After her adoptive father passed away, Harrison went with her to the cemetery.
He slipped Selene’s hand into the pocket of his down jacket, his broad palm enveloping hers, warm and steady.
Looking up, she saw snowflakes dusting both of their shoulders. In that moment, she naively believed that holding hands in the falling snow meant they’d grow old together, side by side.
Harrison had once been her warmth. But after they married, Selene realized that coldness and detachment were this man’s true nature.
Luke Holloway’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Felicity, what did you do to them?”
He motioned for Selene to point out the culprit right there.
“She pushed Altair and me down together!”
“I didn’t!” Felicity shot back immediately.
“Ugh!” Altair cried out, his brow furrowing in a scowl as he pointed an indignant finger at Felicity.
He held up a handful of chanterelle mushrooms for everyone to see, then gestured at Dames.
Dames threw up his hands in annoyance. “What? Don’t look at me–it’s got nothing to do with me!”
Altair puffed up his cheeks and tapped his smartwatch.
For his safety, Altair’s smartwatch had been recording both audio and video the entire time.
Dames’s voice played from the device:
“These are Daph’s favorite mushrooms. If you pick a few more for her, she’ll be thrilled.”
“Little Star, that spot’s way too dangerous. Come back up here,” Selene’s voice came next, followed by the unmistakable sounds of two people sliding down a steep slope together.
A moment later, Felicity’s scream echoed from the watch.
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As the recording played, Felicity and Dames both blanched. Every eye in the room
turned to them.
Dames scratched his head, at a complete loss.
Felicity snapped, “Why are you all staring at me? A couple of recordings–that’s supposed to prove I pushed them?”
Then, shifting tactics, she tried to coax Altair, “I only saw you and Selene in trouble and tried to help. How was I supposed to know Selene would grab my scarf and pull me down too? Altair, did Selene tell you something to make you think it was my fault?”
Meanwhile, plainclothes security guards were scanning the area. Felicity caught their movements and smirked quietly to herself.
She wasn’t stupid; she’d noticed there were no cameras near that slope. That’s why she’d removed the “No Entry” sign in the first place.
Altair let out a soft snort and played the next clip from his watch.
“Flick, what are you doing!” Dames’s panicked shout rang out from the recording, making Felicity’s stomach clench.
She gasped, cold sweat prickling her skin.
Then another voice came through, faint but clear enough:
“Flick, why are you doing this? You–you just tried to kill her!”
Dames’s voice sounded distant, distorted by fear, but the shift in the room was palpable.
Felicity’s lips began to tremble. How did that get recorded too?
She’d assumed Selene and Altair had fallen at least thirty feet down the slope. In reality, after tumbling through the brush, they’d only ended up a few yards away from her. Hidden by the dense undergrowth, Felicity never noticed where they’d landed.
Not wanting to give Felicity another chance to hurt them, Selene and Altair had kept quiet, concealed in the brush.
The next recording played:
“Dames, did it ever cross your mind what would happen if the doctor gets here and only saves her, not me?”
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Felicity screamed inside–was that on the recording too?
It felt like icy wind was boring straight through the soles of her feet.
“…There’s only one bed in the camp’s infirmary. If they give it to Selene, what about
me?”
“I just wanted Selene to be hard to find when the doctor arrived.”
“Mmm…” Dames replied uncertainly, and in the next instant, his anxious plea came over Altair’s watch:
“Ms. Hughes, Flick twisted her ankle! Please send a doctor to help her!”
When the last recording finished, Altair stepped forward and placed himself protectively in front of Selene, making it clear whose side he was on.
Ms. Hughes, still reeling, was furious. “Damien Vaughn! That’s your mother! How could you turn your back on her like this?”
She was livid–a child she’d taught for years, and now this? It felt like a personal
failure.
Dames shot back, stubborn and sullen, “She’s not my mom anymore.”
He glanced at Altair, who was still shielding Selene, and pouted in frustration.
Ms. Hughes raised her voice, “If you see someone trying to hurt another person and you help them, you’re just as guilty!”
She turned on Felicity, voice sharp as a whip. “You manipulated a five–year–old into helping you–how could you stoop so low?”
Felicity, realizing she was cornered, went on the offensive. “Harrison, you think I’m in the wrong too?”
When Harrison said nothing, she pressed, “Come on–show some loyalty! Bros before–what’s more important, your friend or some woman you’re sick of?”
Selene laughed coldly. “Is Harrison on the police force now? With skin as thick as yours, Felicity, you could make yourself a bulletproof vest.”
Felicity shot back, “Then call the cops if you’re so sure!”
Even if they had evidence of her trying to hurt someone, all she’d get was an attempted assault charge–she hadn’t actually managed to injure Selene or Altair. If Selene called the police, the worst Felicity would face would be a few days in lock–up and a fine of a few hundred dollars.
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Felicity smirked, as if it was a small price to pay.
Luke Holloway strode toward her.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Felicity started to protest, but Luke grabbed her
by the collar and yanked her off the stretcher.
Chapter 203
