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Novel Catalog
Chapter_76
The room fell into stunned silence as Lauren’s words reverberated through the air. The revelation was like a bombshell, shattering the carefully constructed narrative that had been built around Alyssa. Jasper’s expression shifted from skepticism to shock as the weight of Lauren’s words sank in. His gaze softened as he looked at the trembling girl, her eyes filled with fear yet resolute in her attempt to speak the truth.
Liana’s face drained of color, her lips parted in disbelief. She had been so sure of her plan, so certain that no one could counter the lies she had fed everyone. But now, it all crumbled.
“Lauren…” Alyssa whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She had always known Lauren’s gentle nature, but seeing her stand up like this, despite her shy and introverted tendencies, touched Alyssa deeply. She wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but the weight of the moment held her back.
Jasper’s eyes moved from Lauren to Liana, his expression hardening. His initial frustration, his irritation at Alyssa’s lack of apology, now seemed misplaced, even childish. His focus shifted entirely, his attention zeroing in on the truth that had been revealed.
“Jasper, this isn’t true!” Liana’s voice trembled, but the desperation in her tone was clear. She had been caught in a lie, and she knew it. The truth was no longer on her side, but she still fought to retain control.
Jasper remained silent for a moment, processing what he had just heard. The pieces were beginning to fall into place, but there was still a part of him that resisted fully accepting Lauren’s account. Yet, the conviction in the young girl’s voice, the sincerity that radiated from her despite her obvious fear, made it harder to ignore.
Betty, who had been standing by with a smug expression, was the first to recover, though her face now twisted in fury. “That’s nonsense! How could you believe her? She’s just a little girl!” she spat, trying to salvage the situation. But the anger in her voice only served to reveal her guilt.
Sophia, too, was flustered. Her usually composed demeanor was now slipping as she tried to regain control of the narrative. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered, glancing around, as if searching for something—someone—to back her up. But no one came to her defense.
Landon, who had been watching quietly up until now, let out a small sigh of relief. He had seen the truth unfold in front of his eyes, and for once, he felt that the right side was winning.
“Alice,” Jasper finally spoke, his voice low and strained. His gaze shifted back to Alyssa, the pain of their past still evident in his eyes, but now mixed with something else—a quiet realization. “I… I’m sorry. I should have believed you.”
Alyssa blinked, taken aback by the sincerity in his apology. She had never expected this moment to come, not after everything that had happened between them. For a second, she could hardly bring herself to respond, but the raw honesty in his voice made her heart ache.
“It’s not just about believing me, Jasper,” Alyssa replied softly, her voice steady but filled with emotion. “It’s about understanding the truth, even when it’s hard to see.”
Lauren, still standing nervously by Jasper, looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “I swear, it wasn’t Alice. She didn’t do it,” she repeated, her voice quivering. “It was Ms. Gardner. I saw it.”
The confirmation from Lauren was all it took to turn the tide. The room was heavy with the weight of the truth now exposed. Liana’s facade of innocence had been ripped away, leaving her exposed and vulnerable.
Jasper’s eyes darkened as he turned his attention back to Liana, his jaw tightening. “You lied to me. To everyone,” he said, his voice a mixture of anger and betrayal. “Why?”
Liana took a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she struggled to hold herself together. “I… I didn’t mean for it to go this far,” she said, her voice wavering. “I just… I just wanted things to be how they were before.”
But the damage was already done. The truth had come to light, and there was no escaping it.
Alyssa looked at her, her gaze filled with quiet resolve. “Liana, your actions have consequences. Don’t think you can hide behind lies forever.”
The room remained tense, the silence pressing down on them all, but for the first time, Alyssa felt a glimmer of peace. The truth had been revealed, and it was no longer up for debate.
As the storm of emotions settled, she took a step forward, her heart still heavy but lighter than before. For the first time in a long time, she felt as though she was standing on solid ground, surrounded by the people who had chosen to see the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it was.
And though the road ahead would be long and fraught with challenges, Alyssa knew that at least, for now, the truth was on her side.