Chapter 530
Ivy’s mind buzzed with chaos. She couldn’t bear to think about how she’d brushed past death—again.
She’d underestimated Emma. That venomous woman had managed to dodge the bodyguards Jamison had arranged and sent Sheridan to get close to Ivy’s friends, striking from the shadows.
For a brief moment, panic seized her, but she quickly forced herself calm. Frowning in confusion, she asked, “Since you already tried to hurt me, why did you change your mind?”
Roberta’s voice was flat. “I didn’t want to throw my future away. That guy promised me two hundred thousand up front, and another three hundred thousand after you were gone. He said the drug wouldn’t kill you right away, just poison you slowly, so no one would ever suspect.”
Ivy stared, stunned. Sheridan was brazen beyond belief–trying to buy a murder for fifty grand, as if this was some lawless corner of the world.
“Fifty thousand might mean nothing to someone like you,” Roberta went on, her voice trembling, “but for a broke student like me, it’s a fortune. I lost my head and agreed. But when I got back, I couldn’t sleep at night. I was a wreck. I kept thinking if anything happened, my life would be over.”
A chill prickled through Ivy. She fixed Roberta with a grave look. “Didn’t he say no one would ever find out?”
Roberta gave a cold, bitter laugh. “Sure, but I know better. There’s no such thing as a perfect crime. Your husband is powerful and wealthy–if something happened to you, he'd stop at nothing to find the truth. And I have nothing against you, other than the fact that you’re quiet and keep to yourself. Why risk destroying my own life for this? It’s just not worth it.”
Her eyes dropped, and her voice grew barely audible. “I’ve studied my whole life. I finally made it to grad school, just one year from graduating. I have a bright future ahead. Fifty grand is not worth it. I might be broke now, but once I start working, I’ll make plenty more than that.”
Ivy looked at her roommate with new eyes. She’d always thought Roberta was a bookworm with no common sense, especially after seeing the kind of guy she dated.
But now she realized Roberta was clear-headed, able to weigh pros and cons–a smart girl, after all.
Relief washed over Ivy. She offered her sincere thanks. “Thank you. Truly, for sparing me.”
Roberta let out a self-mocking chuckle. “You don’t have to be sarcastic. If you hate me, call the police. There’s no physical evidence left, but at least I can testify against myself.”
“You’re not afraid calling the police would ruin your life, too?”
She shook her head. “I made a mistake in a moment of weakness. If there are consequences, I’ll face them.”
Ivy studied her for a while, then finally said, “Don’t worry. I won’t call the police. As far as I’m concerned, this is over.”
Roberta’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re really not going to report me? You’re just letting it go?”
“There’s no evidence. The police couldn’t convict you, and it would just waste my time. It’s not worth it.” Ivy sat down, feeling herself relax for the first time.
It wasn’t that she was being soft. She simply believed Roberta wasn’t a bad person at heart.
She remembered how, the last time she’d been bedridden with cramps, Roberta had quietly kept her company in the dorm for half a day. For that, Ivy felt a quiet gratitude, and decided to let bygones be bygones.
Roberta’s look changed–gratitude shining in her eyes. After a moment, she added, “Yesterday, another woman suddenly came to see me. Once I realized what she wanted, I knew she was working with that guy. I gave her back the two hundred thousand. When she found out I hadn’t gone through with it, she lost it–screaming at me, cursing me out. She hates you. You could see it in her eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries something else. You should be careful.”