I stared at Hazel with all the seriousness I could muster. "Looks like you really don't have a clue! I'm here because I need to tell you about what happened to Evan!"
Hazel's face wrinkled with confusion as she scrutinized my expression, trying to dissect the truth from my words. Her voice laced with irritation, she snapped, "What on Earth are you trying to say?"
"Evan's gone—he's dead! Your favorite grandson is dead!"
Hazel's eyes narrowed sharply, and she sprang to her feet, glaring at me with venom. "You're full of it! Speak sense, will you?"
Beside her, Farley gaped at me, shock written all over his face.
Tears welled in my eyes as I choked out the words, "I've just come from the police station. They've found the body. They say he was pushed down a drain, and they've already got a suspect in mind."
I laid out the facts without any sugar-coating, though I kept the suspect's identity to myself.
"Impossible, Aaliyah Wilburn, you've always been a troublemaker—spewing nonsense! How could you even dare to curse a child? Are you even human?"
Hazel leaped up as if she'd been stung, her hand raised to strike me! But Hannah was quicker. She caught Hazel's wrist and said with an airy calm, "What's gotten into you? Getting all riled up now? Did you ever consider this might happen when you used him as a human shield?"
Hannah was the smart one. She picked up where I left off, saying the things I couldn't, and it made perfect sense.
Hazel, like a tigress cornered, struggled with brute force to break free from Hannah's grip, but she couldn't shake her off.
"Aaliyah, you bitch, bringing trouble to my doorstep. You'll get what's coming to you!" Hazel, unable to free herself, lashed out at me with her words.
I remained seated, unaffected, and called out calmly, "Hannah!"
At the sound of her name, Hannah knew what I intended. With a swift motion, she flung Hazel's hand away, sending her tumbling onto the couch, where she remained motionless for a good while.
It took a moment for Farley to regain his composure. His eyes clouded as he looked at me and said, "Aaliyah Wilburn, what are you even saying? Are you looking for trouble?"
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