"What did Andrea mean just now? Are they saying Mr. Dashiell''s ex-wife is actually Lizetta?"


    "Have you heard about how Ms. West lost her finger? Word is, that ex-wife isn''t exactly a saint. Could it really be Lizetta? I never would''ve guessed."


    "Didn''t Lizetta justnd the Dashiell Group''s tenth anniversary g project a couple days ago? That makes it even more likely."


    "A mere intern scoring such a big project? There''s definitely more to her than meets the eye. Honestly, her scheming lines up perfectly with what I''ve heard about Mr. Dashiell''s ex-wife."


    "I heard she seduced Mr. Dashiell through underhanded means, then lied about being pregnant to force her way into the Dashiell family. Just goes to show-pretty faces often hide venomous hearts."


    The low hum of gossip filled the room, making it impossible for Lizetta not to hear every poisonous word.


    Andrea, meanwhile, could barely contain her glee. She thrived on hearing Lizetta dragged through the mud, relishing every contemptuous whisper.


    Serves Lizetta right, she thought with satisfaction. She brought this on herself, chasing after an old me and stooping so low. Now let''s see how she recovers from this disgrace.


    Struggling to hide her excitement, Andrea pressed her lips into a thin line and turned to wave her hands dismissively at the group.


    “Come on, what are you all specting about? I never said Lizetta was Mr. Dashiell''s ex-wife. You must''ve misheard me."


    Her urgent attempt to defend Lizetta only made her look more suspicious, as if she were desperately trying to cover up a slip.


    "But we all heard it, Andrea. You basically said Lizetta is Mr. Dashiell''s ex-wife, didn''t you?"


    Andrea Madden shook her head emphatically. "No, no, really, you all misunderstood. That''s impossible."


    "But we all heard the same thing. There''s no way every one of us misheard you."


    Face flushing with embarrassment and panic, Andrea turned to grab Lizetta''s arm. "Honestly, you''re all mistaken. Lizett?isn''t Mr. Dashiell''s ex-wife-she doesn''t even know him. Liz, tell everyone the truth. We''re all coffeagues here, of course they''ll believe you."


    She pressed on, waiting for Lizetta to deny any connection.


    If Lizetta admitted the rumors, her reputation would be utterly ruined; she''d be torn apart by even harsher gossip.


    But if she denied it, who in this office would believe her? Andrea could just wait until tomorrow and release those old photos of Lizetta and Remington together.


    Then Lizetta wouldn''t just be ridiculed-she''d be branded a liar and lose all her credibility.


    "Yeah, Lizetta, tell us yourself-what''s your rtionship with Mr. Dashiell?" someone else prompted, all eyes locking onto her, especially Lilian.


    Lilian remembered going to the


    Starlight Group with Lizetta that day, and now that she thought back to it, she recalled seeing Lizetta run into a strikingly handsome man in the elevator He''d looked oddly familiar at the time Now She realized it must have been Remington, the CEO of Starlight Group.


    Under the scrutiny of the entire room, Lizetta calmly pulled her arm free from Andrea''s grip.


    She shot Andrea a cold, level look, making it clear Andrea hadn''t taken her earlier warning seriously at all.


    A chill ran down Andrea''s spine at


    the icy nce, but then she reminded herself that she''d already severed ties with the Maddens. She was a Porter now what could. Lizetta possibly do to her?


    At worst, Lizetta could run crying to Nelson and Jerome, but she''d already been kicked out. What could they really do?


    Besides, her parents still doted on her, still protected her, so there was nothing to


    fear.


    With that reassurance, Andrea''s confidence swelled. Why should she be afraid of Lizetta?


    Just then, Lizetta, standing quietly at her side, let out a soft, amusedugh.