Chapter 119

Olivia stood frozen, unable to defend herself. The video evidence could have been manipulated, but what about everything else?

With trembling hands, Olivia retrieved her phone and played a recording. This was from the day she'd swallowed her pride and begged Evelyn for mercy.

Such desperate measures were foreign to Olivia, but life had taught her harsh lessons.

As the audio played, Evelyn's sharp, commanding voice filled the room. Olivia's silent responses were lost to everyone present.

Then came the damning confession. Evelyn's voice rang clear: "I did try to push you that day. I just never expected your quick reflexes or dumb luck. But it doesn't matter now. No matter what I do, Liam will always choose me. If you'd actually fallen, no one would have cared."

Every syllable cut through the tension like a knife.

Olivia signed firmly, her gaze sweeping the room. She made it clear she'd welcome any investigation into the recording's authenticity. She was prepared to involve the police if necessary.

Victoria stood speechless. Her eyes darted between Olivia and Evelyn, the air thick with unspoken accusations.

Evelyn, pale with shock, stepped forward and struck Olivia across the face. "You scheming liar! This is all fabricated! Olivia, how could you sink this low?"

The force sent Olivia stumbling backward.

Cradling her stinging cheek, Olivia met Evelyn's glare with steely determination. Her phone's mechanical voice spoke for her: "Low? I learned from the master. If you hadn't started this game, I wouldn't have needed to play. You've only yourself to blame. Don't create secrets if you can't bear them being exposed."

Evelyn's hands shook with rage. "It's not me! The recording's fake! She must have hired someone to imitate my voice!"

Her protest died in her throat when she noticed Liam watching.

Others might doubt, but Liam knew the truth.

During the online harassment, Olivia had been in seclusion. She lacked both the time and resources to arrange such an elaborate scheme.

Moreover, Liam already possessed evidence proving Evelyn's fall had been staged.

Yet Evelyn refused to surrender. She'd sacrificed too much to destroy Olivia, only to have the tables turned so spectacularly.

With Olivia's innocence irrefutably established, Evelyn's desperate excuses fell on deaf ears.

Comparing the recording to the video made the truth undeniable: Evelyn had attempted to push Olivia but lost her balance instead.

Even with the facts laid bare, no apologies came Olivia's way.

To these people, Olivia remained just a mute nobody - insignificant without the Blackwood name. And with her strained relationship with Liam, most assumed he'd side with Evelyn.

Someone attempted to smooth things over with forced cheer. "Alright, let's all calm down. Clearly this was just a misunderstanding. Miss Hartley must have simply tripped, making it appear Mrs. Blackwood pushed her. Now that we know the truth, perhaps Miss Hartley should apologize. No harm done, right?"

Evelyn, visibly agitated, pointed to her forehead. "I'm the injured party here! She's perfectly fine while I'm hurt! Why should I apologize?"

The peacemaker persisted, "You make a fair point, Miss Hartley. You've suffered enough. Let's just move past this."

Olivia watched the exchange with bitter amusement. Was she expected to endure bullying simply because she appeared vulnerable? When the truth was unclear, everyone had been quick to condemn her, using the confusion as an excuse to unleash their cruelty.

Now that her innocence was proven, they expected her to quietly accept this injustice.

But Olivia refused to comply.

Before she could respond, a clear female voice cut through. "Easy for you to say. Imagine enduring what Olivia has. Cyberbullying, public humiliation, constant judgment. Could you remain so forgiving?"

Olivia turned in surprise. Victoria's defense was unexpected.

Evelyn looked equally shocked, stamping her foot in frustration. "Victoria! Whose side are you on? I thought we were friends! Has this little witch deceived you too?"

Victoria avoided Evelyn's gaze, her expression cold. "I stand with the truth. You claimed Olivia tormented you, making me disrupt my own birthday celebration to support you. Yet she's the victim here. If you hate her, fine, but you manipulated me against her. Is that how you treat friends?"

Evelyn faltered, guilt flashing in her eyes. "Victoria, you're my friend. Remember when I protected you from those harassers? Have you forgotten?"

Victoria hesitated, then straightened. She produced two invitations. "You accused Olivia of using fake invitations to crash this event. But her husband? Why would he need to? I entrusted all three invitations to you, never imagining you'd alter them to exclude Olivia and her husband. This was supposed to be my celebration. A true friend wouldn't have created this chaos today."

"You--!" Evelyn gasped, feeling the walls closing in.

Since her disfigurement, Evelyn had grown painfully sensitive. The weight of everyone's stares crushed her. Were they mocking her? Judging her? She couldn't possibly be at fault. The fault lay with Olivia.

As whispers spread, Evelyn's complexion turned ashen. She swayed, then collapsed to the floor.

Gasps filled the room. Despite everything, Victoria immediately called for help, directing someone to take Evelyn to the hospital.

Olivia spotted Liam among those rushing to Evelyn's side. She wondered if he'd resent her for publicly shaming Evelyn, then realized it no longer mattered. She'd cleared her name. Soon, she'd be free from living under the same roof as Liam.

But first, there was something far more urgent she needed to address.