Chapter 223: This Time, You Can’t Escape

Immediately Olive finished speaking, Pamela’s eyes widened in alarm. Her eyelashes fluttered, and a wave of dread washed over her. She realized she had been tricked, and her mother, Monica, had been implicated.

Pamela tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Several seconds passed before she found her voice. "So what? I did nothing! My mother did all this. I'm not even aware of what she did," Pamela vehemently denied.

Olive observed Pamela's strained expression. "Pamela, aren't you perfect at pretending? Unfortunately, your mother already implicated you. She said you carried out the sinister act."

"Impossible!" Pamela shook her head. "It's impossible for my mother to say that. Olive, you're lying!"

Olive grabbed Pamela by the collar. "The surveillance video I possess will convict you. You could spend the rest of your life in prison!"

Pamela recoiled. Prison was the last place she wanted to be. She grasped Olive's hand on her neck. "I don't believe a word you say! Let them take me; I won't say anything until my lawyer arrives!"

Olive sneered and dragged Pamela into the villa. Pamela struggled against Olive's superior strength, stumbling as she was pulled toward the stairs. Olive stood firm, her gaze fixed on Pamela's face.

"Pamela," Olive said calmly, her voice like that of a psychologist, "do you remember this position? Eleven years ago, you called me here. After you knocked me unconscious, you pushed Grandpa down these stairs. Look at that spot—where he lay in a pool of his own blood. Look at his weakened face, looking up at you."

Pamela looked down. The stairs seemed impossibly high, always evoking fear of falling. Her mind replayed the events of eleven years ago: reaching out, pushing the old man, the swift gush of blood from his head, his cloudy eyes staring fiercely. She had been only a teenager, a child.

"Let me go! Olive, let go of me!" Pamela screamed, the memory of those eyes haunting her.

Olive held Pamela firmly, her gaze fixed on the stairs. "Pamela, you've lived here for years, walked these stairs daily. Didn't you ever have nightmares?"

Pamela screamed hysterically, breaking free and hiding in a corner. "It's all your fault!" she yelled.

"Do you know how much I envied you? I followed you and North, always in your shadow. You were so brilliant, learning everything instantly. No one paid attention to me! Everyone was drawn to you! I could only peep at you from a dark corner!" Pamela confessed, her voice breaking.

"Grandpa didn't die because of me, he died because of you! Who did he love most? Olive, obviously! With him gone, Mother and I could enter this house. Can't you see why I had to get rid of him?" Pamela wiped away tears. "That day, when I pushed him, he tried to pull me down with him. He hated me! He deserved it! He should have died long ago. And the nightmares? If he'd treated us equally, none of this would have happened! You forced me! It's not my fault!"

Olive's eyes reddened. She clenched her fists. "Pamela, selfishness and greed are never justification for hurting others. I never had ill thoughts toward you; I treated you sincerely, as a sister. I never suspected your plot."

"Olive, stop the pretense! You wear a mask every day, lying to yourself that you're living the best life. But we both know you harbor hate," Pamela retorted angrily.

"You're right, I do harbor hate—toward you and your mother! From the day I returned to Los Angeles, I vowed to expose your hypocrisy!" Olive's lips tightened. "Pamela, I won, didn't I?"

"Oh, look at you, poor Pamela, all alone. Your own ally betrayed you. You're ridiculous! You bought the poison from the black market, didn't you?"

"Nonsense!" Pamela screamed. "I only contacted the seller. Mom did everything! She's lying!"

Olive blinked rapidly, suppressing tears. Her fist loosened. A wave of relief washed over her. For the first time in her life, Olive felt at ease. She had finally let go.

Olive smirked, then laughed softly. Pamela sensed something was wrong, a trap closing. "Olive, what are you laughing at?"

Olive stopped laughing, producing a small CCTV camera embedded in her hair. "Pamela, I had no evidence. I was lying. The police outside were only here to assist with the investigation, but you surprised them all. This time, you can't escape."