Chapter 195 Corrine Was Up To Something


    Corrine''s smile sharpened with sarcasm as Farris kept his silence. "It seems you''ve already decided, haven''t you? You''re ready to sacrifice me to protect the Ashton family''s wealth and prestige. Why keep up this act in front of me? Do you expect me to just take the me, or hope I''ll still care about the Ashton family after everything?"


    "Corrine..." Farris, visibly shaken by her directness, turned pale and stared nkly at


    her.


    "Are you really expecting both thanks from me and praise from the public? Isn''t that asking for too much?"


    The impact of her words seemed to physically stagger Farris.


    He held his cane for support, his voice strained and hoarse as he responded, "Corrine, I realize you have reasons to be angry with me, but try to see it from my perspective. Thispany represents the legacy of the Ashton family. I can''t stand by and let it


    crumble."


    "Is your solution to use me as a pawn for the Ashton family?" Corrine''s gaze pierced. Farris with evident disdain.


    Farris held his cane tighter, pausing to choose his words carefully. "My dear, I know the Ashton family have mistreated you..."


    "You don''t know the half of how your family has wronged me," Corrine responded.


    sharply.


    1


    Her respect for him was gone, reced by a distant, cold gaze. "Don''t worry. I came ready for this."


    After giving Farris and Tracy a meaningful nce, Corrine turned and strode toward the stage without looking back.


    When she saw Corrine''s subtle smile, Tracy''s eyebrows knitted together in worry, sensing that Corrine was plotting something.


    Bruce stood on stage, recounting Ashton Group''s beginnings and growth to the guests,ying out its bold ns for the future.


    As the crowd erupted in apuse, Bruce stepped off the stage, following the event''s


    schedule.


    Journalists swarmed around him immediately. "Mr. Ashton, what are your ns for the


    future?"


    "Your engagement was announced quite early, yet a wedding hasn''t urred. Can you exin why?"


    "There are rumors of you spending time with the heiress of the Burgess family at high-end events. Are there issues between you and your fiancee?"


    A scowl crossed Bruce''s face, his eyes sharpening as he spotted the approaching reporters.


    "I will address your questions one at a time." Corrine''s calm voice echoed from the


    back.


    Bruce nced over and saw Corrine positioned near the stage.


    Under the stage lights, her features were striking, yet her detached expression and the aloof aura she projected made her seem as unapproachable as a rose surrounded by


    thoms.


    From the audience, Tracy watched with a growing sense of dread.


    She clenched her fists, silently hoping Corrine would stick to the agreed story.


    "As wee together to celebrate Ashton Group''s 30th anniversary, I''m honored to be here with you. I see many familiar faces, but some of you may not know me. Let me. introduce myself."


    With a deliberate pause and amanding sweep of her gaze over the audience, she continued, "My name is Corrine Hond."


    Murmurs of surprise and intrigue immediately filled the room.