Chapter 142

"Where's the remote?" Kayla demanded.

Marissa frantically searched, her movements jerky, eyes wild. Kayla grabbed her. "I'm asking you a question! We trusted you! Are you worthy of us?!" Marissa's eyes were bloodshot. "Kayla, help me find the remote! This is fake! I'm being framed!"

"Now?! This is the time for the remote?!" Kayla sobbed, tears streaming down her face. She'd been a fool, trusting Marissa completely.

The video switched. The date: today.

"Sir, where are you driving?" Paisley's voice.

Dominick's eyes darted to the TV. "Paisley! It's Paisley's voice!" He pushed his wheelchair closer. "She's in danger!"

The Vanderbilts focused on the screen. Only the road was visible. Dominick recognized the route – it wasn't Paisley's. His heart pounded. He called Paisley; it went straight to voicemail.

Paisley's voice: "What's your goal?"

A man's voice, chillingly familiar – the man who'd conspired with Marissa to murder Jeremy.

Silence. Then Paisley again: "It's okay, Rena, don't be scared. He's just playing with us."

Gasps of horror. A child was in the car!

The Vanderbilts stared at Marissa, a venomous snake in disguise.

"No! Don't look! It's fake! I'm being framed!" Marissa shrieked. Unable to find the remote, she grabbed a jade ornament and smashed it against the TV. Again and again, until the screen went black. She collapsed, her face hidden.

"Marissa, are you out of your mind?!" Lauren cried, her voice trembling. She pictured Paisley, terrified, comforting her daughter.

"Oh my god! Are they okay?" Ronda gasped.

They'd gathered to celebrate Paul's release, discussing Dominick and Marissa's wedding. Now this. Marissa, the kind, perfect facade hiding a monster. If she'd hurt Paisley and her daughter, would Grayson be next? Ronda glanced at Grayson, then Lauren.

Chapter 112

Dominick received a call from Paisley, asking him to wait. The unfinished video fueled his fear. Paisley's phone remained unreachable.

Marissa's shoulders trembled. "Dom, what are you talking about? I don't know." She looked at the others, eyes wide. "Why are you looking at me like this? It's fake! I don't know anything!"

"It must have been planned! Paisley wants to frame me! She doesn't want to marry you, so she wants to ruin me!"

Paul exploded. "Harm you? With her medical skills, you'd have been dead four years ago! She didn't care about Dominick, why would she care about you?!"

Paul nearly suffered another episode, but the family doctor intervened. His words hit home. They'd believed Marissa's manipulations, dismissing Paisley's mango cake as a mere coincidence. But Paisley could have killed Marissa silently. Their misplaced trust felt like a bitter betrayal.