"Of course I believe you," Claire said, folding her arms with a mocking smile. "President Watson is ruthless, powerful, and cold-blooded. I've experienced that firsthand. But tell me, is it your style to make judgments without knowing the full story?"
"What are you implying?" Gilbert snapped.
Claire arched a brow. "What am I implying? I can't tell if you're playing dumb or really are clueless. Let me ask you. Before I hit her, did you even bother to find out what she did to me?"
Gilbert fell silent for a moment, then abruptly shoved Emma away from his arms, his gaze turning cold and sharp as he scrutinized her.
Panic flashed across Emma's face. She immediately burst into tears.
"Gilbert, early this morning she ordered the secretary to destroy all the perfumes I had already planned to launch. I got angry and said a few words, and she chased after me and attacked me," she sobbed, pitiful and tearful.
Gilbert's eyes narrowed dangerously, glinting with icy menace.
"You might want to ask the secretary first. She was present the whole time," Claire said with a frosty smile.
The secretary, who had been frozen in place, was terrified by what she'd witnessed. When Gilbert's chilling gaze fell on her, she trembled uncontrollably.
"Speak," he ordered in a low voice.
The secretary opened her mouth, ready to respond, but the moment her eyes met Emma's threatening glare, she broke into a cold sweat.
Rumors had been circulating in the company that Gilbert would soon marry Emma. She wouldn't dare offend the future Mrs. Watson. Especially since she'd long been Emma's loyal subordinate.
"Mrs.Watson, Miss Miler was telling the truth," she said in a quiet, shaky voice.
Gilbert's expression darkened ominously.
"Gilbert, please get rid of my sister. You divorced her six years ago, and she's clearly come back for revenge. She targets me constantly either insulting or hitting me. If you don't send her away, she might kill me next."
"And I've already sent someone to investigate in Nocta. Miss Daisy is the only daughter of wealthy overseas Chinese businessman Marcus Lin. My sister, on the other hand, was a penniless refugee. Someone even saw her begging on the streets. She's obviously impersonating another family's heiress. Don't let her fool you," Emma cried, clinging to Gilbert's arm, her voice trembling with righteous grievance.
The ice in Gilbert's gaze deepened.
He, too, had quietly ordered an investigation into Claire's past six years in Nocta. But all personal records of her were completely blank, as if she'd vanished into thin air. On the other hand, Daisy was indeed Marcus Lin's daughter, an internationally renowned perfume expert.
As for whether Daisy was actually Claire, the photo resemblance was vague at best. Everything else remained uncertain.
Moreover, the gap between Claire's status and Daisy's was simply too vast. They couldn't possibly be the same person.
"Claire, if you're here just to stir up trouble, I suggest you leave now. Out of respect for what we once had, I'll let you go. But if you insist on creating chaos, I can have you thrown in jail within minutes. Don't forget, this is Heidelberg, my territory not Nocta. One word from me, and you won't be able to stay," Gilbert warned quietly, but his voice carried undeniable weight.
Claire chuckled coldly. "Mr.Watson, your eyes have always been blind and still can't be cured."
Gilbert's body stiffened. "What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded.
"Nothing," Claire said icily. "Mr. Watson, I'm afraid we can't continue our collaboration. Find someone else. I'm done."
She turned to leave.
But in the next second, Gilbert lunged forward and yanked her back, slamming her hard against the wall.
Pain shot through Claire's back, her face contorting from the sudden impact.
She glared at him with fiery eyes, full of fury.
"Claire, what do you take me for? Someone you can come and go as you please?"
"And what do you want then? To kill me?" Claire snapped angrily. "Let me tell you, I've already died once—I'm not afraid of scum like you anymore. You're blind to the truth, ruled by emotions, beyond saving. Even if we continue this partnership, it'll only end in ruin."
Her heart was filled with sorrow. How could she have ever fallen for this man? Loved him so deeply? She must have been blind.
Gilbert was visibly shaken.
His eye injury had been treated in secret. Apart from Emma, who had cared for him at the time, no one else knew. His grandfather had quietly investigated and handed over the person who pushed him to the police. The matter was buried to protect Gilbert's image as the heir and to avoid airing the family's dirty laundry. After all, the one who pushed him was his own uncle. His grandfather didn't want the public to see how fractured and ugly the Watson family truly was, especially since it could harm the company's reputation.
So when Claire unknowingly uttered that single sentence, it struck a deeply buried chord in Gilbert's heart.
He stared at her face, scrutinizing every slight expression.
But Claire remained impassive, as cold as ice.
He drew in a breath, calming himself.
"Claire, stop acting like some bitter ex, as if I'm the one bullying you. Listen, I, Gilbert Watson, have fought my way through the business world relying solely on evidence. I don't blindly trust anyone. If the evidence is against you, then you'll have to take responsibility."
"Evidence?" Claire let out a cold laugh. "Do you really only believe in evidence?"
"Of course."
"Fine. I'll show you the evidence right now." Claire was furious. The truth didn't even matter to her anymore. She just wanted to slap him in the face with it. Hard.
She turned and strode toward the warehouse.
Over the years, she had developed the habit of always leaving herself a backup plan. This was the warehouse. Of course there would be surveillance cameras.
When she arrived earlier that morning, she had purposely checked the cameras. What she saw shocked her. The view was completely blocked by several large cargo crates.
Something like that in a restricted area? It was no accident. It had been set up to frame her, to drag her into this mess.
She immediately moved the crates aside.
Now the footage would be crystal clear.
With confidence, she walked inside.
Gilbert hesitated for a second, then moved to follow her.
"Gilbert, don't let her fool you. She's cunning," Emma said nervously, grabbing his arm.
Claire looked back and sneered, "What's the matter, Emma? Scared?"
"Scared of what? It's not like those perfume bottles in the warehouse have eyes. They won't lie for you," Emma shot back, forcing bravado into her tone.
Claire scoffed, "Perfume doesn't have eyes, but the cameras do. It'll be clear who's lying."
Emma let out a small breath of relief.
So the bitch was only going to check the footage. Perfect. She had already tampered with it. Nothing to worry about.
"Go ahead then. Who's afraid?" Emma straightened her posture and said righteously.
No way Claire could prove anything.
Claire said nothing more, simply turned and walked deeper inside.
Emma, feeling reassured, confidently linked arms with Gilbert and followed.
Ten minutes later.
The three of them emerged.
Emma's face was deathly pale.