Chapter 369: Whatever story suits you
Flora remained seated on the bed while staring at the wall in front of her. The words of Juniper’s friends kept swirling in her mind like a reel.
Half an hour ago, all of it started when the conversation suddenly shifted to her. Her eyes brimmed with tears but she wiped them quickly.
**Flashback Started**
"Flora, why did you come here?" asked Nicole. "Shouldn’t you have rested in your chamber? It’s strange you act normally around your sister as if nothing happened," she added, her hand holding the wine glass firmly.
"Let her be, Nicole," another one said. "If Amelie hears you, she might get upset with you."
"Guys, don’t do it. Amelie will be here anytime soon," Juniper said, looking at the door. "If Amelie has chosen to forgive her, then we are no one to bother Flora like this."
Katelyn glanced at Flora, who was about to break into tears. ’Why isn’t she speaking a word to them? I told her to fight back, not stay quiet.’
"I am ashamed of what I-I did to my sister. But I am no longer that person. Moreover, none of you is aware of the whole truth, so I hope you all don’t say anything to me without knowing the full story," Flora said, keeping her tone firm despite her heart was palpitating.
"What?" Zarina chuckled this time.
"Flora, whatever the remaining truth is none of us care about that. Everyone is aware of the fact that you tried to kill your own sister. You knew she was pregnant, but you hated her so much that you wanted to eliminate her," she pronounced.
Flora’s eyes widened and shook her head. "I-I didn’t know," she said.
"Don’t lie. I’ve confirmed it from some of my friends in your pack. Well, I don’t care about your family, but the women like you piss me off. You shouldn’t have showed your face tonight," Zarina bitterly said.
"Hey, please don’t say anything to Flora. It’s all in the past," Juniper finally intervened.
By the time, Amelie returned from the restroom with Zilia. They both noticed the strange tension in the room.
"Juniper, how could you let her be part of tonight’s event?" Zarina snapped, her eyes flashing. "I didn’t want to say anything, but someone has to expose what she’s hiding."
Flora took two stumbling steps back and fled from the hall, the murmur of voices trailing after her like a breeze that wouldn’t die.
"I’ll go after her," Zilia said under her breath, already moving toward the door.
"What did you say to my sister?" Amelie’s voice cut through the room, every ounce of hurt and fury coiled tight behind it.
"Calm down, Amelie," Juniper said, stepping between them and taking her hand. "She’s upset, we didn’t mean—"
"Kate, what did they tell Flora?" Amelie demanded.
Katelyn opened her mouth, then closed it. "They accused her of betraying you and—" She faltered when Nicole butted in.
"Amelie," Nicole said with forced sympathy, lifting her wine like a prop. "Your sister’s reputation among families like ours is... ruined. People are saying she tried to kill you and that she used Alex, your former mate, to do it. Tonight was supposed to be joy, but she ruined everything for Juniper."
"Exactly," Natasha added with a cold smile. "You shouldn’t have brought her here. My chest burned the moment I saw her."
Juniper pushed back. "You can’t treat someone like that," she said, tightening her grip on Amelie’s arm. "Whatever Flora did is her past. People can change. She deserves a chance."
Amelie’s face was pale hearing that. The room fell quiet, waiting either for agreement or for more teeth to be bared.
"You’re all wrong," she said. "Flora never tried to kill me. It was Alex. He knew I was pregnant. Yes, he had an affair, and he manipulated Flora, used her the way he used me. He set things in motion , sent his wolves after my family, and then tried to pin the whole thing on Flora. In the end, he betrayed her too. None of you were there to see the truth. None of you know everything, and yet you stand here and bully someone who’s already been broken by the same man you’re blaming her for. Tell me: have any of you never made a mistake? The way you treat her now reveals more about you than it ever will about her."
Katelyn left her seat and walked to Amelie’s side.
"My brother arrested Flora for the second time, claiming she tried killing Amelie," Katelyn said. "But she didn’t. It was Alex. He was furious at the thought of losing everything, so he decided to destroy Amelie’s family. Flora was only another pawn in his scheme."
A silence followed, but it was broken when Amelie stepped forward.
"And now that he’s gone, you all feel free to stitch whatever story suits you," she said. "You act as if you know her better than I do. If any of you push my sister to ruin with your lies, I promise, no one will leave unaccounted for. It’s easy to blame a woman, but we never do the same to a man."
As she spoke, a strange bluish light seemed to gather in her eyes, which intimidated most of them.
"Amelie, w-we didn’t know," Nicole stammered at last. "We’re... sorry."
Amelie’s gaze didn’t soften. "What you’ve already done has scarred her more than you realize."
"I’ll apologize for them," Juniper interjected quickly, trying to mend the fracture before it spread further.
Just then, Zilia stepped back into the hall. "Flora’s in her room," she reported. "She says she’s fine... and that she doesn’t want anyone to come."
Amelie’s lips pressed into a thin line as she turned toward the door. But before she could move away, Juniper caught her hand.
"Let me walk you back," she said gently, her tone more plea than offer.
For a moment, Amelie only studied her. Then, with the faintest nod, she allowed Juniper to guide her away, leaving the others behind in a silence.