The moment Harriet heard Shirley break down in tears, the color drained from her face. “Shirley, don’t do this to yourself. It might just be Rebecca trying to scare you. Maybe you’re not poisoned at all.”
Just then, Rebecca strolled in, looking completely at ease. Harriet quickly called out, “Rebecca, tell Shirley you were just making it up. That you didn’t mean what you said before.”
Shirley, wild hair framing her pale face, whipped her head toward Rebecca.
Norris glanced their way, his face unreadable.
Rebecca stood above them, lips lifting in an easy, mocking smile. “Sure. I was just joking.”
That little smile only made Shirley more certain that Rebecca was laughing at her. She clung to her fear even more tightly now.
“No, it has to be real! If the cup was poisoned, of course the tea would be poisoned too. My hand got scalded by that tea, and now the poison must be inside me… it’s probably spreading and trying to kill me!”
Harriet’s heart twisted seeing Shirley like this. And looking at Rebecca’s cool, distant smile, she felt rage bubbling inside her.
“Rebecca, this is all your fault. None of this had to happen. Shirley wouldn’t be like this if not for you. She’s the girl you grew up with. How could you treat her like this?”
While she spoke, Harriet raised her hand, ready to slap Rebecca across the face.
Rebecca caught her wrist, still wearing that faint, careless grin. “Mrs. James, do I need to remind you what it took for me to survive in your house?”
Harriet’s face stiffened at the words. Out of the corner of her eye, she realized Norris was quietly watching everything. She lost all confidence and couldn't force anything else out.
Shirley fell silent too, stunned and tense.
Norris took in the room in silence. When his gaze reached Rebecca, it paused—less on any single detail than on the composure she carried like armor.
Across the room, Ableson saw Harriet actually try to hit Rebecca and instantly looked shocked.
Weren’t Harriet and Shirley always so gentle and demure? Why did they turn into someone else completely around Rebecca?
Rebecca calmly let go of Harriet’s hand and walked over to sit on the sofa, legs crossed and unbothered.
Silence settled, thick and watchful, until even small movements felt too loud.
Shirley, having just been scared out of her mind, was even more terrified of dying now. She looked down at the back of her hand, which was red and angry, and her eyes went wide. Her breathing quickened.
“Mr. White, look at my hand. It’s getting worse, and now I can barely breathe. Please, can you call a doctor?”


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