“I heard Zora is pregnant. Based on the timeline, the child should be mine. Regardless of whether I’m in prison or not, I hope Zora keeps the baby. When I get out, I’ll take responsibility for both her and our child.


    “And onest thing I want to say to Zora–do more good deeds if you can. Keep giving back to society. Think of it as umting blessings for our child.”


    Abel’s interview ended, and the crowd collectively gasped. Everyone now knew Zora was pregnant–with Abel’s child.


    But in the audience, one face turned green with fury: Connor.


    201


    He recalled how Zora had recently told him she was pregnant and demanded he break up with Yasmin to marry her. Looking back now, it was clear–she had tried to make a fool out of him.


    That conniving woman!


    He almost fell for it.


    The host brought everyone back to the present. “It’s truly surprising to learn about Zora’s actions behind the scenes. Charity should never be a performancè. Given what’s been revealed, we at the organizingmittee and judging panel will have to reconsider. I’m afraid this award cannot be presented to Miss Harris. We apologize.”


    There was no way they would still give her the award after that exposé.


    Zora stood frozen on stage, her mind nk, unable to react.


    The host continued, “Thank you to all our guests for attending tonight’s ceremony. This concludes our award show. And to all our honorees, may you continue striving forward and working together for the greater good.”


    Zora had be nothing more than an unfortunate interlude. The ceremony proceeded and concluded without her.


    Apuse erupted as the event wrapped up, and attendees began to exit.


    No one paid attention to Zora, still standing alone on the stage. But just then, she snapped out of her daze, pointing an usatory finger at Caitlin, who was already standing up.


    “Caitlin! It was you! All of this was your doing! <i>You </i>set me up!


    “I get it now–everything that happened today was your n. You wanted to ruin me!


    “You’re so cruel! You did all this just for revenge!”


    Ximena pushed through the crowd, rushing onto the stage to calm her daughter. “Zora, stop it! Please, stop yelling. Don’t lose your


    mind here!”


    “Don’t you touch me! Get away from me!”


    <i>Zora’s </i>face contorted in pain and rage. She truly believed her mother had turned against her. After all, only her mother and Connor knew she was pregnant–so how had Abel found out? How had the world found out?


    It had to be her mother who told Caitlin.


    Ximena wept helplessly. She had tried everything to help Zora, to cover her mistakes and shield her from the consequences–but


    there was nothing more she could do.


    Just then, Zeke entered through the side, noticing that Sebastian and Caitlin were still inside. He walked straight to the stage and helped his mother up.


    “Mom, stop worrying about her. Let her face the consequences of her actions. Think about yourself for once. You’ve done enough- too much, even–and she never appreciated it.”


    Zeke led Ximena off the stage as more people filed out.


    Caitlin turned to Sebastian. “Wait for me outside. I need to say something to her.”


    “Alright. Reporters are swarming the front. I’ll bring the car around to the back to pick you up.‘


    With a quick nod, he left the auditorium.


    Most guests had already left, but Connor remained, heading straight toward the stage.


    He stopped in front of Zora, his eyes filled with contempt.


    “You told me the baby was mine.”


    “I…” Zora’s face went pale. She had no excuse.


    <b>77 </b>


    “It’s his. It’s that guy’s. You slept with him, and now he’s in prison, so you tried to pin it on me? You disgusting liar!”


    He pped her hard. Zora stumbled backward and fell to the floor.


    “From now on, stay away from me. Don’t ever contact me again. We have nothing to do with each other!”


    Connor spat out the final words and walked out without looking back,


    Zora sat trembling on the stage, tears streaming down her face–but beyond the tears was burning hatred.


    Her gaze locked on Caitlin<i>, </i>who hadn’t left.


    “You! This is all your fault!”


    Caitlin stepped forward, her voice cold.


    “Who was the one scheming every step of the way, trying to ruin me during this awards ceremony? You.”


    She stopped a few feet from Zora, her eyes sharp and calm.


    “You were born a wealthy heiress. You could’ve be a strong, resilient woman like your mother. But instead, you chose to be consumed by hatred. You’ve tried time and time again to trap me, to hurt me.


    you understand the consequences of what you’ve done? When you let evil poison your heart, it eventually devours you from the inside out. What you’re facing now is your own doing.”


    “Don’t lecture me! You’re evil! I hate you!”


    Zora’s reputation was in ruins, and she med Caitlin for all of it.


    214


    Caitlin sighed softly.


    “If you hadn’t bribed someone to sabotage me at the ceremony, I wouldn’t have had to strike back.


    “I’ve told you before–you are not my match. Stop wasting your time plotting against me. You already lost. You just refuse to ept <ol><li>it. </li></ol>


    “You know why I kept giving you second chances? Because of your mother. Because she raised Patricia. I respected her. That’s the only reason I let you go again and again.


    “If not for her, do you really think you’d still be standing?


    “Zora, your mother gave everything for you. If you could just let go of your resentment and start over, you might still redeem yourself. But if you continue down this path, you’ll destroy yourself.”


    With those final words, Caitlin turned and walked off the stage.


    Zora copsed into sobs, overwhelmed–not just by grief, but by the sheer humiliation of losing to Caitlin yet again.


    All her secrets were exposed. Everyone knew.


    And it felt worse than death.


    As emotions overwhelmed her, a sharp pain twisted through her abdomen. She couldn’t get up.


    Outside the theater, James and Zinnia were waiting.


    Just then, a staff member walked over, holding an elegant gift box.


    “Caitlin, this is a gift prepared for you. Please take it with you.”


    “A gift?”


    Assuming the man was with the event organizers, Caitlin thanked him and took the box.


    But the moment she opened it, she screamed.


    “Ah!”


    The box slipped from her hands and fell to the ground–a severed, bloodied arm rolled out.


    The scene was grisly and horrifying,


    Zinnia recoiled in shock. Who would do something like this?


    “Caitlin! Go find Sebastian. I’ll go after him!”


    James realized something was wrong. He spotted the “staff member” running away and immediately gave chase.


    “Caitlin, go to Mr. Vanderbilt. I’ll handle this.”


    Zinnia didn’t want Caitlin to see anything more disturbing.


    “Alright, be careful!”


    15:19 Tue, 2 Sept WOJ


    @61%


    20


    Caitlin ran off. Zinnia crouched down to examine the severed limb–only to discover it wasn’t real. It was a synthetic prosthetic.


    It had been a twisted prank designed to scare Caitlin.


    Zinnia rushed to alert theater security. Meanwhile, Caitlin ran to the back exit in search of Sebastian.


    A ck Rolls–Royce pulled up. She recognized the license te. Vaughn, the driver, opened the door for her.


    She climbed into the backseat.


    The luxury car pulled away.


    But just minutester, another ck Rolls–Royce with the exact same license te pulled up to the back door.


    Sebastian stepped out.