurried over.
"Fiona, you’re pregnant. Why are you here, clashing with Cecilia?"
Tyson quickly extended a hand to support Fiona, his eyes full of concern.
Fiona leaned into Tyson like a boneless beauty, her voice soft and weak.
"Tyson, don’t you think it’s a bit unseemly that no one has placed a bid for Cecilia? No matter what, she’s the closest person to the two of us. Tyson, why don’t you light a heart for Cecilia?"
"Fiona, are you crazy? I’m your husband. If I bid for another woman, what would the media say?"
Tyson looked at Fiona in shock, then turned a rather angry gaze to Cecilia.
"Is this your idea, Cecilia? I’m warning you, it’s bad enough that you contribute nothing at the charity banquet, and the media is already buzzing, saying you’re here just to walk the red carpet. It’s not enough for you to embarrass yourself, and now you want to drag me and Fiona into it too?"
The crowd had already been watching, and could sense the thick tension among the three—Cecilia, Fiona, and Tyson.
A first love versus a married couple, with Tyson being Cecilia’s brother-in-law—such a tangled web!
...
Seeing how Tyson defended Fiona, Cecilia’s face broke into a faint smile.
"Why don’t you ask your good wife whose idea was this horrible suggestion?"
Cecilia knew Fiona’s proposal for Tyson to light a heart was solely to disgust her, utterly impractical, yet it genuinely nauseated Cecilia.
Fiona’s expression turned pale, but she quickly bit her lip and stepped forward with a look of feigned innocence.
"Sister, the idea was indeed mine. I just hoped... when the results come out, it won’t be too embarrassing for you."
Tyson compassionately held Fiona’s hand, his voice tight with concern.
"Fiona... why are you so foolish? Can’t you see she doesn’t appreciate it?"
"Tyson, I’m fine. This is our debt to Cecilia. I know she still resents me, even though mom was jailed, but Cecilia won’t be satisfied... sob..."
Fiona’s tears fell unbidden, large drops soon welling in her misty eyes, starting to fall.
Reaching out, she pitifully wiped away her tears, then approached, trying to win the crowd’s sympathy.
"Sister, I beg you, please forgive me. I’m even willing to let Tyson win the title for you, as compensation for all these years..."
Cecilia heard Fiona’s incredibly shameless words and could only laugh in anger.
Compensate her?
If she were truly compensated, Fiona would have been in prison long ago.
Oh, she forgot Fiona now had the pregnancy as a get-out-of-jail-free card. It didn’t matter whether the child existed or not; Fiona would never admit her guilt.
A woman capable of letting her mother take the fall and go to prison, could you really expect her to have a conscience?
...
Cecilia looked coldly, lifting her eyelids slightly, scrutinizing the pair like jesters.
"Fiona, I’m not interested in some Cupid’s Night title. If you really want to put me on that throne, why not stick to last year’s standard and just wire fifty million to my account."
"..."
Fiona’s expression changed immediately.
She gave an awkward smile.
"Sister, I know you’re joking. You’re not someone who covets money."
Tyson, even more incredulously, looked at Cecilia.
"Cecilia, have you lost it? You actually want to extort fifty million from me and Fiona? I’m telling you, not a single penny!"
"I’m disgusted that for so many years, I didn’t realize you were a woman obsessed with money, reeking of greed! No wonder you dared not contribute a cent at the charity banquet!"
Cecilia scoffed, curling her lips slightly.
"Please, wasn’t it Fiona who suggested crowning me? Compared to a hollow title, having cash in hand is better."
Fiona: "..."
Tyson: "..."
The onlookers were also shocked by Cecilia’s words.
Though everyone loves money, was such honesty really commendable?
"Isn’t the Eldest Miss Vaughn the real-life Scrooge? She truly reeks of money!"
"Gold digger! Disgusting! Never seen someone so rich yet so cunning."
However, some timidly voiced agreement.
"Am I the only one who finds the Eldest Miss Vaughn refreshingly candid?"
"Actually, many here vying for Cupid’s title are just seeking fame. Miss Vaughn admitting she prefers money is rather charming."
"Charming, my foot. If she’s not willing to help those poor kids with her wealth, she shouldn’t attend the charity banquet at all!"
...
As the crowd debated, Fiona deemed her act sufficient, and with tears flowing, she leaned forward softly, trying to grab Cecilia’s sleeve.
"Sister, don’t be so cold. I know you’re kind at heart..."
As Fiona’s hand threatened to grab her, Cecilia swiftly stood, avoiding her like a repulsive virus, ensuring there was no contact between them.
"Stay away from me!"
Almost simultaneously, Fiona clutched her abdomen, as if pushed by Cecilia’s hand, crying out in pain.
"Ah, my stomach... it hurts, sister, why do you treat me this way?"