Chapter 22: She Will Never Come Back

Monica arrived at the hospital and went to Mr. Hart's ward, as Pamela instructed. Mr. Hart lay on the hospital bed. Monica's eyes gleamed with malevolence. She was prepared to do anything to protect the secret that could ruin her life if discovered.

Quickly, she produced the injection and plunged it into the man's arm. Almost immediately, she sensed something was wrong; the old man's arm was cold and stiff, as if he were already dead. Instinctively, she placed a finger under his nose. He wasn't breathing. He was dead. She had been tricked.

Suddenly, the ward door burst open, a blinding white light flooding the room. Uniformed police officers rushed in, subduing Monica. The injection was seized and placed in a sealed bag.

“Monica, you’re suspected of homicide. The evidence is conclusive; you are under arrest.”

Monica's eyes widened in panic. She struggled. “Let me go! I didn’t do anything! You’ve misunderstood!”

Patrick and Olive entered. Seeing Olive, Monica understood: Mr. Hart was already dead; Patrick and Olive had conspired to frame her. A chill ran through her; she felt as if she'd fallen into an abyss.

“Olive, it’s you! You’re hurting me!”

Olive remained silent, her gaze fixed on Monica. Patrick rushed forward and slapped her. Though he'd cooperated with Olive, he'd vehemently defended Monica before, vowing she was incapable of such a deed. Now, utterly disillusioned, he realized Monica's hand had ended his father's life. He'd been deceived for years.

“Monica, you poisonous woman! I was good to you! What more did you want? Why did you kill my father?” Patrick wept.

His slap left burning fingerprints on her face. Caught in the act, denial was impossible. Everything was revealed.

“Patrick, how dare you say you were good to me? After Pamela's birth, you were useless and your father was an obstacle! I needed to get rid of him!” Monica retorted. “Don't blame me, blame yourself! You dislike Olive, as did I. I planned to frame her by pushing the old man, but you sent her to the orphanage! It was only after Father fell ill that you gave me a chance! It's all your fault!”

Patrick trembled. He wanted to slap her again, but she spoke the truth. “Take her away,” he ordered.

As they led her away, Monica glared at Olive. “Olive, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have just sent you to the orphanage. I should have sent you to hell!”

Olive’s face remained impassive. Slowly, she curled her lips. “Monica, I’ll help you fulfill that wish. Just as you didn't want me alone, I won't let your daughter, Pamela, be lonely. I'll send her to join you soon. You'll reunite.”

Monica was shocked. “Olive, I did this alone! It has nothing to do with Pamela! You have no evidence to implicate her!” She was a good mother and wanted to bear the blame, but Olive wouldn't let Pamela go.

A police officer addressed Olive. “Mr. Hart, we've investigated your allegations against Pamela, but found no conclusive evidence. We can only ask for her cooperation, not arrest her.”

Pamela was impeccable; she'd expertly manipulated Monica. With Mr. Hart dead, no one could testify against her.

Patrick approached Olive. “Monica did this alone. It has nothing to do with Pamela. Let this end.”

Olive scoffed. “The murderer of my grandfather is still out there. I'll reveal who your beloved daughter truly is.”

“You have no evidence,” Patrick countered.

Olive smirked. “Pamela will be surprised.”

The Hart Family

Pamela fidgeted. Night fell, but Monica hadn’t returned. The villa doorbell rang. Overjoyed, Pamela rushed to the door, her smile fading as she saw Olive, not Monica. Outside, several police cars were parked.

“Olive, what are you doing here? And the police?”

“They’re here to arrest you, Pamela. Your crimes are exposed.”

Pamela’s legs weakened, but she composed herself. “Olive, I don’t understand. You need evidence. I can sue you for slander.”

Olive produced her phone. “Yesterday was Dad’s birthday. I set up a camera in the living room. Your evil plan with Monica was recorded. There’s more evidence.”

Pamela reached for the phone. “Let me see.”

Olive smiled, tilting her head. “Oh, Grandma passed away. And your mother, Monica, is arrested. She will never come back.”