The Poy
I already had a theory about this part, so I explained without hesitations
This was a multi–layered trap. We all feel like Vanessa has no connection to Aurora, but she and Callista are colleagues in Ashworth Pack. And everyone knows Callista became Aurora’s friend after Aute a returned.”
Sebastian’s brow furrowed as he began to understand the connection
“Vanessa constructed a perfe! triangle–keeping herself hidden in the background, using Callista as a middleman to get close to Aurora and somehow frame her. Even more cleverly, she used Callist as a red herring too. I paused, making sure everyone was following my reasoning. “Think about it: I had multiple public conflicts with Callista, and even during my amnesia, when Aurora and I clashed in the bathroom, Callista was present. This subconsciously inked Aurora and Callista in everyone’s minds, naturally creating the impression that Aurora and Callista were working together.”
“So if Aurora was proven innocent…” Hawthorne said thoughtfully.
“Exactly, I continued, “all suspicion would shift directly to Callista, not to Vanessa who seemed to have no obvious connection to either of them. She hid herself perfectly behind two layers of smoke, which is why none of us thought of her.”
I noticed Sebastian’s eyes brightening as he looked at me, that burning gaze flashing with admiration before being replaced by cold fury: “I underestimated her cunning.”
“I’m not defending Callista,” I added, “but I don’t think she was aware of this. She’d already lost her job and nearly got expelled from the Pack for targeting me, so doing anything else against me at this point would backfire, which wouldn’t be worth it for her. But judging by the fact that she still befriended Aurora after being slapped by her, I think she may dislike me, but she’s not that radical or vicious. She was probably just being used as a tool by Vanessa.”
I turned to Hawthorne: “This is all my reasoning, but I think everything will become clear if you bring Aurora in for questioning.”
Chief Hawthorne didn’t hesitate any longer and nodded. He sat down picked up the phone, and made a call. He requested Aurora be brought over, then hung up.
“Well done, Thea,” Diana’s voice sounded softly in my mind, with obvious approval. I smiled in response.
During the wait that followed, everyone maintained silence. Sebastian seemed to want to speak to me several times, but I decided to ignore him until we resolved the current situation.
Finally, the door opened, and Aurora walked in with an officer behind her. She looked even worse than the last time I’d seen her. Haggard, broken, and confused, like someone who had lost everything and the will to live.
I truly felt my heart ache for her. The woman standing before me was merely a shadow of the girl I once knew. I realized I didn’t want to see her like this.
“Are you okay?” I don’t know what drove me to rush forward, take her hand, and offer comfort.
She looked at me, shocked and confused, then tears began to fill her eyes. She didn’t say anything, but she squeezed my hand back.
Aurora, Thea believes you’re innocent, but before I release you, I need more information,” Hawthorne told her, and her eyes widened with shock.
“I need you to think carefully, Aurora, because this is important, okay?” I told her, and she nodded. She reminded me of a lost little girl.
1/2
Chapter 297
Shirsty do you know Vanessa Lasked softly.
Aurora nodded, her eyes flickering with memory. “Yes. After Callista was fired by Sebastjan, she visited me one day and brought Vanessa along. Honestly, after coming back, I didn’t have many friends here, so I didn’t turn down the chance to connect with another person. At first, we only met occasionally, but gradually wearted seeing each other more often?
“Vanessa is the mastermind behind my attack. I believe she framed you because she knew that due to our issues, you would likely be the first suspect.”
“W–what?
“Now I need to know: would Vanessa have had access to your clothing?” I gently shook her, questioning. She fell into thought.
“Yes,” she answered. She has keys to my apartment. One time I got drunk, and she took me home, so I gave her a spare key afterward, just in case… We would sometimes meet for coffee at my lace.”
Hawthorne took over he questioning: “Good… and is it possible you touched a gun that she gave you?” She thought for a moment, and just as she began to shake her head in denial, she stopped.
“Oh my God, she gasped in disbelief. “That fucking bitch.”
“I’m guessing you remembered something?” Sebastian pressed.
She nodded. “Once, a few weeks ago, she invited me to her lakeside cabin, saying it would help distract me. During the tour, we saw a glass display case full of guns. She told me her grandfather loved shooting and these were his collection. She asked if I wanted to hold one. I don’t like combat training, but I was interested in guns, so I agreed. She wore white gloves as she took a gun from the display. I was so immersed in sadness and depression that I didn’t notice anything strange, nor did I question why she wore gloves yet let me handle the gun directly without giving me a pair.”
Holy shit, Vanessa was one clever bitch. She clearly knew what she was doing and what she wanted when she invited Aurora to her “family cabin.” She had planned everything.
“Can you describe the gun she gave you?” Hawthorne turned to her, his eyes glinting with anticipation. Without hesitation, she described the gun given to her. When she finished, we all turned to Hawthorne.
He sighed, looked up at the ceiling, then faced us. “It seems you’re right, Thea. The gun she described is exactly the one used to shoot you. Only my two officers and I knew the model of the gun used. Aurora’s ability to describe it accurately means she’s innocent, and we need to catch Vanessa before she flees.”
