Chapter 240

Nolan’s first question was about who had been recorded in the audio.

Abigail turned to look at Stephen.

Stephen’s legs gave out almost instantly, and he dropped to his knees. “I…”

He knew he was guilty, but the terror of going back to prison consumed him. The memory of being beaten in his cell still haunted him.

But it wasn’t just the violence that terrified him. It was the loss of freedom and the food that tasted like slop meant for pigs.

After twenty-something years of luxury and leisure, how could Stephen endure that kind of life?

Nolan nodded when he heard Stephen speak. “Is this recording authentic and reliable?”

“Yes, it’s reliable,” Stephen answered in a daze, his mind so foggy he simply responded to whatever was asked.

“Since one of the suspects, Stephen, has already confessed, that leaves Gabriel. Which one of you is Gabriel?” Nolan asked with a smile.

This case had been a headache to investigate and gather evidence, but at least the suspects were cooperating. That made his job easier.

“That’s me,” Gabriel answered, his expression calmer than it had ever been.

“Walk me through exactly how you committed the crime, including how you tampered with the dashboard camera footage,” Nolan said.

Gabriel remained silent for a moment before he began recounting the details of that night. Since he had fabricated the evidence, he had a clear mental picture of every timeline.

Nolan’s assistant, who was recording Gabriel’s statement, fought the urge to punch him in the face. They had destroyed a Vanguard University student’s future, and she was his own daughter.

“Who made the fake surveillance footage for you?” Nolan asked.

Everyone involved in this case would be held accountable, whether they knew the full story or not. The case had shocked all of Cobridge back then because the hit-and-run driver who fled the scene was a wealthy young woman.

The investigating officers didn’t believe that whoever faked the surveillance footage could have been unaware of the case’s significance.

“He gave me a fake name. I tried to contact him recently but couldn’t reach him. He said his name was Alan Smith and only accepted cash,” Gabriel said.

Nolan nodded and turned to Bianca. “Is what he’s saying true?” She hadn’t done anything, but her silence spoke volumes. Sometimes silence was a crime in itself.

Under his cold, stern gaze, Bianca couldn’t bring herself to lie. She shrank back and nodded.

“You’re Abigail?” Nolan’s attention shifted to her.

“Yes, that’s me,” Abigail answered calmly.

“Tell us how they framed you back then.” His tone softened noticeably when speaking to her.

Abigail didn’t answer right away. Three years was a long time, and many details had faded from her memory. But one moment remained crystal clear—the moment they pronounced her guilty. That memory would never fade.

She began, “On June 23rd three years ago, at exactly six in the evening, I checked my exam results and found out I’d gotten into Vanguard University.

“I was thrilled and waited at home for my parents to come back from work. But by ten that night, they still hadn’t returned.”

Abigail paused, then continued with the painful details.

When they finally came home close to eleven, everyone’s face was grim. The one person she’d wanted to tell most, Wyatt, wasn’t with them.

The atmosphere in the house was suffocating.

Abigail’s joy about getting into Vanguard University died in her throat that day. She assumed Gabriel and Bianca were angry because Daniella hadn’t gotten into a good school.

So she kept quiet about her own acceptance, afraid they’d think she was showing off or trying to make Daniella look bad, especially since Daniella struggled with severe depression.

Three agonizing days passed like this. Then news broke online about a rich girl who’d hit someone with her car and fled the scene. The story went viral.

Someone claiming to be an insider posted a photo under the news article. It showed the hit-and-run vehicle with part of the license plate visible, but what made Abigail’s blood run cold was the cartoon decal on the car.

It was her eighteenth birthday present from Wyatt, given to her just days before. She’d chosen her favorite cartoon character for the custom paint job.

The car had only been home for two days. She couldn’t even drive yet and had planned to learn over the summer. But Daniella had borrowed it. Earlier that day, Gabriel had told Abigail everything. He demanded that she confess to the hit-and-run before the police traced it back to the Gibson family.

“I refused,” Abigail said. “Gabriel hit me. Christian and Stephen kept threatening me, screaming at me from morning till night until my mind went numb.”

She paused. “Bianca didn’t help either. All she kept saying was that Daniella had severe depression. And the police came to the house that same night.”