Vou might alen liba
Chapter 194 Trust Me or Her
The odds were stacked against her, yet Ashley refused to bow her head.
What could Leones do even if he managed to reclaim the Bloom family’s estate?
Would he execute her and her daughter right then and there?
She reminded herself that she was still the heiress of the Olsen family, one of Sherland’s top distinguished families, and even more influential than the Bloom family.
She had no reason to be concerned.
“Timothy, let’s go!”
Ashley called out to her son.
She’ll return to her parents‘ house if this place can accommodate them.
“Stop!”
At Leones‘ command, Ashley halted.
“You think you can just walk away?
“You wish you can!”
Just as Ashley turned around, she heard Leones‘ voice and couldn’t help but pause her steps. “What?! What more dov
want?”
Ashley turned back around, her expression daring him to challenge her.
“Let it go, son!” Jason, Leones‘ father, advised from the side.
After all, one was his son and the other his mistress. He loved them both and hoped for a peaceful resolution.
“No way!” Leones scoffed.
“If you want to leave, explain the car accident you staged five years ago to frame me!
“If you don’t come clean, don’t think about taking another step out of here!”
What?!
The room filled with gasps of surprise.
That car accident from five years ago? Was there more to the story?
Most of the guests, close to the Bloom family, were familiar with the incident, albeit through media coverage.
Today, hearing it from one of the involved parties, it seemed there was more to the story, and this piqued everyone’s interest.
“What framing?”
Ashley feigned ignorance and continued to argue. You killed someone with your car, and now you’re blaming it on me?
“If it weren’t for our family pulling strings and covering for you, given the impact you caused back then, you would’ve been executed! You only got a five–year sentence. What more do you want?”
Ashley sneered again. “The Legal Authorities reviewed that case! If you want to blame me, fine, but are you questioning the system now?”
Upon hearing this, everyone found it to be a reasonable point.
That case years ago had rocked the whole city, its impact immensely damaging. It was only thanks to the Bloom family’s financial and influential intervention that it didn’t end worse.
With the involvement of the Legal Authorities, no one questioned its fairness.
For Leones to challenge this narrative now, trying to turn the tables, seemed presumptuous.
“I didn’t even drive the car. I didn’t kill anyone!”
Leones angrily questioned, “Who was behind that case years ago, and who is framing me?
“If you don’t clarify this today, don’t blame me for being rude!”
Ashley remained defiant, retorting, “Do you have any evidence? Accusing people without proof?” “Evidence? What evidence do I need?” Leones was involved. He knew whether he had done it or
not.
“Ha, you try to accuse without evidence?” Ashley scoffed, “You can’t just frame me because I’m your stepmother.”
Seeing this, the crowd felt a little disappointed.
They had hoped Leones would have some concrete evidence to clear his name.
But he had none? This was child’s play.
“Everyone saw it, right?” Ashley seized the moment to keep pressing. “This is the kind of person Leones is!
“He made a huge mistake years ago, causing a death, and everyone knows it! It was our Bloom family that saved his neck.
“Now he comes out of prison, not repentant but trying to flip the blame onto me? This is ridiculous!
“You can’t just slander me to clear your name! In this transparent world, everyone has clear eyes!” Standing on the high ground, Ashley lambasted Leones with several criticisms.
The thing was, people found her points valid, as Leones lacked any proof of his innocence.
Were it not for his current status and the backing from the chiefs of the Five Major Families, people would have joined Ashley in criticizing Leones long ago.
However, Leones now holds great power, and he has the backing of the chiefs of the Five Major Families.
People can only grumble in their hearts, daring to be angry but not to speak out.
“Mr. Leones…”
Seeing that the situation seemed unfavorable for Leones, members of the Five Major Families also stepped in, trying to convince him to discuss the matter another day.
At the very least, they should wait until some evidence is obtained.
“Leones,” even his father, Jason, sighed, “I know you and Ashley don’t get along. But this is a serious matter. You can’t just make false accusations against her, and she’s your stepmother, after
all.”
At this, Leones looked at Jason and said, “Dad, what if I told you I didn’t kill anyone? Everything is a setup by that woman against me. Do you believe me or her?”
This left Jason speechless. Faced with such a dilemma, he was difficult to choose.
“Honey, don’t listen to his nonsense!” Ashley quickly said, “I was with you the whole night the
accident happened!”
This reminded Jason of that night five years ago when he received the call saying his son had caused a deadly accident while street racing. He thought it was a prank.
Only when he and Ashley arrived at the scene and saw everything did they have to accept the cruel reality.
“Leones,” Jason said painfully, “we rushed to the scene as soon as the accident happened. You say she set you up? She was with me the whole time.”
Leones replied, “She had someone else do it!”
Ashley laughed even louder upon hearing this.
The people she had manipulated back then were all dead now.
Coincidentally, they all died on the day Leones was released from prison. So, there’s no corroborating evidence.
“Where’s the evidence?” Ashley continued to press. It’s just your word against mine.” “Evidence?” Leones stepped forward. “That’s what I’m here to find out from you!
“As long as you confess, that’s all the proof I need!”
At this, Ashley’s face turned pale with fear. “What!? Are you trying to force a confession?! “Everyone, look! This wretched son will go to great lengths to clear his name! Don’t go too far!”
Tired of her talk, Leones stepped forward, about to take action.
“Sherland Guardians, clear the investigation area! All bystanders, move aside!”
With that, a group of guards filed into the room.
Upon seeing them, Ashley felt her saviors had arrived and were about to ask for help.
But then the guard leading the group sternly asked, “Who is Ashley?”
