Karen looked profoundly uncomfortable, on the verge of fainting. Normally, her family would have rallied around her, fearing an accident. Instead, they stared in stunned silence.

“I don’t want to see her. Make her go away!” Karen protested, eyes reddening, her pitiful display a calculated attempt to garner sympathy. She lurched backward, feigning a faint, surprised by their continued stillness.

“Why are you blaming Hannah?” Robert exploded, his voice shaking the villa. The outburst shocked everyone, including Karen, momentarily distracting her from her performance. She stared at her father, speechless; this was the first time he'd directed his anger at her. Tears streamed down her face as she exclaimed, “Dad, I’m not framing her! I told you I believe she’s innocent, but after her argument with Pamela yesterday… I just thought… maybe… I know it’s not Hannah, but I couldn't control my thoughts. I’m so torn.” Her forlorn expression was another bid for sympathy.

Hannah watched her act, their realization of Karen's deception palpable.

“You’re still lying?” Robert’s voice trembled with rage, his anger reignited by the contrast between Karen's performance and the damning recording. He never imagined his daughter capable of such cruelty, questioning the very foundation of their love and his role in her upbringing.

“I won’t blame Hannah anymore,” Karen sobbed. “Pamela must have slipped. I’ll go to my room. It’s all my fault. I caused trouble…” She began to leave, her performance almost believable, were it not for the truth already revealed.

“Karen! You killed Pamela! How long will you pretend?” Robert’s fury was barely contained.

Karen froze, speechless, unable to process her father's accusation.

“Still feigning ignorance?” Robert roared, Karen turning to see Destiny trembling, unable to meet her gaze. “Destiny told me everything. How much longer will you lie?” He was appalled by his daughter's cruelty, her actions a disgrace to the Wells family.

“What did she say?” Karen asked, affecting innocence. Hannah was impressed by Karen's continued performance, even in this desperate situation.

“She said you ordered her to kill Pamela!” Robert’s voice cracked with anger.

“Destiny, what did you say?” Karen’s slightly softer tone was a deliberate attempt to maintain an appearance of composure.

“Miss Karen, I’m sorry,” Destiny wept. “I didn’t plan to expose you, but you shouldn’t have even considered it…”

“You framed me because of a few harsh words last night?” Karen protested, feigning outrage. “Didn't I treat you well? How can you hate me just because I was unpleasant?”

“That’s not it, miss. Everyone knows what you did,” Destiny replied anxiously. Karen's continued act only grew more repulsive.

“What do they know? That I scolded you last night?” Karen tried to deflect.

“Enough!” Robert thundered, his patience exhausted. “Play the recording!”

Trembling, Destiny played the recording, Karen's carefully constructed facade finally crumbling. Her face drained of color, her carefully laid plans—to deny everything without proof, even accusing Hannah and Destiny—shattered by Destiny's secret recording. Twenty-two years of pretense were undone. The shock was palpable; she was breaking down. Shaking her head, she stumbled backward.

“Don’t you believe it?” Robert demanded.

The world seemed to darken for Karen. She bit her lip in agony.

“Karen, I raised you, and I cannot believe you are capable of this! The angelic girl I knew… so brutal and cruel! You are an embarrassment!” Robert's words were raw and unsparing.

Karen was speechless. Venus, though hurt and unable to condone her daughter's actions, felt sympathy for her child. Seeing Robert's harshness, she intervened. “Enough, Robert. Karen must have a reason…”

“Say it!” Robert overruled her. “If you don’t admit everything today, even if you die before me, I won’t back down!”