Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 64: Clarissa – A Surprise Trial

Even though, deep down, I agreed with what Alpha Will had announced, I knew it would never end there.

He would accuse me of all kinds of things. Ruin my reputation so he could justify cutting me off.

If I were already gone, it wouldn’t matter.

But as long as I was still here, I knew those accusations would never allow me to leave peacefully.

When I noticed the two bodyguards standing tightly at my sides, my certainty hardened.

Alpha Will had already prepared something dirty.

I tried to pull away, but both of them were incredibly strong.

There was no other choice. I had to draw attention to myself.

"I—"

I had barely spoken a single word when one of the bodyguards grabbed my jaw and pressed his thumb against a soft point beneath my chin. My tongue went numb instantly, stiff and useless.

I couldn’t speak.

They truly intended to destroy me tonight.

On the stage, Alpha Will continued, his voice heavy with righteous anger.

"For the past several months, we have heard reports of Clarissa’s behavior. At first, we believed it was nothing more than teenage mischief. We thought she would change in time. But instead, her actions became increasingly outrageous. Not only did she damage the reputation of the Alpha Green family, she also harmed others."

His passionate words, wrapped in concern and false compassion, stirred the guests. Murmurs spread through the hall as people began discussing my so-called crimes.

Crimes that, for the most part, I was only hearing about for the first time tonight. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"She should be punished for her crimes," a guest standing not far from me said loudly.

He looked straight at me, drawing everyone’s attention. The people on stage turned their eyes toward me as well.

Luna Eileen, who had looked gloomy the entire time, finally noticed my presence. She jolted in shock and tried to step down, but Darren stopped her.

"Punish her! Break her bones, just like she deliberately broke an innocent child’s bones!"

"Shave her head, the same way she intentionally burned a female student’s hair just because the girl accidentally bumped into her!"

"She should be locked in a livestock cage overnight, just like she imprisoned a rancher’s child for accidentally stepping in cow dung!"

Every accusation reached my ears clearly. And every single one of them was new to me.

Each accusation was just as cruel as the last. If someone had truly committed all of those acts, they would deserve to be hated.

But that person wasn’t me. So why were those accusations being placed on my name?

I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell them it wasn’t me. But I couldn’t speak, and the panic on my face only convinced them further that I was guilty.

Still, there were a few guests who remained rational. They felt the accusations were too exaggerated, too absurd. It made no sense for one person to have committed all of those acts.

When I looked more closely, I noticed their hair colors. Ash-gray, dark blue, ginger, and brown.

I recognized them instantly.

They were the families of the four troublemakers.

Ironically, the people Edwin hated the most were the ones who believed in me.

On the stage, Edwin looked down at me with a smug smile. Beside him, Luna Eileen’s tears finally fell. Darren leaned in and whispered something to her, but she shook her head, clearly unwilling to accept it.

Alpha Will raised his hand, silencing the guests.

"We will judge Clarissa," he said calmly. "But before that, I want to confirm whether these accusations were truly committed by her."

Praise immediately followed.

"Alpha Will is truly fair."

"He’s still trying to uncover the truth."

I stared blankly ahead. If all the evidence and witnesses were prepared by him, how was this fair?

One by one, people entered from the back door.

Some walked with crutches. Some wore hats to hide their heads. Others wore masks. Many of them looked abnormal, broken.

They spoke one after another, claiming they had been harmed by me, that I was the one who had crippled them.

One of them even pointed at me with furious hatred, as if I had truly destroyed their life.

I was speechless. And furious. I had never even seen these people before. How could I have harmed them?

Alpha Will had prepared this performance meticulously.

The guests around me stared as if they wanted to kill me. Their killing intent and pressure were so overwhelming that I would have collapsed if the two bodyguards hadn’t been holding me upright.

It seemed their presence was to make sure I didn’t look weak.

After my so-called "victims" finished giving their testimonies, Alpha Will called for statements from another side.

"They are the victims of Clarissa’s actions outside," he announced. "Next, we will hear testimony from those who witnessed her behavior up close."

Edwin stepped forward first.

