From Cell to Crown- The Disgraced Heiress Returns

Chapter 12

Liora remained blissfully unaware of the chaos brewing behind the scenes. Dressed in a stunning gown, she stood proudly on stage, basking in the adoration of the crowd.

The applause was thunderous, and from the sidelines, Elowen and Wilde watched with pride. Elowen, beaming with satisfaction, addressed the audience, "This is my eldest daughter, who was lost to us for many years."

Her words sent a ripple of confusion through the crowd. Those who weren't in the know began to murmur, "But isn't Narissa the only daughter of the Sterling Family?"

Liora's smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of coldness flashing in her eyes at the mention of Narissa's name. But she quickly composed herself. Whether it was the Sterling Family or her father, everything that Narissa once had would soon be hers.

A few guests, still confused, whispered among themselves, unsure if it was Narissa's birthday being celebrated. But then Elowen clarified, revealing that Liora was not just any daughter, but the rightful eldest daughter of the Sterling Family.

A wave of applause followed. "Congratulations, Mr. Sterling! How wonderful to find your long-lost daughter!"

Liora's smile widened as compliments flooded in, but just as the moment seemed perfect, Evan and Drake entered the hall, their expressions cold and distant. Evan stepped forward, his voice icy as he interrupted the celebration. "Dad, I disagree."

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Elowen, Liora, and Wilde all looked stunned. Elowen shot his son a sharp glare, his voice low and stern. "Why would you disagree? Liora is your sister. You can't treat her unfairly."

Liora quickly regained her composure, turning to Evan and Drake with feigned innocence. "Drake, did Evan say something to you? What have I done wrong for her to treat me like this?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she played the role of the hurt sister, but Drake remained unmoved, his eyes cold as he addressed her. "You know exactly what you've done."

Liora's heart skipped a beat. She exchanged a quick, nervous glance with her mother, but her panic was barely contained.

Elowen slammed his fist onto the table in frustration. "What has Narissa said now? Ever since she came back, it's been nothing but trouble. I should've never let her return."

Wilde, standing beside him, quickly stepped in to calm the situation. "Don't let her affect you, Elowen. Take care of yourself."

As the tension in the room rose, Evan's expression grew even colder. Anger simmered beneath his calm exterior. Without hesitation, he turned to his father and said, "Dad, look at this."

The birthday video that had been playing, showcasing beautiful photos of Liora, suddenly switched. The screen flickered, and instead of more celebratory images, it showed footage of Narissa being brutally beaten in prison.

As the video played, Liora's face drained of color. Panic flooded her eyes as she turned to Elowen, desperately trying to explain. "Dad, please listen to me! It's not what it looks like! Someone is framing me, everything in that video is a lie!"

Elowen's smile faltered, and his eyes turned cold as he watched the footage of his daughter, bruised and tortured. His rage simmered, and the truth about the conspiracy and the assassination attempt became undeniable.

Wilde, sensing the shift, grabbed Elowen's arm urgently. "Elowen, Liora has always been kind and innocent. There's no way she could've done something like this! She must have been framed! With technology today, someone could have manipulated the video. Someone is trying to destroy her!"

Liora, crying, joined in the defense. "Dad, how could I do this to my sister? This is all part of someone else's scheme to frame me!"

But despite the desperate pleas from both mother and daughter, Elowen's heart remained frozen. Another video appeared on the screen, this time showing Wilde and Liora conspiring together.

"Liora, you did well. Astrid stole my man and forced us to live abroad for over a decade. It's a shame she didn't die earlier, but now, everything that was hers is ours."

Wilde patted Liora on the head, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "That little bitch took everything from us. Now you're going to take everything from her. It's an eye for an eye!"

Liora's eyes sparkled with greed. "Mom, can I do something to Narissa?"

Wilde chuckled, her smile full of indulgence. "Do whatever you want, darling. No one believes that little bitch anymore. Just don't kill her, and you can do whatever you want!"

The room fell silent as the full extent of Liora's malicious intentions was laid bare. Elowen's face twisted in disgust, and for the first time, the truth could no longer be denied.