Lady Warrior's Warth on Divorce Day novel Chapter 116

Chapter 116

The room erupted in an uproar, and Jasmine’s face turned pale.

“What evidence do you have for saying that? If you don’t have any proof, I can sue you for slander!” Jasmine snapped.

“I’m not trying to slander you, Ms. Ingram. But before I came here today, I suddenly received an anonymous message. It said that you watched your colleague burning and chose to run away instead of helping, which led to their death!” the reporter said.

The reporter held up his phone, showing everyone the text message he had received that morning. Then he handed the phone to Jasmine.

Jasmine stared at the message on the reporter’s phone, her face drained of color. Outwardly, she tried to stay calm, but inside, dread crashed over her like a tidal wave.

‘Who sent this? How do they know? Who could possibly know what really happened that night?‘ Jasmine’s thoughts spun.

The reporter continued, “This number is a virtual one. We couldn’t trace the source. I’m just here to learn the truth. Ms. Ingram, would you care to explain?”

Jasmine drew in a long breath and glanced at the crowd below. The room was filled with philanthropists and journalists, all gathered for the orphanage event.

If she slipped up, they’d spot it in a heartbeat.

She said slowly, “It’s true that a colleague of mine lost his life in that fire. But it

an accident. I wasn’t with him at the time. When I realized what had happened, he was already gone. All I could do was call the fire department and use what tools I had to try to put out the flames.”

She continued, “The cops said afterwards the whole thing started because my colleague was smoking and didn’t put out his cigarette. I’m urging everyone again. Stay safe, it’s on all of us!”

Her words sounded noble and sincere. The audience burst into applause.

The color returned to Jasmine’s cheeks as she went on, “I don’t know who sent that malicious message, but I believe in justice. If I were truly guilty of what that message claims, the government would never have awarded me honors for bravery. I would never have received such recognition.”

Looking around at everyone, she added, “Whoever’s behind this little stunt. I don’t know if you’re in this room, but let me warn you. People who sneak around and throw mud at others never get what they want!”

The applause grew even louder.

With her head held high, Jasmine stepped down from the stage and returned to her seat.

“Are you alright?” Nicolas asked with concern.

“I’m fine,” she replied calmly. But only she knew that her palms were drenched in cold sweat.

‘Who on earth sent that text?‘ Jasmine asked herself.

It felt as if that person had actually witnessed what happened that night.

But that was impossible. No one else had been there except her and the co–pilot, and the co–pilot had died in the flames. The dead wouldn’t talk. And she had never told anyone what really happened!

‘Could it be the same person who messaged my phone last time?‘ Jasmine wondered.

“Maybe we should head out early,” Nicolas said softly.

“No need,” Jasmine answered firmly.

If she left now, it would only make her look guilty. She had to stay and prove she had nothing to hide.

It seemed as though the disturbance had passed. But Zoya sat quietly, head slightly bowed, deep in thought.

“Hey, what’s bothering you?” Wren asked, glancing over at her.

“Nothing. Just felt like Jasmine looked a little strange up there on stage,” Zoya murmured.

“She’s just faking it, trying to act calm,” Wren said.

Zoya paused, surprised. “So… you think that anonymous message might actually be true?”

Wren replied, “Who knows? Maybe she really did just let someone die, or maybe she’s hiding something else entirely. All I know is, the look on her face up there wasn’t how an innocent person reacts when they’re accused out of nowhere.”

Zoya was still deep in thought when a little girl raced over and dove straight into her arms. “Zoya, did you watch my performance just now?”

“Of course I did! You did wonderfully,” Zoya replied, crouching down and gently ruffling the girl’s hair.

Mia’s eyes sparkled with delight as she tugged at Zoya’s hand. “Zoya, come play Hen and Hawk with us! You get to be the mother hen!”

“Sure!” Zoya grinned, about to dash off with Mimi and join the kids, when Wren reached out and gently stopped her.

“Your arm hasn’t healed yet,” Wren reminded her.

“It’s pretty much fine now. Plus, being the mother hen isn’t exactly heavy lifting,” Zoya laughed, trying to wave off his concern.

Even so, Wren was still worried. “Seriously, you shouldn’t. Sit this one out.”

“But isn’t that just gonna kill the mood for all these kids?” Zoya replied.

And sure enough, the kids were all staring at her with those big, hopeful eyes, practically begging her to join

1. in.

Wren pursed his lips for a second. “I’ll do it.”

“Wait, what?” Zoya blinked, honestly floored. “You’re gonna be the mother hen?”

“I am,” he said, completely straight–faced.

Zoya honestly couldn’t wrap her head around it. Wren stepping in for a kids‘ game like Hen and Hawk? He just wasn’t the kind of guy you’d expect to play something that silly.

Yet there he was, taking the whole thing seriously. Wren crouched down to Mia and said gently, “Zoya’s arm is still hurt, so I will play with you guys today!”

With that, Wren shrugged off his suit jacket, took off his tic, unbuttoned his cuffs, and rolled up his sleeves.

Before long, Zoya watched as Wren, taking on the mother hen role, raced around the grass with the kids, chasing and dodging with them.

For once, Wren looked nothing like his usual cold, solitary self. Instead, he seemed like a carefree big kid, just letting loose.

Among the guests and reporters who actually knew who Wren was, jaws collectively hit the floor as they watched the scene unfold.

Wren was the man everyone in Ranard City feared. Anyone who ever messed with him ended up paying the price. But now, here he was, playing Hen and Hawk with a bunch of kids.

Zoya couldn’t help but smile as she watched this unfold. It turned out, the more time she spent with Wren, the more she realized how different he was from what she’d imagined.

She took out her phone and snapped a few photos of him.

But as she was about to put the phone away, a thought struck her. Opening her browser, she began to search for information about the co–pilot who had died in that fire five years ago.

He had been blamed for the accident, publicly vilified for causing it by smoking. Even his surviving family had been harassed online. Cloud Airlines had paid heavily to suppress the scandal.

If he really had caused the fire himself, then his death might have been a tragic consequence of his own mistake. But something about Jasmine’s reaction made Zoya suspect there was more to the story.

Just as she was lost in thought, Jasmine’s voice suddenly rang out sharply. “Zoya! Are you the one who sent that malicious message?”