Chapter 217
Chaos erupted outside Chรขteau Laurent.
Fiona Valentine crouched on the stone steps, her face ashen, lips tinged an unnatural bluish-purple. Tears welled in her swollen eyes as she choked out, "How dare they treat me, a Valentine heiress, like this..."
The crowd swelled with each passing minute.
"Isn't that the Valentine heiress?"
"My God, is the wine poisoned?"
"I just bought two cases last week!"
Whispers rippled through the gathering. Fiona's lips curled almost imperceptibly before she contorted her face back into agony.
With trembling hands, she raised her phone. "Lookโthe hospital's diagnostic report!"
Sweat dripped from the foreheads of frantic staff.
"Lies! Our wines are impeccable!"
"If she's really poisoned, why isn't she at the hospital?"
This was the moment Fiona had waited for.
She yanked two sheets of paper from her bag, shaking them dramatically.
"Open your eyes and see the truth!"
The crowd exploded.
"It's a lab report!"
"Demand refunds now!"
Security guards scrambled to contain the surge of angry patrons.
BANG!
A deafening sound froze everyone in place.
Evelyn Roland stood atop the steps, a megaphone in hand, her black trench coat billowing.
"Refunds will be processed at the front desk."
Her voice was glacial.
"But mark my wordsโ"
"Once the truth comes out, every customer who demands a refund today will be permanently blacklisted by the Valdemar Group."
Silence descended.
Evelyn descended the stairs, her stilettos clicking against marble.
Fiona shrank back instinctively.
"Hand them over."
Evelyn snatched the papers. Her fingertips brushed the edgesโ
"Forging official seals carries a prison sentence, Miss Valentine."