when she left he went crazy (Hope and Christopher)

Chapter 162: Your Mistake Is Being Christopher Valence's Ex-wife

Snowflakes swirled gently outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, layering a thin blanket of white over the ground. Despite the sufficient heating inside, at chill ran through me as I met Skylar's icy gaze.

Skylar had thoroughly investigated me. They had delved into my life before I even arrived in Jacquar, which explained why they had confined me in the storage room and deliberately cut the power. They went to great lengths to deal with me, an ex-wife.

Skylar took a sip of water and looked at me with contempt, 'Reconsidering leaving Jacquar?"

I straightened my back. "What's the reason this time?"

Last time, they had used threats and bribes. What would it be now?

Skylar sneered, "The first dress your company released after you started it had this kind of problem. Do you think your companycan survive this scandal? Why not go abroad and study for a few years? I'll cover the expenses."

I clenched my fists tightly. That day at Harris Mansion, Christopher had echoed the same sentiment, suggesting I leave the country. Everyone seemed determined to exile me.

Skylar continued, "However, before you go, you need to write a public apology on social media. Admit that you had malicious intentions and deliberately designed the dress to fail, humiliating Kimberly in public,"

"What if I say no?" I smiled bitterly, meeting Skylar's gaze calmly. "And if there was a problem with the dress, it doesn't necessarily mean it was my fault."

Skylar's face contorted with anger, and she slammed her cup onto the marble coffee table. "What are you trying to say? Are you suggesting that Kimberly exposed her body just to frame you?!" "It's not impossible!" I answered assertively.

Skylar shot up from her seat, her heels clicking sharply as she approached. She grabbed my cheek, her manicured nails digging into my skin. "Evidence? Hope Royston, tell me, what is the evidence?" I tried to resist, but two bodyguards pinned my shoulders, rendering me immobile.

Kimberly stormed down the stairs, having changed her clothes. "Exactly! You deliberately embarrassed me and disgraced the Harris family."

Ignoring the pain on my cheek, I said, "I have evidence."

I opened my palm, revealing a piece of the dress's strap. Skylar glanced at it dismissively. "What is this supposed to be?"

I held the material up to Kimberly. "Ms. Harris, you should recognize this. After all, you cut it with scissors yourself. The cut is very clean"

No one would dare to jeopardize the Harris family's standing by causing a scene in such an occasion, no matter how they disliked Kimberly. Given the minimal handling a dress would undergo, it wouldn't be hard to trace any tampering back to its source.

After assessing the situation, I concluded that only Kimberly could be responsible.

Furiously, Kimberly asked, "How did this end up in your hand!"

I replied calmly, "I grabbed it when I slapped you."

The scene had been chaotic, but it was immediately clear to me that the dress issue wasn't a matter of quality. Given that the strap broke first, I grabbed the piece from Kimberly's chest as I slapped her. Kimberly, lost in her fervor to ruin my career, hadn't even noticed.

Kimberly's face stiffened, and she snorted, "So what if I cut it myself?"

Hearing this, I lost interest in continuing the argument and looked at Skylar. "Mrs. Harris, can I leave now?"

I assumed Skylar had been venting on Kimberly's behalf. With the truth out. I naively believed the matter no longer concen

Chapter 162: Your Mistake is Being Christopher Valence's Ex-wife

Unexpectedly, Skylar affectionately pinched Kimberly's cheek, "Are you crazy, risking your reputation just to frame her?"

Kimberly pouted, her voice sulky. "Mom, I'm sorry! She's so stubborn; I didn't know what else to do."

Skylar's voice softened, devoid of any chastisement. "Alright. Go upstairs first, and III handle it."

Probably, she was the most doting mother in the world.

Kimberly beamed, "Mom, you always know what to do!"

With that, she trotted upstairs, and Skylar watched her go with an

in affectionate smile.

Once Kimberly was out of sight, Skylar's gaze shifted back to me, frigid and contemptuous.

"Hope Royston, I gave you a way out, and you didn't take it." She turned to the bodyguards, "Make her kneel outside! When she agrees to leave the country, bring her back in."

I stared at Skylar. "What right do you have to do this?"

Skylar laughed scornfully. "Right? More like power."

My face turned pale.

Yes, it was a foolish question.

The bodyguards dragged me outside while snowflakes fell, quickly melting on my skin. But I refused to kneel. I gritted my teeth and struggled fiercely.

Skylar watched me through the floor-to-ceiling window, her expression one of bored amusement. After an eternity, she became exasperated, donned a fur coat, and came outside with an umbrella. "Pathetic! You can't even handle a woman!"

In the next moment, she kicked the back of my knee with the pointed edge of her high heel. The bodyguards' hold on me made it inevitable. I fell to my knees with a painful thud, the freezing snow soaking through my clothes, biting into my skin.

Looking up at Skylar, tears-ones I hadn't shed throughout my divorce-welled up. "Mrs. Harris, what did I do wrong?"

I had never tried to compete with Kimberly. She had consistently pushed me, and without any support, I had always endured.

Skylar looked down at me like looking at an ant. "In fact, you did nothing wrong. Your only mistake was being Christopher Valence's ex-wife, and Kimberly perceives you as a threat. I know you don't wish to compete with her."

I murmured, "Then why..."

Skylar asked, "Why do I treat you like Kimberly does, forcing you to leave?"

Mentioning Kimberly softened Skylar's eyes with maternal love, but her gaze at me remained cold. "Because I'm her mother, the only person in this world who will unconditionally protect her.

Such tender words.

by tears flowed even more uncontrollably.

Yet my

Skylar looked at the bodyguards and coldly said. "Keep an eye on her. If she gets up, today will be your last day working here you can leave too."

The snow fell heavier, each flake a bitter reminder. My knees stiffened with the cold until I couldn't rise even if I wanted to.

Looking up, I saw Kimberly standing in a room on the second floor, smiling triumphantly.

"Loser."