Hiding Behind Her Superficiality Novel (Elspeth and Callum) - Season 2 Episode 42

As he glared at Elspeth, Callum reprimanded, “Don’t you dare do it again! I was worried sick.”

Her grin grew wider when she caught the sight of his worried look. “Assuming I’m the woman inside the room, what will you do?”

“I’ll dig every witness’ eyes out and feed the men who dare lay their fingers on you to the fish in the sea.”

Even though his approach was cruel, she could feel a sense of security from him.

“Don’t worry. You’ll never find me in this kind of situation. After all, I’m cleverer than most people.” She had confidence in herself. Recalling a detail that she almost missed, she couldn’t help but ask, “By the way, why are you so sure the woman inside the room wasn’t me?”

Alaina and Elspeth shared similar stature and it could be quite confusing if someone didn’t pay attention to their features and mistook one of them for the other.

Callum didn’t even deign to look at her as he answered casually, “Both of you have different hairstyles.”

Alaina had soft and straight hair while Elspeth had black and wavy hair. Their hairstyles gave them different vibes.

Elspeth remembered another thing, which was the fact that the group in the room before wasn’t wearing anything. She failed to suppress her curiosity as she murmured, “Are you sure you didn’t peek inside?”

Callum’s expression changed at her assumption. It wasn’t the awkward expression one would show when his secret was being exposed, but the expression of evident disdain to the degree where he found her theory offensive. “She isn’t worth my time.”

He could tell Alaina was the person responsible for the incident just by instinct, and Elspeth was almost being made the victim in Alaina’s ruse. Thus, Callum could never take a liking to Alaina. He felt nothing but disdain for the woman.

Elspeth knew his personality, so she decided to stop teasing him further. Instead, she took his hand and the pair returned to the hall downstairs.

The birthday dinner had to be called off and it ended hastily after the incident.

Just as the guests were ready to make their departure, the victim of the incident regained consciousness. Wrapped in a blanket, Alaina rushed downstairs like a mad woman. The onlookers failed in their attempt to stop her.

She never imagined herself to be the victim. Her eyes were misted over with tears as she announced, “Somebody set me up!”

She was trying to cover up her mistake by shifting the crowd’s attention to another person. For now, she was ready to do anything and blame someone else for it.

Elspeth, who stood nearby, was engrossed in Alaina’s story. Feeling like she was missing something, she served herself a plate of pastries and enjoyed them while listening to Alaina.

At that moment, Alaina shot daggers at Elspeth. Her whine resembled a ghostly wail. “Elspeth set me up! She told me to wait inside the room. It’s clear she’s the one responsible for all of this!”

Tears rolled down Alaina’s cheeks as she tried to blame Elspeth.

Some of the guests present were firmly in her corner.

They were enraged and refused to believe that the most precious woman in their minds was humiliated. When Alaina revealed it was a setup, they didn’t hesitate to point their fingers at the so-

called culprit.

“That’s right. Alaina will never do such an indecent and shameless thing. There must be someone behind all of this!”

The remarks were ringing in Alaina’s ears. Every word they said pierced straight through her.

However, she considered herself to have gone through thick and thin. The mere comment didn’t even affect her. On the other end, Elspeth couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

The sudden laughter attracted everyone’s attention. All of them were curious about the reason she burst into laughter.

“Alaina, are you sure you want to dig your grave?”

Elspeth considered her words as the last reminder for Alaina. If Alaina planned to continue such nonsense, she was asking for trouble and Elspeth would gladly comply.

However, Alaina didn’t want to suffer the loss. Although she might eventually pay the price, she would drag Elspeth down with her.

“What are you trying to imply? I know you set me up! I want justice!”

Elspeth narrowed her eyes and frowned. “Before you ask for justice, do you mind wearing a shirt?”

Alaina finally realized that her current attire was less than appropriate. However, she was in Yelena’s territory, and Yelena didn’t even bother to prepare the clothes for her.

The crowd burst into laughter. Ashamed of her condition, Alaina wished to flee the scene and get as far away as possible from the crowd.

However, she had passed the point of no return. All she could do was bite back her retorts and whines. Turning her head to Elspeth, Alaina continued with an expression of resentment, “Elspeth, did you change the topic because you’re worried that I’ll expose your conspiracy?”

It was Elspeth’s first time seeing the culprit blaming a scapegoat with such an unconventional excuse. As such, she didn’t bother to stifle her laugh. “Alaina, aren’t you ashamed of saying such a thing?”

“Elspeth, I trusted you. I particularly respected you when I was staying at my former company. I even addressed you as ‘Miss Lynwood’. Who would have thought you would frame me and force me to leave the company? I don’t blame you for that, but tell me right here and now why you’re conspiring against me yet again.”

Alaina had tears in her eyes and the look bought her sympathy. Nobody would suspect her even though she was figuring out something else in her mind.

As long as she could hold Elspeth accountable for the incident, Alaina would only claim the title of the victim in the story. Even if the media spread the news, she was mostly safe.

However, she would be doomed if the media portrayed her as a promiscuous woman who slept with many men at once in someone else’s house.

Thus, she made up her mind and blamed everything on Elspeth. After all, the men didn’t know Alaina. Elspeth couldn’t make waves with her words alone when there was no solid evidence against Alaina.

“Hold on. Let me get things straight. You weren’t forced to leave the company because of me. Instead, you have misbehaved by having affairs with many men at once. Your behavior ruined one’s family, so we had to fire you.”

Elspeth spoke clearly and her tone was steady. She sounded completely truthful.

The crowd erupted into chatter as they turned to Alaina and scorned her.

Some of the guests were victims of love affairs. As they looked at Alaina, who had a look as pure as an angel, they couldn’t help but spit and scold her when they remembered her doings.

However, Alaina’s gaze didn’t waver. “You have the right to say anything as you please. I’m not that capable of interfering with your freedom to speak. After all, I only lost a job at that time, which I have no problem enduring. Now, however, you’re ruining my reputation! My dad is known for being kind and gentle, but your lies put me in a position of letting him down.”

Alaina’s words fully expressed a kind and gentle daughter’s filial piety toward her father.

However, she was met with Elspeth this time.

“It’s a surprise to learn you’re aware that you let your father down.” Elspeth chuckled. “It seems like I have to teach you a lesson on your father’s behalf.”

Alaina swallowed anxiously as she widened her eyes in disbelief.

“Alaina, will you admit that you tried to set me up? I’m supposed to be the victim of your plan in the first place, no?”

Alaina shook her head with all her might. “Nonsense! I would never do that to you! If you’re holding me accountable for it, why am I now the victim? You’re lying!”

Overwhelmed by the turn of events, the reporters felt glad that they didn’t leave earlier, or else they would have missed the big news.

Elspeth didn’t answer the other woman. Instead, she turned to Yelena. “Do you mind calling in all the servants?”

Yelena nodded before summoning all the servants to gather around them.

“As soon as we learned about the incident, Callum asked his bodyguards to surround the place. He made sure that no suspect could escape without alerting his men,” Elspeth began casually, but her words terrified Alaina.