Hiding Behind Her Superficiality

Chapter 32

Chapter 32 She’s Just an Outsider The woman’s face turned ghastly pale. “I—” Elspeth didn’t lose her composure despite her ire as she continued all smiles, “Miss, I hope that you have sufficient evidence before questioning others next time.” The camera flash blinded the scene at this moment as the reporters snapped photos of Elspeth. The news about Elspeth being the renowned jewelry designer Angel was far more interesting than Elspeth’s plagiarism! Nevertheless, she didn’t forget the reason behind the press conference as she changed the subject, “This set of jewelry is a couple’s model. ‘First Sight’, which is targeted toward our male audience, symbolizes love at first sight. Meanwhile, ‘First Love’, which is their counterpart for our lovely ladies, symbolizes ever-lasting love. So, they are perfect gifts for couples.” The press conference ended successfully. Nonetheless, that night, Winthrop Group’s official website once again announced that all the jewelry was sold out. The comment section of the social media website began to be lively again. ‘Oh my gosh! Why did I hesitate?! I even doubted the jewelry’s copyright issue! This is Angel’s product, and I didn’t buy it!’ ‘Me too! I didn’t manage to buy them. Winthrop Group, please sell the product quickly! My wife said she will divorce me if I can’t buy it!’ As Callum read the news and comments, he was astonished at the revelation. It had never crossed his mind that Elspeth was actually Angel. He acknowledged the number of bizarre things that she had accomplished previously, but then, she appeared to be Nancy, and now Angel… She was really an inscrutable woman. Both of them returned home later than usual due to work-related matters. Therefore, it was already 1.00AM when they finally returned home. Unfortunately, they were so swamped with work that neither of them had dinner. As a result, Elspeth’s stomach grumbled in protest. “I’m going to make some quickBelonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

supper. Do you want some?” “Yes.” Callum thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

After a while, she came bearing two sandwiches with a sunny-side-up on the side. The sandwich looked rather bland and simple. However, when he took a bite, he was surprised as it was quite delicious. “I didn’t know that you could cook.” She tilted her chin proudly. “Hah! There’s plenty you don’t know about me.” “How many more identities do you really have?” His tone carried a hint of genuine curiosity as he asked. She was taken aback by his blunt questioning for a moment before she laughed out loud. “Do you even realize that you have been caring about me way more than you used to? Tell me honestly. You like me, don’t you?” Elspeth couldn’t see his expression clearly, but she could hear a sense of chagrin in his voice. “I’m just a little curious.” He was indeed a little curious, but even more so, he wanted to know more about her. She seemed to have a unique charm that had succeeded in luring him toward her. Before she could tease him, someone suddenly turned on the lights at the staircase. Arthur, who was in pajamas, stood at the end of the stairs and looked at them with a cheeky smile. “Callum, Elspeth, why aren’t you guys going to bed yet?” His implication was apparent. He was teasing them for flirting in the middle of the night. Callum suppressed the complex emotions under his eyes and blurted behind false bravado, “I’m going to bed. Don’t stay up too late.” After he left, Arthur walked to her and asked, “Do you like Callum?” She did not answer his question as she simply looked at him and remarked, “You’re quite the gossiper.” “My mom has specified that she wants Ophelia to marry Callum. So if you like him, it won’t be easy for you to be with him.”

“There is nothing I can’t do as long as I set my mind on it.” Arthur’s smile widened. “Good. Got it.” Elspeth turned to look at him, only to feel that his smile was rather strange. It was different from the feeling she had when she first saw him. When she returned to the bedroom, she immediately called Harper. “Did you find out who did it this time?” “Yes. The IP addresses of those netizens who posted negative comments were all from the Flemings. Ophelia was most likely to be the mastermind behind this.” After a short pause, Harper continued, “I also learned about the strange person from the surveillance in Death Canyon. His last phone call was also to Ophelia.” “Ophelia, huh? Harper, publish all the news on social media tomorrow. I want her to get a taste of her own medicine.” Elspeth’s eyes were covered with a layer of frost. “Alright, Miss Lynwood.” Harper beamed and immediately did her job. The next morning, Elspeth heard the sound of crying downstairs as soon as she woke up. She stretched her body lazily and walked down the stairs, only to see Ophelia trembling on the couch and wailing piteously, “Mrs. Winthrop, I didn’t do it. I’m innocent!” Elspeth couldn’t help but chuckle at the pathetic sight. Everyone in the living room turned to look at her, and she feigned innocence. “Why are you looking at me?” “It’s you, isn’t it? You framed Ophelia and cyberbullied her on the Internet, didn’t you?” “No wonder all of you are looking at me like that.” Elspeth snorted in disdain. “You think I set her up.” Ophelia’s eyes were teary as she didn’t hesitate to hurl accusations, “Elspeth, I didn’t do it. How can you do this to me?!” When Ophelia woke up this morning, she almost went berserk when she realized that someone had published everything she had done on the Internet. Luckily, there was no solid evidence to prove that she did it. She knew that Margot favored her, so she immediately came to Callum’s house to convince Margot that Elspeth had framed her. “Me? Set you up?” Elspeth couldn’t help but chuckle. “Can you please tell me why I would do that?”

Ophelia glanced at Callum and mumbled timidly, “M-Maybe because you like Callum, so you don’t like to see me around him.” Although Elspeth was smiling, there was not a single hint of mirth in her eyes. “It’s truly amazing that you could assume that everyone is as nasty as you.” “B-But who else would do this to me besides you? I-I know that you’ve always disliked me.” Margot frowned. “Elspeth, quickly delete everything that is on the Internet and give us an explanation!” She didn’t want her future daughter-in-law’s reputation to be tarnished now because it might affect the reputation of the Winthrops in the future. “Did it never cross your mind that Ophelia really did all those things?” Elspeth glanced at Margot, her gaze gleaming with absolute certainty. “Impossible!” Margot snapped. “I told you that Ophelia would never do such a thing! She’s a nice girl, so she wouldn’t have done such a thing!” Even Callum, who remained at the sidelines, spoke for Ophelia, “She… She wouldn’t do such a thing.” Elspeth glanced at him coldly. “So, do you think of me as someone who would falsely accuse another?” She felt disdain when she heard Margot reprimanding her and felt that the woman was an unreasonable harpy. Regardless, when he echoed Margot’s remark, she felt a dull pang in her heart. I’m just an outsider. Since the beginning, they have isolated me from their circle, and even Callum has not accepted me. In that case, I have to release the solid proof. There’s no reason for me to pull my punches with these people.