Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Use Your Brain, Fool
“LARIETTE! This is all your fault!”

Everyone in the dressing room was shocked into silence once they heard Stephanie screaming earlier. Her blind accusation at Lariette turned them even more stunned.

A few people exchanged horrified glances, thinking something was wrong with Stephanie.

“What did she say?”

“Is she mad?”

“Stephanie, are you drunk? Why drag Lariette into this?”

Stephanie was still clinging to Samantha who was as surprised as the others. Her reddened eyes glared at Lariette, not bothering with what the relatives had just said.

Lariette was standing by Chairman Delaney’s side, one of her hands grasped the back of his chair. Staring straight ahead at Stephanie, she was a picture of calm amidst the storm in the dressing room.

Ruediger stood towering next to Lariette. Pushing both hands into the pockets of his pants, his emerald eyes scanned Stephanie. Displeasure was evident on his face.

“This is all your fault!” Stephanie shrieked, infuriated at the sight of Lariette’s calm demeanor, “You framed me, don’t you? You always try to ruin my happiness! I know you’re jealous of me!”

Stephanie’s voice rose historically, hinting at her desperation. Her baseless accusations earned gasps from the gathered relatives, all eyes looking at her in disbelief.

Fridah, Amber and the other bridesmaids were also shocked to see the complete change from her usual gentle mannerisms.

Stephanie’s chest heaved, falling and rising at a rapid rate. Her finger was still pointed at Lariette. More nonsensical words came out of her mouth.

“Why are you mute? I know you’re gloating! You just can’t stand to see me being happy! You’re jealous I’d marry Matthias, aren’t you? You! You even wore the necklace to rub it to my face!”

Lariette held back from rolling her eyes. Without moving from her spot, she held up her chin, saying, “You chose to cheat on Matthias but, I’m to blame? You’re crazy, Stephanie.”

“I’m not crazy! I—”

Lariette swiftly cut Stephanie off, her sapphire eyes glinting with suppressed fury.

“You created this mess. You slept with Leon when Matthias was your betrothed. Face the consequences. Use your brain, Stephanie.”

Murmurs broke out among the relatives. Even though they weren’t fond of Lariette, they knew she was talking sensibly.

Matthias Silvera caught his fiancee, Stephanie Elsher having an affair with Leon Holt. It was obvious he obtained the proof himself.

Lariette didn’t have the ability to fabricate the evidence and send it to the Silvera heir.

“Phanie, this is absurd,” Rafael chimed in for the first time, his piercing gaze staring at the tear-streaked Stephanie, “You know Lari had nothing to do with this at all.”

Declan nodded, also verbalizing his thoughts, “Phanie, stop. You’ll just embarrass yourself more than you already have.”

Chairman Delaney said nothing. Sitting on the plush chair, he unconsciously tightened his grip on the cane. Disappointment flickered in his eyes the more he witnessed how Stephanie acted.

For the past week, Chairman Delaney felt as if he didn’t know Stephanie at all.

Not only Stephanie concocted a plan to humiliate Lariette but, she also had been hiding an affair with Leon despite being betrothed to Matthias.

Stephanie faltered, her lips quivering as she tried to speak again but, failed. The weight of everyone’s judgment crushed onto her, waiting for her to break.

“Enough! Enough! Don’t stress her out! She’s having a hard time already!”

Samantha hollered in panic, unable to stand seeing how badly people treated Stephanie. She tightened her arms around this precious daughter of hers, acting like a mama bear.

“That’s what you get for blindly coddling her!” scolded one of the aunts.

Samantha retorted, her voice rising, “She’s my daughter! How dare you mock her!”

Samantha’s response only earned more ire from the group.

“What a waste of time! I’m out!”

“I’m leaving too.”

“We’ll hunt you if you don’t settle this matter!”

A stream of relatives headed out of the dressing room, evidently fed up by the situation. The tension in the room crackled following Samantha’s action.

Being disgraced by Stephanie was not enough. Seeing how Samantha still blindly defended her infuriated them.

Now that everyone left, only a few remained. Declan told Fridah and the other bridesmaids to also leave which they quickly abid to.

‘This is exhausting.’

Lariette quietly watched when Stephanie fell to the floor, once again crying. The latter’s pitiful state didn’t ignite any sympathy from her at all.

Even in this kind of situation, Stephanie pushed the blame on her. Lariette knew she wouldn’t ever change.

“Mom! H-how could this happen? I swear! I did nothing!”

“Oh, my dear. Surely, Matthias misunderstood you. We’ll go and explain to him, okay?”

Stephanie continued crying in Samantha’s arms, still in denial over the cancellation of the wedding. Matthias’ unyielding and chilly gaze was still clear in her mind.

She had been dreaming of this day forever, how could everything be ruined?!

Lariette glanced at Chairman Delaney. The elderly man still hadn’t said anything.

With concern embedded in her eyes, Lariette looked up at Ruediger. He smiled, understanding what she was worrying about.

The man raised his hand, gently patting her back, seemingly trying to reassure her that her grandfather would be fine.

Lariette could only smile. She returned her gaze to Chairman Delaney, reaching for his back. The elderly man tilted his chin up, looking behind his shoulder once he sensed a squeeze.

Chairman Delaney saw the evident concern underneath Lariette’s smiling gaze. Despite being accused by Stephanie, her composure didn’t suffer even a crack.

“Samantha, bring Phanie to rest.”

Chairman Delaney finally spoke, directing those words to his daughter. His tone was firm, indicating any discussion about the wedding should continue some other time.

“Grandpa is right,” Declan chimed in, quickly agreeing with Chairman Delaney, “Let Phanie change and rest. I’ll tell the kitchen to bring food for her.”

“I’ll call the chauffeur,” Rafael raised his hand before turning around to leave, “Mom, you and Phanie can use the backdoor.”

Declan and Rafael acted following Chairman Delaney’s short order. Neither Samantha nor Stephanie could say anything under the three men’s persistence.

But…

Someone’s appearance stirred the tension awake again.

“What are you doing here?”

Standing at the doorway was a disheveled Leon.