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    “I’m asking you, what happened between you two? Why was it Uncle Ryan who showed up? Wasn’t it supposed to be Ryan?”


    “Why didn’t Ryane? Why was it Uncle Ryan instead?”


    “Did you two…?” Isabelle sounded like she was about to lose it, her words trembling with desperation. “Please, tell me nothing happened. Tell me you didn’t… that nothing went on between you.”


    “Cat got your tongue? Why aren’t you saying anything?”


    I hit the record button and gave a mocking chuckle. “Regretting it now, Isabelle?”


    “Victoria, you bitch! You really did it with Uncle Ryan? You—”


    I snorted. “I didn’t want to, but I never thought what you slipped me would be that strong…”


    “No, no, you’re not allowed to be with him! Not ever!”


    “Isabelle, I honestly can’t tell if this is a blessing or a curse. Edward’s actually really gentle.”


    “Plus, he said… he’d take care of me.”


    “No… no way, how could it be him?” Isabelle was losing it, crying her eyes out. “Victoria, if I’d known it was him, I never would’ve done something so stupid.”


    Isabelle totally lost it. “Victoria, I hate you! Why did you have to show up?”


    “Edward doesn’t belong <i>to </i>you. You can’t control him, so you just go after me. Isabelle, you’re being so immature. And about those photos you took of Sophia to ckmail me? You’re messing with the wrong person. You’re not threatening me–you’re screwing yourself over. Sophia’s gonna take you to court for sure.”


    Isabelle shouted, furious, “Her? That insignificant ant? She’s nothing!”


    My heart sank. Just as I expected, Isabelle had been spoiled her whole life–she’s always thought the rules don’t apply to her.


    “Even an ant can shake a tree. Don’t underestimate the little guys,” I said, and hung up.


    Not long after, Edward strode into the hospital room.


    As soon as I saw him, I remembered the phone call I’d just recorded and came clean about it right away.


    Edward gave me a startled look. “We… did something? Why am I thest to know?”


    I blushed in embarrassment. I just wanted to get under her skin, so I said some things to rile her up.”


    Edward reached out and ran his fingers through my hair. “Rx. I already got her toe clean about everything.”


    11:54 Thu<b>, </b>Sep 11


    “She actually told you all that?” I blurted out, shocked.


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    Edward’s voice went cold. “I used a few tricks. She ended up trusting me and told me the whole thing.”


    “How could she be so naive?” I muttered, still in disbelief.


    Edward nced down at me. “I told her you were about to call the cops, and that I’d help her keep it quiet. She totally let her guard down. Plus, she’s into me, so she ended up telling me everything.”


    “If you got her to confess, then why did she call just to cuss me out?” I said, surprised.


    Edward’s eyes grew cold. “I told her what was really going on before I left.”


    “What did you tell her?” I asked, startled.


    Edward grinned at me. “That I was gathering evidence for you, obviously. What else would I say?”


    “No wonder Isabelle’s about to lose her mind. You’re helping me get evidence right out in the open–of course she’s losing it,” I said, ncing at Edward. For a split second, I caught a rare softness in his eyes.


    Edward’s voice stayed icy. “She did this to herself. There’s no reason to pity her.”


    After getting the shot, I felt a lot better. But since I’d been out in the cold water, I started showing some cold symptoms. The doctor gave me a prescription and sent me on my <i>way</i>.


    The first thing I did after getting discharged was go straight to find my little brother.


    Aiden came rushing down to the lobby, grinning from ear to ear when he spotted me. “Hey, what brings you to Braylin? When did you get here?”


    I looked at Aiden, and for some reason, my heart ached for him.


    He was such a bright, sunny boy.


    “I need to talk to you about something important,” I said, my face turning serious.


    Aiden jumped in surprise and quickly led me over to a lounge sofa. He hurried off to get us two cups of hot water. “Sis, don’t scare me like that. The way you look right now is giving me chills. Did something serious happen?<b>” </b>


    I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and sent him a few photos.


    Aiden’s expression changed instantly when he saw them. The next second, he looked up at me, his eyes wide. “Sis, where did you get these? Is Sophia… is she cheating on me?”