Chapter 6

Ten minutes earlier, Chloe Walsh had asked me to accompany her to the restroom.

Inside the bathroom, she then used the excuse of reapplying her makeup to take the bag and hold it herself.

After getting the bag back, I noticed the weight felt off.

But at the time, I thought Chloe Walsh might have taken out some makeup, so the weight had changed, and I didn't ask further.

I never expected Chloe Walsh to now accuse me of theft!

The wedding, naturally, was most lively where the bride and groom were.

As more and more guests gathered, Liam’s expression also turned grim.

He clearly didn't believe me; he was infuriated that I, as a bridesmaid representing the Hayes family today, would do something so shameful and low.

Jax Carter, who loved to watch drama unfold, immediately started to egg things on, not caring about the consequences:

"Harper Gray, I can't believe you'd steal even this much money! Like a rat's child digs holes, what good could possibly come from a gambler's offspring? Who knows how many things you've stolen from the Hayes family all these years!"

Other guests chimed in with their sarcasm,

"Exactly, how could she steal the wedding gifts? Doesn't she fear karma?"

"Oh, my, these people from humble backgrounds are just like that. You wouldn't believe her mother; I heard she even sold herself to pay off a few million in gambling debts for the Hayes family. People with no self-respect, no shame, what wouldn't they do for money?"

"Besides, my cousin who works at the hospital told me Harper Gray can't even have children anymore! Apparently, she was gang-raped, gave birth to a pair of stillborns, was completely ruined, and even had her uterus removed! She'll probably never find a man willing to marry her, so she obviously doesn't fear karma."

Seeing the murmurs around me growing louder, Chloe Walsh finally said with satisfaction,

"Harper, dear, it's not that I don't believe you, but the amount is too large. If you can't prove your innocence, I'll have to call the police."

"You choose: do you want me to search you, or do you want to go to jail? But I must warn you, the Hayes family has had a good name for generations. Do you really want to ruin it as a stepdaughter? Don't forget all the favors the Hayes family has done for you since you were little. Can you really just stand by and watch the Hayes family be shamed because of you?"

The crowd surrounded me, every gaze fixed on my rough bridesmaid dress.

The women watched for entertainment.

The men, however, had leering, predatory eyes, each wishing they could undress me with their gaze.

I couldn't help but look at Liam Hayes for help, hoping he would stand up and say something for me.

But in the end, what Liam said was,

"Harper, someone like you doesn't deserve the Hayes name."

Someone like me, doesn't deserve the Hayes name?

But the year I first arrived at the Hayes family home, when someone at school bullied me, calling me a bastard.

It was Liam who shielded me, personally telling everyone I wasn't some unwanted stray, but his sister.

That year, his tall figure, illuminated by the sun, seemed almost sacred. He said:

"Harper Gray shares the Hayes name with me. Does anyone have a problem with that?"

Snapping back to reality, I was met with Liam Hayes’ face, cold as frost.

Liam said,

"Harper, you better explain all of this clearly."

"No need for anyone else to search. I'll take it off myself."

Without another word, I tore off the two flimsy straps of my already-sagging slip dress.

Chloe Walsh had ill intentions; the dress she’d prepared for me was not only ugly and made of terrible material but also of poor quality.

I had to keep tugging at it just to maintain some semblance of modesty.

Now, with a gentle tug, the entire dress slid to the floor.

Revealing my underwear and safety shorts—and, the obvious, grotesque scar on my abdomen.

"Is that enough?"

My legs trembled uncontrollably as I looked up at Liam.

"You and your wife, open your eyes and look closely. Is there anywhere on my body I could hide wedding gifts? Could I have *eaten* the money?"

Liam's expression clearly froze when he saw the scar on my abdomen; he instinctively reached to take off his suit jacket to cover me.

However, his movement was stopped by Chloe Walsh, who said with a mocking tone,

"You haven't undressed completely. Who knows if you're hiding it in your underwear? If you're so brave, strip naked for everyone to see. Then we can really prove your innocence."

"Enough!"

Liam suddenly roared.

He ignored Chloe Walsh’s resistance, taking two steps in one stride.

He quickly came forward, wrapping me in his large suit jacket, and whispered in my ear:

"I'll take you home."

But I pushed him away, throwing his jacket to the ground and stomping on it twice.

Then I picked up the rough dress and wrapped it around my trembling body again.

"Liam Hayes, I only hope to never have anything to do with you again in this life."