Chapter 41: The Culprit Revealed?

The message had Claire's heart racing. She scanned the ward, flung open the door, and darted out to ensure no one was lurking nearby. Satisfied, she returned. Her gaze fixed on the message as she paced the room. Who could have sent such a cryptic message? Strangely, she was directed to none other than the ward at Kingstown Hospital.

After a half-hour of deliberation, curiosity won. Claire decided to uncover the mystery. Four years ago, Anna's death had been shrouded in suspicion. Claire had never summoned Anna to the Red Sun Bar. The message from Anna, stating she was already there, had added to the enigma.

Fearing foul play, Claire scoured the ward and armed herself with a fruit knife before setting out. To her astonishment, it was Caroline who awaited her in Ward 309, standing by the French window.

In the sterile quiet of the ward, Caroline stood in solitude. Clearly, the message could have originated from none other than Caroline.

“It’s you? You’re behind Anna’s death?”

Claire stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat as a single, overwhelming thought dominated her mind: Could Caroline be the architect of Anna’s demise?

“Claire, you came, just as I expected. But please, don’t falsely accuse me. What does my sister’s death have to do with me? You’re the acknowledged murderer,” Caroline retorted. A sly glimmer flickered in her gaze. With smooth, calculated grace, she deflected but did not outright deny her involvement.

“Really? Then why send me that message, dangling the truth about Anna’s death and luring me here?” Claire asked.

Claire grappled with confusion over Caroline’s intentions. However, her primary focus remained steadfast on uncovering the truth buried in the shadows of the past four years.

“What do you think?”

Caroline evaded, closing the distance between them. She leaned in and whispered, “I’ve just endured a nightmare at the hands of thugs, eerily similar to what my sister faced four years ago. Everyone thought it was your doing.”

Caroline spoke with deliberate slowness and a composed demeanor. Her words were not just conversation; they were laced with guidance.

Suddenly, it was as if lightning struck Claire, illuminating the truth. “It was you from the beginning! Caroline, you were in love with Frederick, using your sister’s death to get close to him. It was a perfect plan, ridding yourself of Anna and sabotaging my engagement to Frederick. You leverage your identity as Anna’s sister to get close to Frederick. It has to be this way! You even orchestrated your own assault to gain sympathy. Caroline, you’re the murderer!”

With each layer of the situation Claire peeled back, the clearer the truth seemed to become. Her analysis fueled her agitation.

“Claire, what are you saying? I know nothing of this. Why slander me so?”

“I know you hate me, just as you hated my sister. You can’t stand me being near Frederick. I’ll agree to any condition. I’ll leave Frederick this very day. My sole plea is for you to release me!”

Caroline smiled as she recognized her objective was within grasp. Instantly, she shifted her expression, adopting a facade of vulnerability.

“Caroline, what are you claiming now? It’s clear as day that you’re the mastermind behind all of this!”

Claire was still reeling from the weight of the truths she had pieced together when Caroline’s sudden shift in demeanor struck her.

“Claire, don’t kill me. Please! I’ll do anything you ask. Just spare me!”

It wasn’t until Caroline dropped to her knees with a startling thud in front of Claire that Frederick’s voice broke through from behind.

“Claire, what are you doing?”

Turning, Claire saw his grim expression and realized Caroline’s true intentions. A bitter laugh escaped Claire as she thought, “So, this was your plan all along, Caroline. Well played.”