Chapter 697

“The truth is right there. Why are you asking?” Paul complained.

Howard rolled his eyes. “You can shut up now,” he retorted.

“I’ll take my leave. I need to attend to a few things,” Paul said, glancing at his phone. He’d received several messages in the hospital room and hadn’t had time to read them.

“Alright.”

Jenny sought out a doctor she knew well to inquire about Skylar’s condition. Instead of a direct question, she attempted to elicit information indirectly.

After a few minutes of conversation and carefully phrased guesses, Jenny learned what had happened. Skylar had been injured, though whether it was accidental was unclear. She’d been injected with a drug that rendered her unconscious.

So, who had given her the injection? What drug was it?

Jenny pondered this. She felt she might be able to help Joe if she got to the bottom of it. Suddenly, she thought of Edwin and his return to Jipsburg. She'd met him once; perhaps she needed to act.

The enormous mansion was a shambles. Ashtrays overflowed with cigarette butts, and empty liquor bottles littered the surfaces. A noxious mix of stale smoke and alcohol filled the air. The usual cleaning staff had left three hours earlier.

Molly lay in a bathtub, scrubbing furiously at her skin. When she realized what was happening, it felt as if a hand had closed around her heart. Edwin looked up; their eyes met.

In the past, they’d had a mutual respect and support. Regardless of external events, their home life had been intimate. But now, the facade seemed shattered. They couldn’t ignore what had happened an hour ago. Molly had never felt such pure, unadulterated hatred.

“Darling, haven’t I always been a victim?” Molly asked, tears streaming down her face. Her acting had been flawless, deserving of all the accolades she’d received. Yet, she despised Edwin’s duplicity. He could sacrifice her to appease Joe at the last minute.

“You hate me? If you’d hired more competent people, Joe wouldn’t have obtained the evidence. You wouldn’t be in this mess. You looked like you enjoyed it. For the past few years, I haven't felt anything when you touched me. You should be celebrating what happened!”

Molly’s jaw dropped. “Have you gone mad? I followed your instructions. You approved the men I hired. Tonight, you threw me under the bus to save yourself. I've been the victim! Why would you humiliate me?”

“I haven't stopped sleeping with other women, and neither have you. I’ve seen far more scandalous videos than today’s. Why are you pretending to be pure?”

Edwin, drunk, tore away the veneer of their carefully constructed peace.