Robin had been taken to the police station. Celine’s face turned pale. Without a second thought, she hung up the phone and turned to Hailey. “Hailey, I must go to the police station right now.”

“I’m coming with you,” Hailey said immediately.

At the police station, Celine and Hailey found Robin sitting in the holding area. Celine rushed to her and grabbed Robin’s cold hands. “Robin, what happened? Why are you here?”

Robin’s face was pale, her expression hollow and dazed. “Celine, this is all because of that big star, Nikki Barnett.”

Robin’s voice quivered as she explained. “Ms. Barnett came to ELLA for a magazine shoot. She needed to use a wire harness for one of the shots, but someone had cut the wire beforehand. She fell during the shoot, and afterward, she accused me. She claimed she saw me cut the wire with her own eyes. That’s why the police brought me in.

“Celine, you have to believe me! I didn’t do it. I would never do something like that. I don’t even know Ms. Barnett personally! Why would I harm her?”

Robin’s bewilderment was palpable. Nikki’s sudden accusation had turned her into a suspect for attempted murder.

Hailey, standing nearby, looked equally stunned. “Who cut the wire, then? If Ms. Smith didn’t do it, why would Nikki accuse her? As far as I know, Nikki has no reason to hold a grudge against her.”

Robin shook her head, confusion etched into her features. “Exactly! I’ve never done anything to her. Why would she say it was me? This doesn’t make any sense.”

Celine’s clear, steady gaze darkened momentarily, a flicker of something sharp passing through her eyes. She gently reassured Robin, “Don’t worry, Robin. I’ll go talk to Nikki right now. If she changes her statement, the police will have to let you go.”

Celine and Hailey left the station without delay, heading straight for the hospital.

During the drive, Hailey broke the silence, her voice filled with confusion. “Celine, why do you think Nikki would frame Ms. Smith? Ms. Smith is your best friend.”

What Hailey had only just begun to suspect, Celine had already begun piecing together. But for now, she said nothing.

In the VIP ward, Nikki sat comfortably on the bed. For a magazine of ELLA’s caliber, safety protocols had been excellent. Even though the wire had snapped during the shoot, a thick foam mat had been placed below, leaving Nikki without so much as a bruise.

When Celine and Hailey entered the room, Nikki greeted them as if she had been expecting them. Her red lips curved upward. “Celine, Hailey, you’re here.”

Celine walked closer to the bed, her gaze falling on Nikki’s injury. “Nikki, are you alright?”

Nikki shook her head lightly. “I’m fine.”

“Nikki, we just came from the police station. Ms. Smith would never have cut the wire. Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?” Hailey said.

Celine looked at Nikki seriously. “Nikki, Robin is my best friend. I hope you’ll reconsider and change your statement so she can be released.”

Nikki leaned back lazily against the pillow. “I’m feeling a bit thirsty,” she said abruptly.

Her assistant, Alice Hum, immediately offered, “I’ll get you some water.”

But Nikki’s voice turned sharp as she snapped, “I didn’t ask you to do it!”

Alice froze mid-step, unsure of what to do next. Nikki tilted her head slightly and shifted her gaze to Celine. The message was unmistakable—she wanted Celine to get the water.

Hailey opened her mouth to object, but Celine raised a hand to stop her. “It’s fine, I’ll do it.”

Without hesitation, Celine poured a glass of water and brought it to Nikki. Nikki’s lips curled into a smug smile as she took the glass. “Celine, thank you.”

She reached out to take the glass, but in the very next moment, her expression shifted. With a dramatic motion, she slapped the glass away, sending it flying.

“This water is so hot! Were you trying to burn me to death?” she yelled.