Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 81

The words fell, and everyone's gaze dropped to her lips.

Her lower lip was swollen, marred by a glaring mark that looked like a bite.

Giselle immediately chimed in with a snide tone. "I heard you came back quite late from the tech summit last night. Could that bite be from... some man?"

Vanessa's expression remained unfazed. She leisurely took a sip of her coffee, raising her eyes to look at Giselle with a hint of mockery.

"Instead of worrying about me, Giselle, you should spend more time improving yourself."

The lightly tossed words landed like a harsh slap across Giselle's face.

Just a few days ago, Giselle had confidently boasted about securing the exclusive Vittini agency rights. In the end, not only had she failed, but she had also made a complete fool of herself in front of the entire executive board.

Giselle's expression twisted, her tone turning sharp. "I'm just worried about your reckless behavior. If you're out hooking up with random men and Grandpa Howard finds out, the entire Grant family will be implicated because of you!"

"You don't need to trouble yourself over that," Vanessa replied mildly. "Grandpa Howard couldn't be fonder of me. He's already forgiven me for what happened in the past and agreed to give me another chance. Tonight, I'll be formally meeting Alistair."

She offered Giselle a provocative little smirk, leaving the younger woman seething with rage.

Just then, a text notification chimed.

Giselle glanced at her phone, a flicker of secret excitement flashing in her eyes.

"I'm actually quite curious. If the Howards knew exactly what you were up to during your three years in Savannah, would they still welcome you without any reservations?"

Dating another man for three whole years—she had to be completely used goods by now. Yet she still had the audacity to crawl back and claim the Howard family marriage arrangement.

Convinced she now held a fatal piece of blackmail, Giselle waited eagerly to see Vanessa panic and fall apart.

"Did you have to say things to upset your father right to his face?" Elaine scolded in a hushed voice once they were outside. "It's not up to us whether the Howards care or not. All we have to do is make sure they find out."

"What if... they don't care?"

"Then we lose nothing. But if they do, it'll be a thorn in their side forever. Even if they don't hold her runaway bride stunt from three years ago against her, what man wouldn't be bothered knowing his fiancée spent the last three years with another guy?"

"If the Howards object, I'll recommend you take her place. I've heard Alistair is exceptionally brilliant—a once-in-a-century business prodigy."

Giselle felt a spark of temptation, mingled with doubt.

"If he's so great, why hasn't he had any women around him all these years? Do you think he's hideous, or maybe impotent?"

Elaine tapped her daughter's forehead. "Silly girl. Nothing in this world is perfect. But when you have wealth and status, what kind of man can't you get?"