Lucy eagerly grabbed Carly's hands, her eyes filled with hope. Right now, Carly was her only chance at survival. She truly believed Carly would save her.
Carly looked at her and called out softly, "Mom."
Lucy immediately hugged Carly tightly. "Carly, I'm here."
Carly let herself be hugged. Then, in a quiet voice, she said, "Mom, Nigel is starting to suspect my identity."
"What?" Lucy froze. "Carly, why would Mr. Hampton suspect your identity?"
"Mom, it's because I went to him and begged for your release. I wanted him to let you go, but he refused, saying you committed murder and deserved punishment.
"So, I begged him on my knees. He said you're just my foster mother, not my biological mother. That was when he started suspecting my identity," Carly explained with an aggrieved look.
Lucy felt a wave of emotion wash over her. "Carly, you did all that for me? I thought… I thought you had abandoned me."
"Mom, how could I abandon you? Back in the hospital, when I accused you, that was just a tactic to buy time. I was never going to leave you behind. But now, I've failed. I couldn't save you. Worse, Mr. Hampton is questioning my identity. Mom, what should I do now?
"If I lose my identity as the richest heiress, the Tate family won't want me, and the Hampton family wouldn't want me either. I'll be left with nothing. I've been better than Celine all my life, but if I fail now, she'll crush me beneath her feet.
"Mom, I don't want to live like that! You're my real mother. You'll help me, right? Right now, you're the only person I can rely on."
Tears poured down her face, her sobs heartbreaking and desperate.
Lucy felt her heart ache. "Carly, don't cry. I'll figure something out."
"But what can you do? Mr. Hampton wants to force the truth out of you. He already suspects us. Unless…"
"Unless what?" Lucy asked.
"Unless… you disappear from this world."
What? Disappear?
Lucy staggered back. Her expression was twisted in shock, unable to process what Carly was trying to imply.
Carly took a step closer. "Mom, this is the only way. You have to take all the blame on yourself and end your own life. That's the only way to protect me."
"How is it wrong for me to act in my own interest?" Carly countered with determination.
Lucy's face turned pale as a sheet. It was then that it dawned on her—this was her own doing. She had raised Carly like this.
"Mom, ever since I was little, you taught me to climb higher and to crush Celine beneath me. Isn't this exactly what you wanted? I've gotten used to being admired, cherished, and being at the top. I won't give it up now.
"And you… you're my real mother. You've already been convicted of murder. There's no way out for you. Shouldn't you do one last thing for your daughter?"
As she said that, Carly clutched Lucy's shoulders tightly. "Mom, I'm begging you. Take the fall. Protect me."
Lucy stared at Carly. She had spent her entire life paving the way for Carly.
She had taught Carly to stop at nothing to climb to the top, whether it was stealing Celine's identity as Adam's savior or the identity of the richest heiress.
Lucy had allowed it all to happen. She was simply reaping what she had sowed.
She had raised this selfish and ruthless daughter, and now, her very daughter wanted her dead.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Divorce Prescription (Celina and Adam)
Such a wack writer....
And now we're onto another sets of characters that weren't included from the beginning....
Nathan and Michelle???...
Thought Celine got pregnant before Hailey…..how come Celine is 3 months and Hailey 7?...
if there is already a surveillance video as evidence for the poisoning of Hailey, why go all the trouble of pretending? Celine is also pregnant right? What is happening to them, and what about Adam's headaches ......
Why is this writer like this! Seems it’s going to be a never ending story!!! Rebecca or Melody, why is she here again!!! Don’t these female characters move on!!! Goshhhhh...
A man with a team of invisible bodyguards that only appear on orders and disappear in time of troubles. Hmm😆🤏...
When will Hailey show that she is Adam's cousin and be ruthless? Joanne needs to be put in her place and realize Jonah does not want her. Ewan is just as bad as she is. Hailey needs to get help from Celine or Adam if she doesn't want Jonah to find out what's happening....
If the focus has to go on other characters in the book, at least make it more interesting! They were separated for three years, and still having love rivals! Especially one from the past!!! Why can’t Ewan and Joanne move in together and move on!!...
Imagine the long read if they decide to switch back to Adam and Celine. Not reading this with the same enthusiasm from the beginning....