?<strong>Chapter 978:</strong>


    Stepping forward, Elyse addressed the crowd with confidence. “Since Fiona uses me of scheming to get her expelled by Mr. Tucker and stripped of her apprenticeship, I propose we bring him here to shed light on the matter.”


    Fiona’splexion turned ashen. Would Elyse really escte this to involve Cody over such a petty dispute? Elyse was indifferent to Fiona’s apprehension. If Fiona was bold enough to nder her, Elyse was prepared to defend her reputation by summoning Cody to testify.


    The onlookers nodded in agreement with Elyse’s proposal, eager for a resolution. If Cody himself rifies the situation, they would know the truth.


    Elyse turned to Fiona, who was now silent, and pressed, “What do you think?”


    Fiona bit her lip, refusing to respond.


    Your imagination thrives at galnovels punt


    Quinn, quicker to react, snapped, “No way! You’ve probably already briefed Cody. If you’re nning to frame Fiona, just admit it.”


    Elyse smiled thinly. “You use me of conspiring with Mr. Tucker, yet you reject the clear solution to prove my innocence. What must I do for you to trust I’m not guilty?” She paused, her eyes sweeping over the crowd. “Or do you only trust Fiona’s word, regardless of the truth? If Fiona twisted facts, would you still believe her blindly?”


    Quinn shot back instinctively, “Why do you think Fiona is twisting the truth?”


    Elyse didn’t miss a beat, her tone sharp. “And why are you so sure Fiona’s telling the truth? Were you there? Did you actually see everything with your own eyes?”


    His words faltered, and Quinn hesitated. “No… I wasn’t there.”


    Elyse crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Fiona as she pressed on, “Then isn’t your blind trust a bit absurd? Are you really that confident she hasn’t lied to you?”


    Her words began to chip away at his certainty. Slowly, Quinn turned his head toward Fiona, searching her face. Fiona’s eyes welled with tears, and she shook her head, her voice trembling. “It’s not like that! You don’t believe me anymore?”


    Quinn’s chest tightened at the sight of her crying. He stumbled, panic rising in his chest.


    Elyse, unbothered, interjected, calling out Fiona’s name sharply. “If you still think I’m the one framing you, how about we settle this? The three of us can go to Mr. Tucker. Let him be the witness. He knows what really happened, doesn’t he?”


    Quinn shifted uneasily; what Elyse was suggesting made sense. His eyes darted toward Fiona again, uncertainty creeping in.


    Sensing his doubt, Fiona’s expression crumbled further. “So, what? You’re on her side now?” Her voice broke. “You’re going to stop trusting me?”


    His face flushed, and Quinn stammered. “No, that’s not what I meant. I didn’t—”


    “Then what do you mean?” Fiona snapped, pushing him hard enough that he stumbled back. “You think I’m a liar, don’t you?”


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