“Don’t mention it. Get on with your business.” Tim waved his hand and closed his eyes to rest.
“Thanks.” Sonia patted Charles. “Get me closer, Charles.”
“Alright.” Charles pushed her closer to Alice.
Sonia touched Alice’s face and leaned closer to her. “Tell me, Alice. Who’s the one you care about the most?” she whispered like a succubus.
“My son,” Alice answered slowly.
Sonia squinted. “Is that so? Did you attack Sonia for him then?”
“I did not attack Sonia,” Alice said.
Sonia’s eyes widened in surprise. “You didn’t?”
Charles and Tim were surprised as well.
She said she attacked Sonia back when her testimony was taken at the police station, so why the change? There’s no way she can lie under hypnosis, so that means she did not tell the truth then.
“I did not. The one who attacked Sonia was her,” Alice answered.
Sonia clenched her fists. “Who is she? And why did you say you attacked Sonia despite never doing so?”
“I don’t know. She never told me her name. But I do know what she looks like. She came to me and said she must get rid of the red birthmark on Sonia’s wrist, since it’s a threat to her. Then, she gave me some money for my son’s operation and asked me to be a scapegoat.” Alice revealed something shocking.
Charles gasped. “She’s just a scapegoat? Unbelievable.”
Sonia was thunderstruck as well. She thought Alice was bought out by someone, but the truth was much worse than that. She was shaking with fury, for the culprit was still at large. After all, she did get a scapegoat to do her dirty work. So she’s going to attack me again. “Why did she say that my birthmark would threaten her? Is there something about my birthmark?” Sonia bit her lips.
“I don’t know. She never told me. All I know is that the birthmark will threaten her,” Alice whispered.
Charles rubbed his chin in realization. “No wonder she didn’t answer me then. She doesn’t know either.”
Sonia took a deep breath. “So why did you say you’re taking the culprit’s place because he’s the most important person to you?”
“Because I don’t want anyone to find out I have a son. That’s why I said that. That’ll make you guys think that I attacked Sonia because of her, and not my son,” Alice answered.
Charles sneered. “Smart.” “What happened to your son?” Sonia asked.
“He has leukemia and needs a lot of money for his treatment. That’s why she came to me. Promised that she’d pay for my son’s treatment if I became her scapegoat.
“I see.” Charles sighed. “She can’t tell us who the culprit is because her son depends on the money. She has to insist that she’s the attacker. If the cops find out she’s innocent, her son is done for even if the culprit isn’t arrested.”
Sonia’s eyes glinted. “A sad story, but that doesn’t excuse her crime.”
“True.” Charles nodded.
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