After Rebirth, I Replaced My Ex-Husband's True Love-Chapter 157: You’ve All Been Deceived

I didn’t expect my reaction to be so intense when I saw Azure’s family move into Maplewood Gardens, as if something precious to me had been tainted, an uncontrollable anger and nausea.

At this moment, Henry Preston should be at the hospital dealing with Walter Vaughn’s matters. He never ignores Azure, especially when it’s about her father’s health condition.

I closed my eyes, and tears inexplicably began to flow. I let them soak the pillow, and amid this frustration and discomfort, I fell asleep. When I awoke, my head was splitting, as if someone were drumming in my temples.

The air was thick with the smell of perfume, emanating from the bottle I’d smashed last night. I coughed twice, forcing my dizzy and groggy body to get up and then took a shower.

Just as I emerged from the bathroom, my phone rang; it was Ivan Underwood calling.

"Zoe Hathaway, where are you now?" Ivan’s somewhat solemn voice came through after I picked up.

"Maplewood Gardens. Why?" I responded.

"Something happened last night, Silas Lockwood told me about it. Are you okay?" His tone softened, laced with a hint of probing concern.

My emotions had calmed considerably, and my voice was quite steady, "I’m fine. Maybe Azure’s dad might have issues, heart problems. Is he in your hospital?"

Ivan paused before answering, "Yes, I’m responsible for his treatment. That’s why I asked Silas Lockwood what exactly happened."

"Okay, well, you should treat him properly." I didn’t want anything to happen to Walter Vaughn; after all, they weren’t even aware of what their daughter had done.

I just want Azure to pay the appropriate price.

Ivan wanted to meet up, but I refused. I didn’t want to see anyone right now, just wanted to be alone for a while. I needed to find a way to explain the negative news about me to my parents and clarify things. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

When I got home, my parents were indeed waiting for me; they had already seen the news about me.

My dad looked furious, "Zoe Hathaway, explain this to me properly. What the hell is all this!"

"Zoe, what’s going on?" My mom was relatively calmer; she pulled me onto the sofa by my hand.

After the argument last night, I was in a bad mood, but I didn’t want to tell my parents. So, I calmly explained the ins and outs of the news. My parents’ expressions softened considerably, with the pictures of me and Joel Sutton being taken after the divorce, not involving any so-called ’affair.’

The dance photos were from an event at a bar where many girls went on stage to dance; there was no excessive behavior.

But these details, my parents believed, while the outside spectators might not.

After consulting a lawyer, I sent a legal notice to the publisher and the website. About a day later, the content was deleted, but surely some netizens must have saved the photos to gossip.

I didn’t care anymore. The deletion proved they were guilty, and my reputation was somewhat restored, as long as it didn’t severely impact my parents.

Three days later, Crystal Dawson brought me news that Walter Vaughn’s condition had stabilized, but Azure was deteriorating, and both were hospitalized.

Despite Azure’s weak heart, her vitality was strong, like an indestructible cockroach, always managing to keep bouncing back.

"I’m so pissed I almost got sick from the anger!" Crystal Dawson huffed, "Zoe, just expose her to the media now, make her angry to the point of a heart attack and then fail to be resuscitated!"

"Hmm, I did think about it. But calm down; you have to be careful for the sake of the baby." I comforted Crystal Dawson. She’s pregnant now and must not get too emotional. I’ve already lost a child and didn’t want anything happening to her too.

"I know. Don’t worry about me. Whatever you need, just let me know. I’ll help with whatever I can!" Crystal Dawson was still full of righteous fervor.

Not just her, I knew Leah Lane and Tiana O’Connell would stand by me unwaveringly.

My parents and these few friends are my greatest pillars of support right now.

After hanging up the phone, I sorted through various materials about Azure again. It seemed that only by organizing these things time and time again could I feel a bit better because they were my sole weapon to tear off Azure’s mask.

Unexpectedly, I didn’t have the chance to act before Laura Lawson found me.

