Chapter 154: Vanessa's Face Drained of All Color

Vanessa’s face drained of all color. She never imagined Sienna would obtain the backstage CCTV footage. Those printed photos were her complete undoing. She knew everything would collapse once her family saw this evidence. Panic set in immediately.

“Mother, you must believe me!” she pleaded frantically.

“Please, trust me! I was only practicing poses for the upcoming show!

The exhibition required dramatic angles and expressions—I was just getting into character!

“As for the transaction record… Bianca told me she needed financial help.

I transferred the money without knowing what it was for!” Her excuses sounded ludicrous. No reasonable person would believe such a flimsy story. Even if Bianca had wanted to borrow money, she would’ve asked for a round number—like 20,000. Not the suspiciously exact sum of 19,500, which matched the price of the halophilic bacteria. Helena’s mind spun into disarray. For the first time, she felt genuine doubt toward Vanessa. Was the daughter she thought she knew hiding a sinister side? Did she truly understand the woman standing before her?

Walter’s gaze hardened as he stared at the photos.

“Guards!” he commanded. “Take Vanessa to the prayer hall.

She will kneel in reflection for three days and three nights. No food. No water. No visitors.” Three days of kneeling? No sustenance? Vanessa’s legs gave out beneath her. Without Helena’s support, she crumpled to the floor. She had never faced punishment like this before. If word got out that she was confined to the prayer hall, she would become a social pariah. Her reputation would be ruined forever. Terror seized her. She clutched Helena’s arm desperately.

“Mother, please! Help me! You know this isn’t me!

You raised me—you know I would never harm my sister!

“This is Sienna’s doing! She’s jealous of the attention you give me!

She manipulated these images to destroy me!” Helena’s frown deepened. She studied the photos again, and a cold dread settled in her chest. These weren’t trick angles. The malice in Vanessa’s expression was real. It was terrifying. She had always believed Vanessa was gentle and kind. How could she possess such darkness? Heart heavy, Helena sighed. “Perhaps some time alone will do you good, Vanessa. I need time to think as well.” Vanessa’s grip slackened. She collapsed fully onto the ground, defeated. It was over. Even her mother had turned against her.

Maids approached to escort her away. No one spoke in her defense. Not even Walter, who usually doted on her—his face was stern and contemplative. Vanessa knew she had lost. There would be no mercy this time.

“If I must go, then I will accept my punishment.

Grandfather, Father, Mother… please take care these next few days. Don’t worry about me. This is my fault.” She knelt and knocked her forehead hard against the floor. A red mark immediately bloomed on her skin. She didn’t flinch. Tears streamed silently as the maids led her away. Her slight frame trembled with each step. Helena’s heart broke watching her leave. Vanessa had always been her favorite. She had never disciplined her so harshly before. But maybe it wasn’t too late to correct her. As a mother, she had to try.

Walter released a heavy sigh.

“Everyone is dismissed. What happened today does not leave this room.”

The crowd had come hoping to reclaim the ten percent shares. Now it was clear that wouldn’t happen. They left in quiet disappointment.

As Helena passed Sienna near the doorway, she remembered Sienna’s words from the day before:

‘You always defend Vanessa. You always take her side. But when have you ever listened to me?’