Honey, You're a Billionaire?

No one in the room seemed to believe Lizzie's words. Even Cyrus, who stood by her side, felt a growing sense of unease gnawing at him. Despite this, he quickly regained his composure and spoke up for Lizzie before anyone else could respond. "Mom, Lizz was with me the entire time—" "Hah..." A soft chuckle interrupted him before he could finish.

Cyrus turned to Ezra, only to meet his cold, icy gaze. Anger flared within him. "Ezra-"

"Ezra, tell us. What happened?" Eleanor cut in, completely ignoring Cyrus' anger.

After being interrupted again, Cyrus' face darkened, but no one cared about his frustration at this point.

Although Jonathan had been with Rose in the greenhouse, everyone's initial assumption had involved Ezra.

"I was brought back to the Finch Manor for what I thought would be a grand reunion, only to discover it was a trap." Ezra's tone was thick with sarcasm.

"Who brought him back?" Eleanor thought as her gaze swiftly turned to Cyrus, but before she could speak, Cyrus interjected, his face a picture of innocence.

"I... Ezra, what do you mean? What trap are you talking about? I asked you to come back because it's Lizzie's birthday, and I wanted the whole family to gather. That's why I came to pick you up-" "Trap? What trap are you talking about?" Eleanor's voice rose, cutting through Cyrus' protest.

She wasn't interested in excuses. Not even from her own son.

Ezra lowered his gaze and vaguely recounted the day's events. He had been upstairs watching the banquet unfold when a server approached him, saying Jonathan had asked him to come to the greenhouse. Upon arriving, he discovered something amiss with his body, and instead of Jonathan, he encountered Rose.

Although Ezra's description was cryptic, everyone present could guess what he meant. Clearly, someone had orchestrated a plan to entangle Ezra and Rose together.

Considering Jonathan's devotion to Rose, even if they weren't married yet, one could only imagine what Jonathan would have done if something had truly happened between Ezra and Rose.

"Despicable! Absolutely despicable!" Eleanor thumped her walking stick against the floor, her fury evident.

Fortunately, the scheme had been thwarted. Otherwise...

Eleanor's face darkened as she imagined the potential fallout. If the plan had succeeded, it would have driven more than just a wedge between the brothers. The Xanth and Young families would never have allowed Rose to suffer such humiliation. The Finch family might reign supreme in Regalia, but the Xanth family's overseas power and wealth rivaled their own. Adding the Young family to the equation, the potential backlash would be immeasurable.

"Who did this? Who is responsible for this despicable act? Show yourself!" Eleanor roared, hoping the culprit would confess voluntarily.

But the culprit wasn't likely to reveal themselves so willingly.

Ezra's lips curled into a cold smile as he turned his gaze toward Lizzie. "Mrs. Finch, don't you have anything to say?"

Lizzie tensed at being called out again, despite her best efforts to remain calm. "Ezra, what exactly are you implying? I know you've never liked me, but to accuse me falsely is a step too far.

"You're trying to pin something on me that I had no part in. There are other things I can take responsibility for to keep the peace, but this..."

Her face showed a perfect blend of helplessness and innocence. "This is too serious. I can't take the blame for something I didn't do."

Her performance, rife with feigned helplessness and humility, left a bitter taste in the mouths of those who saw through her charade.

Ezra thought back to many years ago. Even knowing Lizzie's true character, he hadn't dared to voice a single opinion. Instead, he let his brother stand alone, fighting on his behalf.

Looking back, he felt ashamed of his own weakness.

However, this time, things would be different. He couldn't let Jonathan carry the burden alone anymore. He had spent too many years living recklessly, shirking his responsibilities. It was time for him to step up and take action. "Do you want proof?" Ezra abruptly interjected.

Lizzie's face paled slightly. The thought of evidence terrified her, but did Ezra really possess any? She couldn't afford to be intimidated by him.

"I'm innocent..." Her voice quivered with feigned vulnerability, her eyes downcast. Suddenly, she seemed to change her mind and dropped to her knees.

"Lizz, what are you doing?" Cyrus tried to help her up, his voice filled with concern.

However, Lizzie resisted. "Cyrus, I know you care for me, but if the Finch family needs someone to take the blame... then I'll take it."

She bit her lip, as though preparing herself for a grand sacrifice. "I haven't done much for the Finch family, so if this is what's needed, I'll bear the burden."

Her words implied her innocence while emphasizing her willingness to bear the burden for the Finch family's sake. It was a well-crafted performance.

Ezra, Elijah, Clover, and Miles shared

a cold, disdainful look. This display of self-sacrifice appeared to affect onlyCyrus. Even Eleanor wasn't buying her theatrics.

"Enough with the pitiful act. You won't be wrongfully accused if you didn't do it. But if you did..." Eleanor couldn't hide the loathing in her voice.

"Mrs. Finch, you seemed to have reacted quite intensely to my previous question," Ezra said coldly as he stared at Lizzie.

He then repeated his question once more. "Do you want proof?"

"Ezra, do you have proof?" Eleanor asked urgently. She had wanted to ask earlier but had been interrupted by Lizzie's dramatic display.

If Ezra held concrete evidence, the matter could be resolved swiftly.

Ezra hesitated briefly, as though considering his next move. In that moment of hesitation, Lizzie convinced herself that Ezra was merely bluffing.

"He's just trying to scare me!" Lizzie

thought. She couldn't help but smirk inwardly, Gradually, she felt her confidence growing, even allowing a hint of triumph to spark in her lowered eyes.

Ezra noticed the glint of smugness in Lizzie's eyes.

"Bring them in!" he commanded.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

All eyes turned toward the entrance, where Finley appeared, escorting a hooded figure. The person's face was concealed under a black cloth, but their uniform resembled that of an Azure Clan bodyguard.

Lizzie's expression stiffened slightly.

Finley reached out and yanked off the cloth, revealing a battered and bloodied face, swollen beyond recognition.

The man's body was smeared with blood, its metallic scent quickly filling the room and causing a wave of nausea among those present.

"Who is this?" Eleanor asked, her tone cold and sharp.

It was difficult to recognize the man in his current state.

Ezra's gaze remained fixed on Lizzie. "Mrs. Finch, you should know who this is."

Naturally, Lizzie recognized him. She had guessed who it was when Finley brought him in.

"That's Carl!" she had thought.

Now that his hood was removed, there was no doubt. It was Carl.

Panic rose within Lizzie. She hadn't anticipated Carl falling into Finley's hands, and she knew Finley worked for Jonathan.

She feared neither Ezra, Eleanor, nor anyone else present, but she was terrified of Jonathan.

"Did Carl betray me?" she wondered.

Taking a deep breath, Lizzie quickly composed herself just as Ezra's question came. Everyone was now staring at her, including Cyrus.