Chapter 24 The Mistress Exposed The photos and videos of Lily walking out of John's villa had been posted online by Elsa . She knew John would protect her and would never defend Lily , so she had no qualms about steering public opinion to paint Lily as the mistress . Her hatred for Lily ran deep . She longed to see her disgraced and humiliated , so she kept a close eye on the online buzz and naturally saw the video too . Still , no matter how close she was with Mathilda , there were some cards she would never lay on the table . Just like how she would never admit that she was the one who orchestrated the whole thing - even if Mathilda had already guessed it . And Mathilda would never tell her that in just over ten days , Lily and James would be registering their marriage . She was afraid word would somehow get back to John and cause trouble . After all , the Ginger family had already accepted a one hundred million yuan bride price from the Luke family . Lily had to marry that vegetative man ! Elsa looked away from Mathilda's phone screen and , suppressing the corners of her mouth that were starting to rise , said calmly , " That rotting garbage looked disgusting . Lily probably smells terrible right now ." " Definitely reeks ! " Mathilda smirked . " But someone like Lily - a fake , a piece of trash - deserves to rot and stink ! " " If Lily hadn't stolen my parents and my three brothers and taken my rightful place as the Ginger family's daughter , I wouldn't have suffered so much ! I'll never let that thieving bitch off the hook ! " Elsa didn't respond right away . She didn't actually agree with Mathilda's version of events . Mathilda had been kidnapped when she was six . That had nothing to do with Lily . In fact , rumor had it that the richest family in the country had initially wanted to adopt Lily . The Luke family was loving and harmonious . The couple was deeply affectionate . If Lily had been adopted by them , she'd probably be one of Capital City's most glamorous debutantes by now . But it was the Ginger family who had kicked up a fuss , crying and pleading until the wealthy couple finally gave in . Still , Elsa was glad Lily ended up being adopted by the selfish and scheming Ginger family . That way , Lily suffered all those years of pain and torment . And since she hated Lily the most , there was no chance she'd ever defend her . She took Mathilda's hand and echoed her words , " Lily really shouldn't have stolen what was yours . " 1/3 Chapter 24 The Mistress Exposed " Just thinking about all the hardship you endured in the countryside makes my heart ache ." As she spoke , Elsa even teared up a little and sniffled , as if she truly felt sorry for Mathilda . " That bitch Lily's to blame for everything ! " Just as Elsa had hoped , Mathilda's hatred flared even hotter . Her eyes burned red with rage . " After I was sold off to the countryside , I never had a single good day . " " While I was suffering , what was Lily doing ? She was living in luxury , getting the best education , cherished by my parents and brothers ! If she hadn't stolen my family , would she have gotten into college at fifteen and been hailed as a genius ? She took everything from me . I'll never forgive her ! " " You know what , I should post those school videos of Lily online - let everyone see how low she really is! " With that , Mathilda pulled up an old video . It was recorded more than four years ago , in the school's equipment room . She had deliberately tricked Lily into going in , then locked her inside for two days . On the second night , when Lily was dehydrated , starving , and barely conscious , Mathilda barged in with a gang of girls . They tore at Lily's clothes and dumped all sorts of filthy stuff on her . They had planned to strip Lily completely . But when they tore her T - shirt , Lily suddenly snapped and smashed a glass bottle that someone had left in the room . Holding a shard in each hand , she threatened to take them all down with her . She even slashed one of the girls . Fearing someone might actually die , they didn't dare continue tearing at her clothes . Still , in that video , Lily was covered head to toe in filth . She looked disgusting and pitiful . And now , with her already disgraced , posting this would only make her seem even more filthy , cheap , and vile . Mathilda was right next to her , so Elsa naturally saw the video too . Watching Lily filthy and pathetic on screen , Elsa sneered with cold disdain . Lily was truly revolting . Trash like her thinks she can dream of being with John ? " What the hell ? Elsa , why are people saying you're the mistress now ? " Before Mathilda could even upload the video , she got a breaking news alert . -Elsa , who prides herself on being noble , is actually the disgusting mistress ! " Mathilda shot a worried glance at Elsa and immediately tapped the headline . The article contained the same video Lily had posted , along with screenshots of her and John's private 2/3 shameless mistress ! The comment section had already exploded . " This is insane ! The video's been taken down now , but I saw the wedding clip of Mr. John and Elsa . The dress Elsa wore was identical to the one Lily handmade ! So not only is Elsa a homewrecker , she also stole Lily's custom - made wedding dress ? " In "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" by CrushReel, Zoe Hale takes a daring step by marrying Ashton Cross, a man under suspicion for her sister's mysterious demise. As their relationship evolves, hidden truths unravel, intertwining love and suspense in this captivating romance novel. Exploring the complexities of loyalty and deception, the story delves deep into Zoe's quest for justice while navigating the unexpected twists of her heart. The enigmatic bond between Zoe and Ashton unfolds against a backdrop of secrets and revelations, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each turn of the page. Set in a blend of romance and drama, "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" stands out for its intricate character dynamics and the seamless fusion of passion and intrigue. With every chapter, CrushReel skillfully crafts a narrative that immerses readers in a world where love confronts darkness, leaving them yearning for more. Discover the enthralling saga of Zoe and Ashton, available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in this unique tale that defies conventions and promises an unforgettable literary experience.