(Victoria''s POV)
Relief washed over me as I heard Ethan''s suspicion about Olivia. His amber eyes narrowed,
jaw clenched tight with anger. This was exactly what I needed.
"Victoria, was it Olivia who did this to you?" Ethan asked again, his voice low and dangerous.
I didn''t answer immediately, letting my silence speak volumes. My head throbbed where Olivia
had mmed it against Lily''s tombstone, but the pain was worth it for what I was about to
gain.
Without concrete evidence, Ethan would always choose me over Olivia. He always had.
I trembled slightly in his arms, ying the frightened victim to perfection. "I... I don''t want to
cause trouble," I whispered, my voice breaking.
Ethan''s arms tightened around me protectively. The gesture sent a thrill of satisfaction
through me.
"Emma, sweetheart," I called weakly, spotting my daughter hovering anxiously in the doorway.
"Mommy''s going to be fine. Dorothy, please take her upstairs."
Dorothy Lawson, our housekeeper, appeared behind Emma. "Come along, Miss Emma. Your
mother needs to rest."
"But Mommy-" Emma began, her eyes wide with fear.
I summoned a brave smile. "Go with Dorothy, darling. Ethan will take care of Mommy."
As Dorothy led Emma away, I made sure Ethan noticed my motherly concern. His expression softened further, exactly as I''d nned.
Once Emma was safely upstairs, I let the tears flow freely. They weren''t entirely fake-my head did hurt-but I certainly embellished my distress.
"I didn''t want to say anything in front of Emma,” I sobbed, clinging to Ethan''s shirt. "But it was Olivia. She... she attacked me at the cemetery."
Dr. Bet raised an eyebrow but continued cleaning my wound in silence.
"The cemetery?" Ethan''s voice was tight with controlled fury. "What were you doing there?"
< Chapter 94 Victoria''s Schemi
+15 Points >
I lowered my eyes, the picture of remorse. "I wanted to pay my respects to Lily. I know how
much she meant to you, and I thought... I thought it might help bring us closer." Ethan''s expression softened at the mention of his daughter.
"Olivia was already there when I arrived," I continued, weaving my tale carefully. "I tried to leave
quietly, but she saw me and just... snapped."
I touched my forehead gingerly. "She grabbed me by the hair and mmed my head against
Lily''s tombstone. Over and over. She kept screaming that I killed Lily."
Ethan''s face darkened. "She''spletely lost her mind."
I nodded weakly. "I was so frightened, Ethan. I thought she might kill me."
Dr. Bet cleared his throat. "And what exactly triggered this attack? Olivia Winters has
always struck me as remarkably controlled, even in grief."
I shot him a resentful look. The old healer had always been too perceptive for my liking.
"I don''t know," I lied. "I barely said hello before she attacked me."
Dr. Bet''s expression remained skeptical, but he said nothing more.
"I managed to get away," I continued, pressing closer to Ethan. "I was so afraid
she might follow me home, might try to hurt Emma..."
Ethan''s protective instincts red exactly as I''d hoped. "She won''t get anywhere near you or
Emma. I''ll make sure of that."
Just as Ethan was about to say more, a chilling voice cut through the room. "How convenient that you left out the part where you tried to curse my daughter''s grave."
My blood froze. Standing in the doorway, her clothes and hands covered in blood, was Olivia Winters. Her emerald eyes burned with hatred as they fixed on me.