I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father

Brooke, her face a mask of desperation, turned to Lyse, her voice laced with a mixture of anger and pleading. "Why, Lyse?" she demanded, her voice trembling slightly. "Why would you bother to bring the police into such a small matter? It was just a misunderstanding. A silly prank."

Lyse met Brooke’s gaze with a steady look, her expression unwavering. "A small matter?" she echoed, her voice laced with irony. "You were perfectly willing to involve the police when you thought it was me who had stolen the garment. Suddenly, it’s just a ’small matter’ now that the tables have turned?"

Brooke’s face flushed crimson. She knew Lyse was right. She had been so quick to call for the authorities when she thought she had the upper hand, but now that her plan had backfired, she was trying to downplay the severity of the situation.

"It was just a joke," Brooke stammered, her voice weak. "Cora did not mean any harm."

"A joke that could have ruined my career and my chances in this competition," Lyse countered, her voice firm. "A joke that could have landed me in jail. That is not funny, Brooke."

She turned to Cora, who was still sitting on the floor, her face buried in her hands. "Cora," Lyse said, her voice softer now, "do you have anything to say?"

Cora hesitated, her shoulders shaking. She looked up at Brooke, her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. She knew that Brooke was waiting for her to lie, to cover up for her, to protect her. But she figured at this point that Lyse knew the truth. And she knew that Lyse would not let this go.

Just as Cora seemed to be about to speak, Brooke interrupted, her voice sharp. "Cora, don’t say anything!" she snapped. "You will only make things worse!"

Lyse sighed. "Brooke," she said, her voice laced with weariness, "you’re only making this harder on yourself. And on Cora."