Terrified Hadley wouldn’t listen, she added quickly, “Think about it. If I were lying—if I were just framing Linda—what would I gain? There’s no benefit in dragging her name into this unless it’s true. Hadley, you have to see that…”

The visitation time was up.

“Chelsey,” the officer interrupted, stepping forward. “Time’s up.”

“Hadley!” Chelsey was yanked to her feet, her voice sharp with urgency. “Be careful—Linda will stop at nothing to get what she wants! She knows the walls are closing in. She’s trying to drag everyone down with her! Please—watch your back!”

Hadley’s mind was already racing, but she gave a small nod. “I’ll remember.”

Even after leaving the jail, Chelsey’s warning echoed in her head. Could Chelsey be telling the truth?

Hadley weighed the possibilities. Was Chelsey trying to frame Linda? But to what end? There was no gain; her sentence wouldn’t change.

Then maybe she was trying to stir conflict between them. But that was pointless too—the damage between Hadley and Linda was already done. No amount of prodding could make it worse.

Unless… Chelsey knew about that hostility and wanted to use Hadley as a weapon against Linda.

The thought made Hadley’s head throb.

“Tamara.” She turned to Tamara. “Take me to the hospital.”

Chelsey had mentioned seeing the news about Ayla—and from that, she revealed Linda had been pulling the strings.

Hidden beneath her words was another suggestion: Linda might have been the one behind Ayla’s actions, too.

True or not, Hadley knew there was only one way to find out.

At the hospital, Ayla remained under strict police watch. She didn’t look nearly as broken as she had before.

Hadley narrowed her eyes. The vile ones always managed to survive, while Elissa…

α с?ρ αν﹒

“Ayla.” Her voice cut through the room as she approached, eyes filled with contempt. “Tell me the truth. Was it Linda who told you to do it?”

Ayla’s pupils shrank. Her expression wavered—panic flickered across her face.

“It was her, wasn’t it?” Hadley’s voice cracked. “It wasn’t Gifford at all. It was Linda!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Ayla snapped, shaking her head. “I’ve already confessed. No one gave me orders! Bianca and I were partners, that’s all!”

“You’re lying.” Hadley’s gaze sharpened. That flicker of fear when she said Linda’s name—Ayla couldn’t hide it.

“I’m not lying!” Ayla bared her teeth, her single eye blazing. “Bianca and I planned it together! I knew taking your best friend from you would break you! You want to blame someone else to feel better about yourself? Go ahead. But don’t you dare drag innocent people into your mess!”

A spark of wild enthusiasm lit up Ayla’s eyes as she continued, her words turning sharp and frenzied. “Quit pretending everything is fine! Accept it! You have Elissa’s blood on your hands!”

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