bChapter /bb28 /b

By the time Sophie finished recording the video, Skr burst through the door with a loud bang, scaring everyone bin /bthe room.

Jessica, who had been munching on snacks, was so startled she choked. She pounded Ther chest, coughing violently as if she were about to bcough /bbup /bba /blung.

Ignoring the chaos, Skr dragged over a chair and sat down gracefully. “Ms. Warren, you don’t look like someone on the brink of deathb, /bbas /bbyou /b

imed.”

Jessica’s face was beet red from the coughing fit. She grabbed a ss of water and gulped it down before she could catch her breath. b“/bbWhat /bdo you

want?”

Legs crossed, Skr offered her a faint smile. “Since you refuse to engage with us and resolve the matter peacefully, as the CEO, I can’t just let bpublic /bopinion spiral out of control.”

“I had no choice but toe in person–to show you our sincerity,” she cast a mocking nce at the food in Jessica’s hand. “And what a bshow /bbI’ve /bstumbled upon.”

Jessica suddenly found the food in her hand unbearably hot, and with an awkward panicb, /bshe threw it in the trash.

Trying to stay calm, she said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Ms. Warren, before I became a businesswoman, I was a doctor.” Skr pulled a silver needle from her pocketb–/bfifteen centimeters long.

“To show my sincerity, I’m offering to treat you, free of charge. Once you’re cured, we can talk about everything else.”

There was nothing threatening in her words, but Jessica still felt suffocated, the pressure unbearable.

Skr stood up and approached, holding the needle. “It might hurt a little, but I promise, one jab and you’ll be good bas /bnew.”

“Stay away from me!” Jessica retreated in fear. “Don’te near!”

She iled her arms in panic, trying to keep Skr at bay. “I’m fine! I don’t need treatment!”

There was no way Jessica was letting Skr near her with that needle. Who knew if she really was a doctor–or if she even knew how to use it?

Jessica knew if Skr had any intention of harming her, that needle could be the end of her.

She resisted with everything she had, but she had nowhere left to run. Skr grabbed her wrist and held her in ce.

“Ms. Warren, if you’re sick, you need to be treated. Leave a minor illness unchecked, and it can be something much worse.”

“I’m not sick! I swear I’m not!” Jessica was shaking her head desperately. “Someone paid me to do this–please, Ms. Lambert, I’m begging you!b” /b

Her psychological defenses shatteredpletely, and with just a little pushb, /bshe spilled everything.

Skr let go of her hand and put the needle away. “Then I hope you’lle clean and tell us who’s behind this.”

Jessica looked sickly pale. “I don’t know who she is. Everything was done over the phone. She used ba /bvirtual number and bher /bbv /b

“Oh?” Skr tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Then call her. Now.”

Jessica hesitated.

vas bdisguised/b.”

“You’d better cooperate while I’m still being nice about it,” Skr warned with ba /bcold smile. “After everything I’ve bbeen /bbthrough /bthese bpast /bbfew /bbdays/b, might just return the favor.”

b1/3 /b

b08:16 /bbMon/bb, /b23 bJun /b

bThe /bmoment bthis /bscandal broke online, the insults hade flooding in–vicious and filthy.

Jessica had enjoyed watching the drama unfold on her phone at the time, never imagining she’d be a part of it.

“No, please don’t… ” she murmured, scrambling to pull out her phone. She dialed the number under Skr’s watchful eyeb, /bbterrified /bbof /bmaking her wall too long.

The call connected quickly. Skr gestured for her to put it on speaker and start recording.

Jessica did as told. “Hello? It’s me.”

“I know,” the person on the other side replied. “Why are you calling?”

“I’m scared… Can we stop now?” Jessica asked.

The voice on the other end instantly turned cold. “Everything’s going perfectly. Why back out now? You boarded this ship–there’s no getting boff /bbhalfway/b, Don’t entertain that thought again.”

The voice softened ever so slightly. “Rx. Once this is over, you’ll get your share. If you think it’s not enoughb, /bI’ll add ba /blittle moreb.” /b

Jessica said nothing.

After a long silence, the voice snapped, “Cat got your tongue?”

“My dear little sister… I knew it was you,” Skr replied instead.

Elianna’s grip on her phone tightened. It was Skr.

She was confused. She had disguised herself so well–how could Skr possibly recognize her? Skr must be bluffing.

She bit her lip and didn’t respond. But Skr continued. “You think I wouldn’t recognize your voice just because you used a voice changer?”

Skr took the phone from Jessica. “Why so quiet? Getting scared?b” /b

“What are you so smug about, Skr?” Elianna finally snapped. “As long as I’m around, you’ll never have a moment of peaceb./b”

“You’d better worry about yourself first,” Skr replied, then hung up the call.

Elianna exploded. “Skr! What the hell are you doing?”

But the only answer was the busy tone. Furious, she started screaming at her phone, then froze in panic.

What now? She thought. Skr wouldn’t let her off easy. She’d use this to destroy her, ruin her reputation.

No. Elianna tried to calm down and told herself. She hadn’t be Mrs. Campbell yet. She hadn’t lived the life of a rich socialiteb. /bShe couldn’t let this

happen.

She quickly destroyed the SIM card, burned her phone in the backyard, and buried the ashes in a small hole.

Just as she finished, Skr arrived–alongside the police. They barged in past the butlerb, /bwho tried and failed bto /bstop t

Elianna’s palms were slick with sweat. “Officers, isn’t bit /bba /bbit much to break into someone’s home like this?”

“You’re suspected of a crime. We have the right to take you in for questioning,” replied bthe /bpolice.

“I didn’t do anything!b” /bElianna insisted. “You’ve got the wrong person!”

The police yed bthe /brecording in front of her. b“/bStill want to deny it?”

“Just confess already.” Skr stood beside the police, her eyes cold and mocking.

“That voice sounds nothing like me! How could it be me?” Elianna tried to rally. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Skr, I know you hate me.”

“I was the one who messed up your happy life with Mom and Dad. I came between you and your family. You’ve been gone for years, and now youe back just to destroy me? I don’t me you.”

Skr raised an eyebrow. She had underestimated Elianna. Even backed into a corner, she could still find an excuse.

“With all this evidence in front of you, you’re still ying the victim?” asked Skr.