<b>Chapter </b><b>380 </b>
Philip kept his head down, silent.
Everyone in the Yuncey family wore stunned expressions. They looked at one another, unable to process what had just happened.
Rachel mmed her cane on the ground and demanded angrily, “Philip! You’ve worked for the Yuncey family for years. How could you murder Zahra? Why did you do it?”
Greta scolded furiously, “Philip, have you lost your mind? Why Zahra? Did she ever wrong you?”
Philip kept his head lowered, looking tormented.
Carmen seized the moment. “Philip, if you killed her, then confess already!”
Philip lifted his head and nced at Carmen, then looked away again. He seemed to struggle internally, but finally spoke.
“I’m sorry… I let the Yuncey family down… It was me… I killed Zahra…”
He burst into tears as he confessed. Just then, Sebastian arrived with Shaw and his team.
“The police are here!” someone called out, and the crowd parted to let them through.
Caitlin pointed directly at Philip. “Shaw, he just confessed. Philip killed Zahra.”
“We heard him,” Shaw said calmly. He gestured to his team.
Two officers stepped forward and cuffed Philip. Shaw followed procedure, announcing, “Philip, you are under arrest for murder. You’ll be taken back to the station for formal investigation. Take him away.”
As Philip was led away, Shaw turned to the crowd. “The suspect has been taken into custody. We’ll interrogate him thoroughly, and we’ll keep the Yuncey family updated with the results.”
He then looked at Caitlin. “Thank you, Caitlin. Your method helped us solve the case much faster. We appreciate it<b>.” </b>
“No need to thank me.”
With the case resolved, Caitlin told everyone to return to their duties.
Then she turned to Rachel. “Great–aunt, Zahra died unjustly. I hope the Yuncey family will give her a proper burial and take care of her
family.”
“Of course. Forrest, take care of the arrangements.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You may all go,” Rachel added, and the crowd dispersed.
As Carmen left, she gave Caitlin a sidelong nce.
Caitlin stared right back.
Think this is over just because Philip confessed?
Not even close.
1715 <b>THU </b>7 <b>Aug </b>| D
Your time ising.
With everything resolved, Dous and Randall were even more impressed with Caitlin. As they left, Randall praised <b>her</b><b>, </b>“<b>Caitlin</b>, that was brilliant. You really know how to catch a killer.”
“It was nothing. I just wanted justice–for Zahra and for myself.”
In truth, the entire n had been carefully crafted by Caitlin, Sebastian, and James.
From the moment the autopsy confirmed Zahra had been suffocated elsewhere and moved, to James pulling surveince data and identifying Philip as a suspect, everything had been orchestrated.
Sebastian came up with the idea for the cinnabar water trick.
They had actually used red iron powder, not cinnabar. The water basin was rigged with a maic device underneath. When Philip approached, the maic field triggered the iron particles to form a face–Zahra’s face.
The goal was simple: panic the guilty into revealing themselves.
And it worked. A guilty conscience always leaves clues.
To avoid disrupting Timothy’s uing birthday celebration, the Yuncey family quickly suppressed news of Zahra’s murder.
They paid her family argepensation, and her rtives didn’t cause trouble.
With the matter closed, preparations for Timothy’s grand birthday resumed in full swing.
That same afternoon, Carmen, Dous, and Randall went to the Yuncey Group’s headquarters.
They were there to hold Odessa ountable for leaking fragrance forms and to demandpensation as per contract.
The meeting was scheduled for 3 p.m. Carmen watched the clock tick past the time. It was now ten minuteste, and still, no one from Odessa’s team had arrived.
Frustrated, she mmed a file on the table. “Looks like Odessa tricked us. That woman’s a fraud!”
She turned to Randall and snapped, “Randall, seriously? How could you introduce someone like that to the Yuncey family?”
Randall defended himself. “Odessa is incredibly talented. I even wanted to sign her on as the chief perfumer for our fragrance division.
“As for the failed Fragrance Garmentsunch–that was your idea from the start. ming Odessa was wrong.”
He had rmended Odessa with the goal of elevating the family’s fragrance business. He never expected Carmen to use her as part of a fake fragrance stunt.
“Randall, how dare you-”
“You two, enough!” Dous cut in before things escted. He turned to Carmen. “Odessa broke contract <b>first</b>. <b>Why </b><b>not </b>use this chance to renegotiate terms? If we can lock her into an exclusive deal, she’ll only work for the Yuncey family. Isn’t that better?”
Before Carmen could respond, an assistant walked in. “Mr. Yun, Odessa’s team has arrived.”
“Good. Bring them straight to the main conference room.”
1715
Aug
Dous adjusted his tie. Randall looked toward the door, eager to confirm if his guess about Odessa’s identity was correct.
Soon, the doors opened. A team of professionals andwyers filed in, forming two lines at either side of the room.
Then a woman in a sweeping red gown walked in gracefully.
She was like a memanding every eye in the room. Her wavy hair fell to one side, sunsses perched above bold red lips. Her presence was cool, seductive, and untouchable.
Dous was so stunned, he forgot to react.
Randall recognized her instantly and stood up, visibly excited.
Carmen stared at the woman, sensing something familiar–but refusing to believe it.
“She… she’s…”
An assistant pulled out a chair. The woman sat down with poise and removed her sunsses.
Her face was regal and striking.
Dous felt his heart skip a beat, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets. “Caitlin?!”
Carmen mmed both palms on the table, leaning forward as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. She stared at Caitlín. “Caitlin? What are you doing here?!”
“You invited me, didn’t you? To talk about perfume?”
Carmen looked like her world had just shattered. She shouted, “You’re Odessa?! That’s impossible! <i>You </i>said Odessa was your friend!”
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