The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 46

Over the phone, Zoey's sobbing voice was laced with immense panic, piercing Harriet's ears like countless tiny needles through the receiver.

Harriet's face was already paper-white, and her hands shook violently as she gripped the phone.

Annelise reached out and took the device from Harriet's trembling hands. Her movements were steady, devoid of any panic.

She spoke into the receiver, her voice as calm as a deep, unruffled pool.

"Zoey, don't be afraid. It's me."

The crying on the other end came to a sudden halt, quickly replaced by an even more terrified gasp.

"M-Mrs. Lehman?"

"It's me," Annelise said, her tone carrying a deeply reassuring power. "Listen to me. When Clarissa comes tomorrow, you don't need to do anything out of the ordinary. Just act as you normally would."

"But... but the security cameras..." Zoey's voice tinged with despair.

"If she wants to check, let her check," Annelise replied without a ripple of emotion. "You just need to remember one thing: from beginning to end, swear that you didn't see anyone today and that nothing happened."

"If she asks why someone was seen on the cameras, you tell her that Mrs. Lehman sent someone to drop off a package, and they left immediately after. You know nothing else."

"Will... will that really work?" Zoey still sounded anxious.

"It will," Annelise stated firmly, leaving no room for doubt. "Remember, you work for Mrs. Lehman, not Clarissa. She wouldn't dare do anything to you."

After hanging up, Harriet slumped onto the sofa as if all her strength had been drained, looking at Annelise with eyes full of lingering fear and worry.

"Madam, Clarissa already suspects us. What do we do?"

"She doesn't suspect; she's certain," Annelise said, handing the phone back to Harriet, her gaze as cold as ice. "But she doesn't have proof."

"At a time like this, we have to act exactly as if nothing has happened."

Annelise's composure acted like a sedative, slowly settling Harriet's frantic heartbeat.

The next day, just as dawn broke, there was a knock on Annelise's door.

Clarissa walked in with a beaming smile, carrying a delicate white porcelain plate holding several steaming Honey-Lavender Scones.

She wore a pastel yellow cashmere dress today, which brought out a vibrant glow in her complexion, her face painted with an appropriately gentle smile.

"Annelise, you're awake," she said, placing the plate on the nightstand. "I got up early and made your favorite Honey-Lavender Scones from scratch. Come try some; it's great for restoring your energy."

Her enthusiasm was slightly uncharacteristic, and her beautiful eyes gleamed with an overly bright, probing light.

Annelise sat up, leaned against the headboard, and picked up a piece, taking small bites while feigning the perfect expression of pleasant surprise.

"Yes," she said, walking over and sitting down naturally by the sofa. "I had Harriet go buy some herbal remedies to help me recover from the surgery."

She paused briefly, adding a detail to make her alibi entirely airtight.

"I heard the herbs at the city pharmacies aren't as authentic as the ones from Greendale County, so I had her make the trip. I didn't think it was a big deal, so I didn't bother you with it."

She had prepared this story well in advance. When Harriet returned yesterday, she had purposely brought back a large bag of strong-smelling herbs purchased from a county pharmacy to use as a cover.

Lizzie clearly accepted this explanation. She nodded, her tone softening slightly.

"It's good that you're taking initiative. It's your own body; you should take care of it."

Seeing her first tactic fail, Clarissa didn't drop her smile but pivoted to a different angle to keep testing her.

Her gaze shifted to Annelise, her tone dripping with the consideration of a 'good sister.'

"Annelise, if you're feeling unwell, you should just have Hackett take a look at you. He's an expert in that field, after all. Why go to all the trouble of making Harriet travel so far? It's too exhausting for her."

This statement sounded like caring advice, but it was actually a hidden blade, aiming straight for her weak points.

She was reminding Annelise, and simultaneously reminding Lizzie—your husband, Hackett, knows your body best. What kind of trick are you trying to pull?