THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 368: Exposed

Grainy footage began to play, showing a hooded figure sneaking into the storage room. The figure moved stealthily, whispering to someone yet unseen who was probably following behind.

The audio function was not activated so no one heard what they were talking about. But from the suspicious movement of the two people and their attire, it was clear they were up to no good.

The figure moved to Empress Brew’s storage area, carefully swapping the rare Yemeni beans with a substandard batch.

The other person, now partially visible, was seen replacing labels and packaging with the one he brought from his pocket.

Peggy’s heart pounded in her chest. She recognized herself in the footage, despite the hood, and the storekeeper, Mr. Paul, was unmistakable.

Her breath caught as she remembered his assurances that the cameras wouldn’t capture them.

She had only insisted on following because she didn’t want any mistakes in the swapping process but now she could see that she had made a terrible decision, but it was too late to regret her decision.

She could only pray that they never traced the person in the footage to her.

A murmur rippled through the crowd as the footage ended.

"It has been proven that someone had actually tampered with Empress Brew’s ingredients."

"Yeah, but who are the people in the footage?" One of the on-sight viewers shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.

"From the angle it was taken, we can clearly see the figure of a man and a woman. We need to know who they are so that justice can be served."

"If the culprits are not produced, as far as we’re concerned, this competition is a sham!" Someone bold enough declared and everywhere went on a rampage.

Lauren turned around to stare at Peggy who had also joined in the discussion, probably to divert attention from herself.

She heard her telling some people that cared to listen that she is in support of apprehending the offender.

"How can they reduce such a prestigious competition as the coffee Bean competition to a scam with such disgracing behavior? It is quite a pity that some people really don’t take the competition seriously and could condescend to act this way. How can someone swap an ingredient that was painstakingly sourced for? What was their intention?"

"Do you still need to ask? It was obviously to sabotage Empress Brew."

Lauren was shocked speechless. She couldn’t help but wonder what Peggy was thinking when she decided to be a barista. Should she be an A Grade actress with her ability?

Hearing her speak no one would ever imagine she was the one in the footage.

Lauren wasn’t in the mood to say anything, everything will be revealed soon.

"If the person that did such a despicable act is one of the contestants, he should be banished with immediate effect. That person doesn’t even deserve to mingle among humans."

Because she was backing the screen as she spoke, she didn’t know that a second footage had started playing on the screen and this time around, the camera angle had changed and the two strange figures’ faces could be seen.

As Peggy continued talking nonstop, she noticed that something was different from the way the people were looking at her.

She felt a slight tap on her upper arm and turned to look at one of her teammates with a frown. She glared at the girl. Didn’t she see that she was busy? Why was she interrupting her?

It was not until someone else mockingly said to her, "why don’t you take a look at the screen first and see if you can still be this self-righteous," that she turned and raised her head to see the screen.

As soon as she saw the footage playing, her face turned a ghastly pale, and she staggered slightly, trying to maintain her composure. She could feel all eyes on her, the weight of their judgment heavy.

The new camera’s footage clearly displayed her face and Mr. Paul’s as they entered the storage room to the time she stopped by Empress Brew’s station, and then to when she exchanged the beans. Then the store keeper’s face came into view as he changed the labels on the container.

With the full revelation, the room erupted in gasps and whispers.

Peggy’s mind raced. How could this have happened? She had been so careful, so sure. Now, everything was unraveling before her eyes.

"It’s all a misunderstanding. I’ve been framed," Peggy yelled in panic. "No, that person there is not me. It’s clearly an edited clip. You must believe me," she continued when she saw that instead of compassion the only emotion she saw in those faces were anger, disappointment and even disgust.

Nobody believed her. With such fool proof evidence, who would, anyway?

Lauren stepped forward, her expression laced with disappointment and scorn.

"Peggy, why? Was winning so important that you had to resort to such tactics?"

Peggy stammered, trying to find an excuse, but her mind was blank. She glanced at Mr. Paul, who had been summoned at some point and was now standing on the stage with the host, and suddenly had an idea.

She has to find a way out of this mess. Yes.

"I was threatened to do this. I didn’t want to, but the storekeeper threatened me," she uttered without thinking much.

Yes, she had to pin the blame on someone and since the storekeeper had failed in keeping to his promise even after she had settled him heavily, he has to bear the consequences.

Mr Paul’s mouth hung open in shock at the sudden accusation leveled against him. ’When did he threaten Ms Carter?’

If he remembered correctly, she was the one that threatened him after he refused his request. Why did it suddenly turn the other way round?

But who would believe him now even if he denied? Ms Carter had such an intimidating background that they would only believe her over him.

Lauren clapped her hands in a mocking applause, then said, "So the storekeeper threatened you. But you said earlier that you had nothing to do with the storekeeper. How did he suddenly threaten you and with what?"

"Did he threaten to close down your coffee shop or he threatened to eliminate you from the competition if you don’t cooperate with him since he wanted me, whom he had never met before in his life, out of the competition? Tell us, how did he threaten you?" Lauren asked as she folded her arms across her chest."

Other people around picked up from there as they threw snide remarks out.

"I bet an ordinary storekeeper is so powerful that he can make the esteemed Ms Carter condescend to this level."

"If that’s really the case then, today my world view has changed drastically."

"What abilities does he have as a common storekeeper to threaten some like Peggy who was rumored to be the girlfriend of famous George Wellington? Please say something else?"

"She’s lying," the storekeeper shouted at the top of his voice when he saw that Peggy wanted to wash her hands off the whole thing. Maybe there was still hope for him with what these people were saying.