Chapter 316

Tiffany's gaze was so sharp it pierced Melody's heart. Melody hesitated, thinking Tiffany lacked evidence. "Why wouldn't I dare? Are you threatening me?" she retorted.

"Then tell me," Tiffany said.

"Last night, you called me to the mountain and made me fall into that pit. You were there, yet pretended not to see me. If that's not attempted murder, what is?" Melody cried, tears streaming down her face. "Do you know I almost died? How despicable!"

A crowd gathered. The villagers, grateful to Tiffany, remained silent, as did the charity foundation staff, who were Tiffany's people. Only the Harper family's drivers and servants whispered amongst themselves, questioning Tiffany's actions.

"Miss Kelley seems so kind. How could she do this?"

"Nothing's certain. You can't judge a book by its cover."

"If it's true, she'll go to jail for attempted murder!"

"Dr. Milne said Miss Princeton was bitten by snakes and almost died! If she hadn't met Dr. Milne, she wouldn't have survived!"

With Melody weeping and claiming attempted murder, public sympathy swayed her way. Then, some children leaped to Tiffany's defense. "Don't say that about Tiffany! She'd never do such a thing!"

Tiffany smiled faintly, gently patting their heads. Turning to Melody, she asked ambiguously, "Are you sure you don't want to change your story? Are you sure I brought you to the mountain last night?"

With so many witnesses, Melody couldn't recant. "I know you won't admit it, but I swear it's the truth!" she insisted, defiantly raising her hand. "If I'm lying, may lightning strike me dead!"

Tiffany beamed. "Alright then. I'll fulfill your wish." She produced her phone and played an audio recording.

*[Sound of audio recording: Something terrible has happened! Benny was playing in the mountains, but now he's gone!] *

Melody's voice, raw and unaltered, was unmistakable.

Tiffany explained, "Last night, Melody came to the village chief, and I recorded it. She said Benny was missing, so I followed her."

"In other words," Tiffany emphasized, a mocking smile playing on her lips, "she brought me to the mountain. Benny went missing?"

Benny's mother, present in the crowd, denied it. "No, Benny went to bed early and didn't go out!"

"Then, how did you find out he was missing?" Tiffany asked Melody, feigning confusion.

All eyes turned to Melody, including Kenneth's. Her expression crumbled. Tiffany had secretly recorded their conversation, anticipating Melody's plan. It was all an act; Tiffany hadn't touched Melody except to move a flag, leading Melody into the pit. A devious scheme!

Flustered, Melody stammered, "I heard from other children that Benny hadn't come home. I didn't think and went to look for him."

"The other children are here. Ask them," Tiffany challenged. The children denied saying anything. Tiffany continued, "When I was with you last night, did I push you? Did I even touch you?"

Melody's face paled. Tiffany hadn't touched her; Melody had tried to push Tiffany and fallen into the pit herself. She couldn't admit this.

"As for not helping you," Tiffany said, a mocking smile twisting her lips, "you vanished when I turned around. I was scared being alone. What's wrong with me leaving first?" She added, "Brains are good. Unfortunately, you don't have any."

Tiffany left. Zoe echoed Tiffany's words, then added to Kenneth, "And you should donate your eyes!"

Silence fell over the crowd. The Harper group members, previously condemning Tiffany, were speechless.

Melody fainted. Kenneth carried her away, summoning his doctor. Later, Melody woke, grabbing Kenneth's arm. "Tiffany's lying! The truth isn't like that!" she cried.

Kenneth was conflicted. He believed Tiffany, but one question remained: Last night, at the village chief's house, he'd asked Tiffany if she'd seen Melody. Tiffany said no. Which was the truth? He was exhausted from the guessing game.

"Kenny, don't you believe me?" Melody sobbed. "Anyone can doubt me, but not you! Would I risk my life for… I almost died! Would I risk my life for such a joke?"

Kenneth sighed, taking her hand. "Let it go. We'll be fine."

Melody nodded, tears in her eyes. "Alright. We'll be fine, never separated…" But she couldn't truly let it go.