Chapter 6

Gabriel spoke into the microphone, his voice breaking. "This tragedy happened on my watch. As her fiance, I share the blame.

"Evelyn acted recklessly and modified the gas lines without permission, and I failed to stop her. I'm guilty too. To show my remorse, I've decided to liquidate all our assets to compensate the victims' family."

Applause erupted from the crowd. Someone shouted, "Now that's a stand-up guy!"

Then Jasmine took the microphone. Her eyes were red and swollen, the picture of tragic sympathy.

"I'm Evelyn's neighbor and her friend. The truth is, Evelyn told me she planned to commit insurance fraud."

The room exploded in gasps and murmurs.

Jasmine dabbed at her tears and continued weaving her lies. "She said her company was running out of money and she wanted to blow up the house for the insurance payout. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen. I never imagined she'd actually get anyone killed."

Camera flashes went wild.

"Insurance fraud! She's a monster!"

"That woman is pure evil!"

I watched their performance on my phone, then turned it off and straightened my collar. If they'd built the stage, I might as well give them a final act.

Half an hour later, I arrived at the press conference venue. I wore a black suit and no makeup, my face pale but my spine straight.

Security tried to block me, but I shoved past them. "Move!"

I strode into the hall. The moment the doors swung open, every eye in the room turned toward me. The noisy venue fell silent instantly.

Gabriel's face changed when he saw me. He jumped to his feet and shouted, "Evie! What are you doing here? You should be at home reflecting on what you've done, not making a scene!"

He rushed toward me, trying to cover my mouth while yelling to the reporters, "My fiancee has had a mental breakdown from guilt! Don't listen to anything she says!"

Two security guards closed in, trying to drag me away. I looked at Gabriel charging toward me and slapped him hard across the face.

The sound echoed through the venue, amplified by his lapel mic. Gabriel froze, stunned.

I shoved him aside, grabbed the microphone from his hand, and walked onto the stage.

Jasmine shrank back in fear, while Patricia pointed at me and shrieked, "What the hell do you think you're doing, you crazy bitch?"

I stood at center stage, facing the cameras and the furious family members. "Since you're all so convinced I did this, let's see who really broke into my house."

I turned and connected my phone to the massive LED screen behind me. The color drained from Jasmine's face the moment she saw what I was doing. She seemed to realize what was coming and screamed as she lunged at me.

"Don't play that! That's private! Turn it off!"

She clawed at the power cables, her movements frantic and wild.

I kicked her hard in the stomach. "Get off this stage!"

Jasmine shrieked and tumbled down, landing in a heap in front of the reporters. The next second, the screen lit up. The high-definition video began to play.

In the video, Jasmine was in a wig, wearing my clothes. She pranced around the villa like a deranged performer. She posed in front of a mirror, mimicking my expressions.

Then, her face twisted into something vicious as she cut through the gas pipe. The harsh sound filled the venue through the speakers.

The entire room went silent. Everyone stared at the screen with their mouths hanging open, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Then her voice boomed through the hall. "Evelyn, go to hell! I'll blow you sky high, and then you won't be able to compete with me for his attention anymore!

The words hit like a bomb.

The family members who'd been waving banners and cursing my name stood frozen. They turned stiffly to look at Jasmine crumpled on the floor, then at Gabriel standing on stage.