Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

I casually glanced at Rosemary and said, "You're right, I do have thick skin, but not as thick as yours. You're the one who calls him 'brother,' yet secretly dreams of sharing his bed."
I smirked after speaking, feeling a twinge of satisfaction.
Rosemary didn't seem to be fazed by my words. Instead, she reached out and looped her arm through mine, pressing her lips together in a feigned, polite smile that made me feel a strange jolt in my chest.
"Laurel, you won't get what you want. You've ruined my reputation, and you won't walk away unscathed," she said, her voice sweet but with a hidden malice.
I paused, but before I could respond, she suddenly threw herself backward, tumbling down the stairs.
"Wow, she really is crazy."
I could have caught her, but I didn't want to ruin the high-fashion dress Angela had bought for me. Besides, if she wanted to make a spectacle of herself at Alex's birthday party, I was more than happy to oblige.
After all, if she wanted everyone to remember her as the crazy one, a little sacrifice was necessary.
The entire room's attention shifted to Rosemary as she rolled down the stairs.
When she landed, many faces registered shock and disbelief.
I stood there, watching with mild interest, as she writhed on the floor.
It wasn't the first time she had played this little "accident" game, and as always, she performed it perfectly.
She really should be in movies, her acting skills were wasted in this party.
When Austin saw Rosemary fall from the second floor, he rushed to her side immediately.
He quickly helped her up, his face full of concern and sympathy. Gently, he brushed the hair from her forehead and asked, "Rosemary, are you okay? Is it just your forehead, or do you hurt anywhere else?"
Tears welled up in Rosemary's eyes as she shook her head. Her voice quivered as she whispered, "I'm fine."
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but closed it again, looking vulnerable and helpless.
Her pale face, her fragile demeanor—she really looked pitiful, the perfect damsel in distress.
Austin looked up, his eyes turning cold as they locked onto me.
I stood perfectly still, meeting his icy gaze, feeling as if he wanted to tear me apart.
"Austin, it wasn't Laurel, I wasn't pushed by her," Rosemary said, her voice strained with emotion, trying to defend me.
Despite not admitting it was me who had pushed her, her pitiful expression made everyone around us start to suspect that I was the culprit.
And the way she was defending me... what a good girl.
At that moment, Amanda rushed over to Rosemary's side, gently holding her and patting her hand. Her face twisted with anger as she said, "Rosemary, don't be scared. Tell us who pushed you, and Mom will make sure you're taken care of."
Rosemary looked up at me, her eyes full of accusation, but she quickly lowered her gaze, her whole body trembling in fear.
She looked like a child who had been threatened by a wicked stepmother, making me seem like the evil queen from a fairy tale.
Her performance was so dramatic, it almost made me wonder if she had a future in theater.
She stayed silent, gripping Austin's shirt as if it were her last lifeline, her eyes wide and scared, like a wounded little animal.
I rubbed my temples and sighed. "Rosemary, my bad. I didn't catch you when you fell, but you can't blame me. You were holding onto my arm, and I'm wearing a couture dress. If I had fallen too, it would've been a disaster."
At my words, all eyes turned to Rosemary.
Anyone with half a brain could see that the only injury was a swollen forehead, and she was wearing a light chiffon dress—falling from the second floor wouldn't have been that painful.
If I had pushed her, given the movement needed to do so, I would've been pulled down with her. And most importantly, she had been holding my arm with my left hand, meaning I couldn't have used my right hand to push her.
Rosemary, seemingly caught off guard by my calm explanation, looked at me with a hint of surprise.
She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.
"Rosemary, if your health is fragile, you should have stayed seated. Today is Mr. Herrera's birthday party. It's lucky there was no blood spilled; otherwise, it would be bad luck. Even though you're adopted, the Herrera family has treated you well."
At this, murmurs spread through the crowd.
"She's the Herrera family's adopted daughter?"
"I thought the Herrera family's adopted daughter had a mental illness?"
"Who is that girl?"
"Laurel, Austin's ex. I heard she broke up with him because of Rosemary."
"Bringing a crazy person here is asking for trouble. She ruined that couple's relationship and now she's causing a scene at Mr. Herrera's birthday party? She clearly doesn't see herself as an outsider."
As whispers spread, more and more people joined the conversation.
Rosemary seemed taken aback by how quickly her carefully staged drama had turned against her, with the crowd now attacking her.
She immediately burst into tears, crying out, "Laurel, it was you who pushed me! How can you lie like this?"
Despite everything I had said, she refused to back down.
She was given an out, yet she still kept stirring the pot.
Austin's face hardened, and with a commanding tone, he said, "Laurel, apologize to Rosemary, and we'll consider this over."
Amanda, furious, snapped, "How can this be over, Austin? Rosemary fell from the second floor! She should kneel and apologize!"
"Mom," Austin frowned, shooting her a glance, clearly not wanting to escalate things further.
But Amanda wasn't having it. She had grown used to being dominant, and after a few defeats at my hands, she wasn't about to let me off easy. She had finally caught me in a vulnerable position, and she wasn't about to let go.
She glared at Austin, her voice laced with frustration. "Austin, we've been too kind to her, which is why she's become so bold. Don't forget, she's not your girlfriend anymore. Women like her deserve no mercy."
Watching Amanda fume, I couldn't help but smile wryly.
"Rosemary, are you sure it was me who pushed you?" I asked, my eyes scanning the room.
I didn't see any cameras around. Maybe that's why Rosemary felt so confident in framing me.
Rosemary hesitated, glancing nervously at the stairs, seemingly checking for cameras, before her face hardened with resolve. "Laurel, after you broke up with Austin, you're blaming me for everything. You... you're too much."