Chapter: 153

With Shelia present, he turned coldly to his mother. "Mom, she's your responsibility."

Turning to Alicia, Joshua pulled her close, checking her mouth with concern. “Are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

Alicia shook her head.

"I only took a small sip."

She played the role of the caring, composed woman effortlessly.

Shelia's expression darkened, but she couldn't intervene and separate them.

Still kneeling, Georgia suddenly broke the silence. “Ms. Bennett, did you do it on purpose?"

The room fell silent once again, the tension thick.

Alicia, genuinely surprised, asked, “Georgia, why would you say that?"

Tears streaking down her face, Georgia sobbed. "You don't like me. You pushed me into the pond earlier today, and even then, you weren't satisfied. So, you secretly added glass shards to the soup to frame me."

Alicia stood there, speechless.

If she could, she would've applauded Georgia's performance.

What a talented actress!

Georgia wiped her face dramatically. “I know I'm not likable, but if you have a problem with me, come at me directly. Why give the soup to Mr. Yates? What if something had happened to him?"

Shelia, not missing a beat, jumped in. “That's why you refused to drink it, Alicia! You were waiting for Joshua to come back, so you could hurt him!"

Alicia, her eyes now red, responded calmly. "But it was Georgia who brought the soup."

"Maybe you hid the glass shards beforehand and threw them in when no one was looking!" Georgia quickly added, fueling the accusation.

Alicia pressed her lips together, her gaze fixed on Joshua, her eyes filling with tears. "Do you think it was me too?"

She tried to make the tears flow to make her plea more convincing, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't summon the emotions.

Desperate, she resorted to physical pain.

Alicia pinched her arm harshly behind her back.

The sharp pain worked, causing her to burst into real tears, even letting out a soft sob.

Joshua had never seen her cry like this before.

His heart softened instantly, and he pulled her into his arms. "I believe you. I'll take care of this."

Alicia leaned into him, continuing her act, sobbing quietly against his chest. "No one here likes me. I should just leave. We can go our separate ways, but please don't let me be the reason your relationship with your mother is ruined."

Shelia stood frozen, unable to say a word.

Georgia, equally stunned, couldn't react.

They had never seen Alicia put on such a convincing performance before.

Jerald, fed up with the constant arguing, slammed his hand on the table. "Enough! You're all making a scene over something trivial!"

Georgia, not wanting to worsen the situation, quickly stood and moved aside without a word.