She called me and arranged to meet. Originally, I didn’t want to see her, but after the ugly scene at Maplewood Gardens last time, it was perhaps better to clarify things face-to-face, to let her understand what her dear daughter was truly like.

We arranged to meet at a café where Azure used to work. This place marked the beginning of my overlapping life with Azure, holding significant meaning for me.

These days, Laura Lawson looked much more haggard. Her hair had more gray than before, replacing her steadfast and unassuming demeanor with an air of anxiety and unease, her eyes always darting around. Upon my arrival, she immediately stood up, "Miss Hathaway, you’re here."

"Hmm, what do you want to say to me?" I sat across from Laura Lawson. She had not ordered any drinks, so I ordered a black coffee for myself and orange juice and some sweets for her, as just sitting there chatting felt a bit uncomfortable.

Laura Lawson nervously furrowed her brow, glanced at the food set on the table, but seemed not interested. She merely took a sip of the orange juice and said, "I came to apologize on behalf of my daughter. She’s young, still in college, and doesn’t understand human affairs well. If she’s done anything wrong, could you be a little forgiving?"

She spoke as if she already knew I hadn’t let go, her tone quite humble.

Sometimes I wondered if Azure was picked up by Walter Vaughn and Laura Lawson, because how could they, with such personalities, have a daughter as scheming as Azure?

"Auntie Lawson, what did Azure say to you? I’d like to hear it." I took a light sip of the bitter coffee, much like my life after being reborn—seemingly not much sweeter.

"She just..." Laura Lawson sighed, "Miss Hathaway, this matter started with Mr. Preston bothering her. We are just a regular family, and she’s just an ordinary girl. When someone like Mr. Preston entangles her, she’s powerless. She came to you, not intending to provoke you, but to clarify. She never intended to break you and Mr. Preston up, not even after your divorce. Otherwise, she would be scorned!"

Such nice words. If after my divorce with Henry Preston, Azure had truly decided never to be with him, then why did she keep accepting all of Henry Preston’s arrangements?

I knew what was on her mind, but she hid it from everyone, as if no one could see her true colors.

"Do you believe her?" I interrupted Laura Lawson’s talk, asking rhetorically.

"Of course, Azure is a good kid. She’s been very outstanding and obedient since she was little. No one has ever said anything bad about her. She got involved in the relationship between you and Mr. Preston out of helplessness, and she deeply regrets and resents it!" Laura Lawson said sincerely, not looking as if she were lying.

In her mind, her daughter was the victim.

Halfway through the coffee, I spoke again, "Auntie Lawson, your daughter is quite the character. She’s fooled all of you, you know?"

Laura Lawson was stunned, full of confusion, "What do you mean? What do you mean by fooled all of us?"

"From the start, she approached Henry Preston first. She wanted to kill me, deliberately provoked me into a miscarriage. She likes Henry Preston. Am I clear enough?" My eyes held little emotion, just looking at Laura Lawson indifferently. Stating these facts seemed to dispel some of the anger.

Laura Lawson was shocked, even spilled the orange juice on the table. The café staff quickly cleaned up, but she was still in a daze. Only after the staff left did she tremble as she spoke, "Miss Hathaway, you need to take responsibility for your words. Azure hasn’t finished her studies and needs to marry someday. If her reputation is damaged, can you bear that responsibility?"

"I can take responsibility for every word I’ve said, but can Azure take responsibility for every action she’s committed?" My voice turned stern.

Laura Lawson gazed at me in disbelief, still unwilling to accept the situation.

I played the recordings I was originally going to send to the media for Laura Lawson. During this process, she appeared as if struck by lightning, sitting there dumbfounded. She should have easily recognized her daughter’s voice, so she shouldn’t think I’d forged Azure’s recordings.

"Auntie Lawson, I’ll sort these issues out with your daughter slowly. You and your husband know nothing, and I haven’t blamed your whole family, which is generous of me. Don’t push me to do something I don’t want to do." After finishing these words, I didn’t pay further heed to the now completely rigid Laura Lawson, grabbed my bag, and settled the bill before leaving.