He took the mic-orb. Unlike Alpha Will, who could amplify his voice through power alone, Edwin couldn’t yet, so he relied on the device.

He spoke about how arrogant I was. How domineering. How I constantly took advantage of Luna Eileen’s kindness.

He claimed my allowance was the highest because I often pressured Luna into giving me more.

Luna tried to object, but once again, Darren stopped her.

After Edwin, it was Darren’s turn.

He said I often spoke badly about others, ordered him to "teach lessons" to innocent people, and committed countless other misdeeds.

’Do they really hate me that much? Why? If they never wanted to acknowledge me, why didn’t they just let me go from the beginning?’

My heart screamed, but no sound came out. No tears fell either. Instead, I probably looked furious, my eyes bloodshot and wild.

Meanwhile, Luna Eileen finally couldn’t take it anymore. She was escorted down from the stage and seated beside it.

She must have been imagining the punishment waiting for me.

The crimes I was accused of were already unforgivable. Exiled nonetheless. And with Edwin’s and Darren’s testimonies added on top, no pack would ever accept me.

Alpha Will continued calmly, "Now, for the final testimony..."

I wasn’t surprised. Of course there would be another witness.

But when the person who picked up the mic-orb turned around, my breath caught.

Shannon.

Yes. Shannon, the gentle and innocent one.

’Did I ever have a problem with Shannon? Or... is she going to defend me?’

A fragile hope sparked inside my chest.

At least one sane person. At least one.

Unfortunately, hope was nothing more than hope.

With tear-filled eyes, Shannon spoke, "I’ve always considered Sister Clarissa family since the day she came. But I don’t know why she’s always hostile toward me."

My eyes widened even more. I didn’t know what my expression looked like anymore. Perhaps I looked like someone barely holding back rage.

"From the beginning, she demanded my dresses and jewelry. But in front of Luna, she always acted like she wanted nothing. She threatened me behind everyone’s back, and I couldn’t do anything."

Tears streamed down Shannon’s face. Anyone who saw her would feel their heart ache.

Mine ached too.

Because every word was false.

’Why is she lying? Did Alpha Will force her?’ I tried to think positively.

I was afraid that if I lost my trust in Shannon too, I would lose my sanity completely.

But as I watched those sincere-looking tears, I finally understood.

Shannon wasn’t being forced. She was just as wicked. Just like Edwin and Darren. Or maybe worse.

She cried so often, and I had believed her every time. Were all those tears fake?

Shannon wasn’t done yet. She continued her fabricated tale, embellishing it shamelessly.

"She also asked me to cancel my engagement to Adrian. She said she liked him, and that as the older sister, she should be the one engaged to him. Even though she already knew Adrian and I were fated mates."

My mind froze.

"She tried to get first rank to attract Adrian’s attention. And she succeeded, but only by using others. She seduced someone and told him to cheat for her."

Her gaze lowered, voice trembling.

"I’m especially heartbroken because the person Clarissa used... was Brother Richard. Richard Black."

I stared at her, stunned.

How could she accuse me of something like that?

After that, she went on, describing moments involving Adrian and me, twisting every situation into one where I was supposedly seducing him.

When Adrian’s name was mentioned, several people turned to look at him below the stage.

I saw his face. He didn’t deny it. As if I truly had flirted with him.

Outrageous! They all deceived me.

My head throbbed from the accusations. My throat burned where the bodyguard’s fingers pressed. My body ached from being restrained. My chest felt tight, boiling, as if I might collapse at any moment.

Shannon finally finished her false testimony.

Alpha Will spoke again, "The testimonies and evidence are clear. But before passing judgment, we will give Clarissa a chance to explain herself."

All eyes turned to me.

From their expressions, I knew one thing. No matter what I said, it would mean nothing.

But I couldn’t speak. All I could do was glare at them, my face flushed with rage.

And to them, that was the face of someone caught red-handed. Someone refusing to admit guilt and instead daring to be angry.

"Execute her!"

"Cut off her legs!"

"Burn her alive!"

The shouts erupted, filled with hatred.

I didn’t know what would happen to me next.

...