Amidst the tears and turmoil, Lily’s voice trembled with frustration as she affirmed, "I had nothing to do with this! It was Derek—he’s the one responsible!" She turned to her mother, desperation in her eyes. "Can’t you see what he’s doing? He’s manipulating you—both of you!"Mrs. Hartley’s face was lined with concern, but disbelief clouded her judgment. “Lily… how could you lay such grave accusations against your own brother?”Lily snapped, her frustration boiling over. “Because it’s the truth! Can’t you see how he’s playing you all? He’s been doing it from the start!”Derek, sensing an opportunity, quickly capitalized on her outburst. “You can’t handle the truth, can you?” he said smoothly, his voice dripping with mockery. “Just give it up already.”Lily’s eyes flashed with anger as she fired back, “I know what you’re doing, Derek. I know you’re hell-bent on bringing me down. You’ll stop at nothing to make me look like the villain, but I won’t let you get away with it.”Derek scoffe

Robert, sensing her inner turmoil, glanced at her as they walked toward his car. “Don’t worry, Lily,” he assured her gently. “We’re going to prove your innocence. I’ll help you get through this.”Lily’s heart swelled with gratitude. She looked at him, her eyes filled with emotion, and thanked him softly, her voice thick with sincerity. “Thank you, Robert. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”Together, they walked to Robert’s car, and as they got in, Lily felt a new surge of hope. The road ahead was uncertain, but for now, she wasn’t facing it alone.Meanwhile, as they left the house and settled into Robert’s car, he turned to Lily and said, “Why not head over to the conference that Glidson Group of Companies is hosting? Maybe we can prove your innocence there. If we dig into the contract, we might find out that you actually signed it and not Derek.”Lily's face shot up with a determined look, her mind racing. Could this really be the opportunity she had been waiting for? The chance

Derek’s smugness was unbearable, and it made Lily’s stomach twist even tighter.The man on stage cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention back to him. “Unfortunately, our director is not able to join us this evening, but I will be standing in his place to make the necessary announcements.”Lily’s nerves spiked further, her mind racing. She glanced at Robert, who gave her an encouraging nod. The moment of truth was drawing closer, and despite her anxiety, she knew she had to stay calm. This was their chance.As the man continued, his words felt distant to Lily, who was struggling to keep her emotions in check. Anger boiled inside her as she couldn’t understand why the director himself was absent for such a monumental day.She gritted her teeth, her foot tapping anxiously against the floor as the man droned on with pleasantries. Her fingers were clenched tightly on her lap, and she kept shifting in her seat, unable to sit still.Her breathing grew uneven, and she stole quick glan

Lily's heart, which had been racing moments earlier, began to steady. Robert's words infused her with a new surge of confidence. She nodded slightly, taking a deep breath.The flicker of hope from earlier had grown into a flame, burning bright within her. She was ready. The truth was about to be revealed, and everyone would see who she truly was.On stage, the man continued with a smile. “I would like to welcome to the stage the person who negotiated this remarkable deal, whose skill and perseverance have brought about this partnership.”Derek’s parents turned to him, pride practically radiating from their faces."That's our boy!" his father whispered with excitement, nudging him. “You did it, Derek.”His mother beamed, “We always knew you had it in you.”Lily, too, was on edge, her breath held in anticipation. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for.The man on stage paused for dramatic effect, letting the tension build. Then, with a smile, he said, “Please help me welcome M

Derek’s shoulders stiffened, but he didn’t respond. He couldn't. His mind was racing, searching for a way out. Ignoring his father’s commanding tone, Derek hurried toward the door, his steps quick and unsteady, as if the faster he moved, the less real the situation would become.Mr. Hartley, his patience wearing thin, clenched his fists as he watched Derek flee. “Coward,” he muttered under his breath, his disappointment deepening. Mrs. Hartley shook her head, tears of frustration welling in her eyes as the full extent of Derek's deceit settled into their hearts.As Derek slipped out of the hall, his once-confident persona was left in tatters behind him. His world had collapsed, and now, there was nowhere to run from the truth.As Lily stepped down from the stage, her gaze immediately locked onto her parents. The disappointment in their eyes was unmistakable—deep and cutting, a reflection of their shame. They had believed Derek’s lies over their own daughter, allowing his deceit to