Chapter 4

Chelsea froze for a moment, a flicker of panic flashing through her eyes.

Then she quickly composed herself, letting out a hesitant sigh.

"Melissa… I don't even know what to say anymore. But since Andy is coming, I'd better stay out of it. I don't want to make things unpleasant between you two."

She tried to leave, but I grabbed her arm firmly, my smile bright and unyielding.

"Why the rush, Chelsea? You're my strategist. When Andy gets here, if there's anything wrong, you can question him directly. I won't blame you. You're my best friend. I'm going through the hardest time right now—how can you not stay with me?"

In the end, Chelsea couldn't leave. Because at that very moment, a group of police officers had already arrived at the company.

The officer in charge took out his credentials and spoke.

"Who is the CEO of McKinnon Group? We need your cooperation with an investigation."

I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"I am Melissa McKinnon, CEO of McKinnon Group."

"Ms. McKinnon, based on relevant leads, your company is suspected of involvement in organized money laundering. We need to review some of your recent project accounts."

Before I could respond, Chelsea suddenly pointed at me, her face filled with grief, her voice heavy with disappointment.

"Melissa, I told you those projects weren't safe—you should never have gotten involved. Why wouldn't you listen?

"And now look—the truth is out. You haven't just harmed yourself, you've dragged the entire McKinnon family down with you!

"You got mixed up in something like this, ruining your own health with your reckless behavior—and now you're trying to pull me in too? I'm your best friend!"

For a moment, I couldn't even process what she was implying.

It wasn't until I caught sight of Andy standing behind the officers—his gaze filled with doubt, a trace of disappointment on his face—that it hit me like a thunderclap.

I pointed at Chelsea and shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! I've always followed the rules. I've never been involved in anything illegal!"

But Chelsea calmly pulled up a series of documents and chat records on her phone.

Every page was filled with so-called evidence of my involvement in illegal activities.

"Melissa, what do you have to say now? These chat records—they're yours, aren't they?"

My heart jolted.

Suddenly, I remembered something from my previous life—one day, Chelsea claimed someone was harassing her, and she was too afraid to turn on her phone. She borrowed mine to call home and reassure her family.

For two full hours, my phone had been in her hands—and I had no idea what she did with it.

After that, my phone began receiving strange messages and calls. I blocked them all, thinking nothing of it.

I never imagined she would save everything… and bring it out now. There were even records of transfers from the company's accounts.

My hands clenched instinctively, my nails digging into my palms until they nearly drew blood.

Grinding my teeth, I looked at Chelsea and the finance director, forcing the words out one by one.

"I really underestimated you. You planned all of this to frame me from the very beginning."

Chelsea's face twisted into an expression of heartbreak.

"Melissa, don't blame me. I just didn't want you to keep falling further down this path."

As she spoke, she turned to look at Andy, her gaze brimming with barely concealed affection.

"Besides… how could you do this to Andy?"

The finance director chimed in as well, his face full of helplessness.

"I'm sorry, Ms. McKinnon. I just couldn't let you lead the company down a path of no return."

My face went deathly pale, drained of all color.

Andy remained silent the entire time—he had probably believed Chelsea's words and was completely disappointed in me.

The officers stepped forward, seizing my hands as they reviewed the materials Chelsea had submitted.

"Please come with us."

I bit down on my lip until it bled, refusing to give in.

"I didn't do this. I was never involved in any of it!"

"That's not for you to decide. We will conduct a full investigation."

I walked up to Andy, looking into his calm, unreadable face.

"Do you believe I didn't do this?"

He said nothing.

Just as I was about to speak again, someone shoved me from behind.

My forehead slammed into the sharp edge of the door, splitting the skin and leaving a deep, bleeding gash.

Afraid I might say something more, Chelsea clamped a hand over my mouth.

"Officer, take her away quickly. She might try to escape again!"

I was dragged out of the company.

All the employees pointed at me, whispering among themselves.

In this life… was I still destined to end the same way?