The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 547

Martin went grim, "Are you saying she's the one who offed Sophia?"

"I can't rule it out." Brandon's handsome face was tight as a drum, "Sophia was pushed during a rescue; she didn't just fall. She wasn't the type to make enemies or show off to stir up jealousy. There's no reason for anyone to go after her for no good reason, except for Marian, who had a motive."

Being caught red-handed plagiarizing Sophia's work and the ensuing rage and grudge, the panic of stealing Sophia's identity and fearing exposure, and the envious longing to replace her in his affections - any of those could be enough for Marian to have done the deed.

Marian might look all pampered and air-headed, but she was actually more calculating than anyone.

That day at Zion City when he was about to get her whacked, she was scared out of her wits yet made a point of chasing him to the river's edge to shout at him. Looking back, it was probably because she got wind from Daniel that he spilled the beans about her egging him on.

So Marian was spooked, unsure how much he knew and could only try her luck by confronting him.

Her apparent innocence when she clarified things was just an attempt to clear her name of inciting Daniel to defy his orders to start work, to claim the moral high ground by pinning his anger on him choking her, and to use the chance to explain herself, all to shake off suspicion and suss out why he choked her and how much he knew.

It was the same deal today.

Whenever she faced a problem she couldn't handle, she grabbed the moral high ground first, convincing herself with her own twisted logic, just like when she was accused of ripping off Sophia's designs.

All she'd gotta do was stick to her story that she didn't know Sophia was Yolanda, push the blame for the paternity test mix-up onto the medical staff, insist it was the doctors who screwed up the results, and paint herself as the victim to slip away clean.

After all, no one had evidence she was in the know, nor proof she swapped Sophia's hair samples. All anyone saw was the test they did with Martin in the hospital, yanking out hair.

She had this zero-threatening appearance, being a sweet-talker, ace at self-justification, and with acting skills to boot, soft-hearted folks easily fall for her few words and tears.

But Brandon knew he didn't have the goods to pin Sophia's missing on Marian, so legally, he couldn't touch her, not yet.

"Since she wants to play the victim, just pamper her as one, let her stay put, and keep a close eye on her." Brandon said coldly, "Save us the trouble of finding someone else to watch her and getting tangled in a false imprisonment lawsuit."

He was already worried about how to keep her in the West district legally after exposing her, to prevent her from fleeing abroad. But since she was willingly playing the victim, he'd play along.

"No way!"

Martin immediately rejected Brandon's suggestion, "What if she goes after grandma and grandpa?"

The thought that she might be Sophia's killer sent chills down Martin's spine, and with it a heavy heart, especially worrying she might harm the elderly. He wasn't willing to keep such a dangerous person close.

Brandon glanced at him through the rearview mirror, "You really gotta keep her at home?"

Martin caught Brandon's drift in an instant.

"Got it." Martin said, "I'll handle it."

Brandon didn't respond, just slammed on the brakes and pulled over.