Chapter 395:
He tossed Charles a taunting smile. “Can’t wait to see the look on your face if that happens!”
Back on stage, Serena stood tall, her body now completely revealed, with only her face still hidden behind the lingering plaster.
Charles looked at Oakley and suddenly let out a quiet chuckle.
Oakley stared at him, confused.
“Do you know something?” Charles said, his voice surprisingly calm for someone known for being hot-tempered. “You and Reuben misjudged me and completely underestimated Serena.”
Oakley burst out laughing, as though he had just heard a ridiculous joke. “What are you even talking about, Charles?” he asked, thinking back over the past few days.
After the fourth live broadcast of the show, Oakley and Vivian had fallen out. However, she eventually returned with sincerity and proved herself capable of turning the charity fraud accusation against Serena into a weapon. Oakley accepted her back and agreed to take charge of everything related to the Evans family on her behalf.
“Still trying to fight back?” he said. “Remember that meeting when you were cornered? If it hadn’t been for Brandon’s move and Jayceon stepping in as Serena’s fan, she would’ve been forced to quit the competition immediately. Now, with Reuben and me watching closely, there’s no way you can manipulate the auction records to clear her name. Even if a donation appears later, we’ll twist it and ruin your reputation even further.”
Oakley studied Charles carefully, but Charles only met his gaze with a faint, unreadable smile that made Oakley uneasy.
Though Charles remained silent, something about him unsettled Oakley.
He replayed the recent events in his mind again, glancing at the woman on stage, her face still hidden behind the plaster mask, then back at Charles.
“Serena’s reputation is already in shambles,” Oakley said. “Forget the accusations of sleeping her way to the top—if the charity fraud is confirmed, there’s no coming back from that. I know your people have been trying to clean things up, but it’s pointless.”
Oakley’s heart was pounding now as he spoke. A small doubt crept in. Could Serena actually be innocent? He quickly dismissed it.
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The charity auction had been organized by the Evans family. Despite their internal struggles, Oakley and Reuben had personally overseen the verification process. Charles might have kept Serena’s identity a secret so far, but he couldn’t have tampered with the donation records and fooled both of them at once.
Oakley was certain Serena hadn’t placed a bid or made any donation that night. So what was Charles playing at? Was he just bluffing?
After going over it again, Oakley relaxed and scoffed. “You’re insane, Charles. Still clinging to some impossible miracle.”
Charles simply shrugged and turned back to the stage. “Think what you want.”
His only responsibility tonight was to keep an eye on Oakley.
He smiled faintly. “Maybe a miracle really will happen.”
Backstage, the atmosphere was tense as Serena performed under the stage lights. Everyone watched with different expressions.
Just days ago, Daphne had publicly lashed out at Serena—an incident that hadn’t been forgotten.
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