Chapter 146
A middle–aged woman dressed in a janitor’s uniform suddenly appeared at the edge of the crowd, clutching a bucket.
Chester’s eyes sharpened like a hawk’s as he barked a warning, “You’d better tell the truth. If you so much as twist a single detail, you won’t be the only one paying for it.”
The woman shrank back, her voice trembling. “I–I’m the pool cleaner. I’d just finished cleaning the pool when I saw the lady arrive first, and then the young master came running after her. They seemed to be arguing, but I couldn’t catch what about. The lady said it was you who pushed me in–something like that. The little boy was crying, begging her, and then the lady said she hated him. The next thing I saw, she shoved the child hard into the water.‘
She recounted the events as if replaying them in her mind, then hurried to add, “I–I ran to get help right after. I can’t swim, that’s why I wasn’t here.”
Her account left the room silent, everyone exchanging uneasy glances.
Anyone with sense knew this “accident” reeked of something more. The cleaner’s story sounded detailed, almost convincing, but it was full of holes if you looked closely.
Still, there were people here who needed this story to be true, and others desperate to hear it. So even if it was a lie, it had to become the truth.
Dahlia erupted, her voice shaking with fury. “Chester, you have to divorce that woman! It’s her or me–if she stays, I go! You let go of me right now! I will not let this murderer get away with it!”
Chester stepped in, holding back Dahlia as she lunged at Celestine again. “Mom, calm down! You can’t just take an outsider’s word for it! At least let’s hear what Raymond has to say!”
Dahlia sobbed, hitting her son in frustration, but couldn’t break free from his grip.
Instead, she turned desperately to Raymond, who stood off to the side.
“Raymond, tell us–who pushed you? Don’t be afraid! Just say it. As long as Grandma is here, no one will ever hurt you again!”
Raymond’s tears finally stopped. He lifted his head.
His father met his gaze with a reassuring look that seemed to say, “It’s okay. Just
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tell us.”
He glanced across at Joanna.
Miss Sinclair’s eyes were red, as if she’d cried herself sick over his fall.
They’d planned this together in secret, but she still looked genuinely worried and upset.
Maybe she’d simply forgotten to tell him what to do if Mom didn’t come to save him. Miss Sinclair was so kind–she couldn’t possibly want to hurt him.
Raymond’s gaze finally shifted to Celestine.
He blinked.
His mother looked utterly disheveled, but her eyes were icy cold, so cold he couldn’t bear to meet them.
In this moment, his mother seemed like a distant, unyielding judge–one look, and she’d see through every secret and shadow he tried to hide.
She was as indifferent as ever, still the mother who didn’t care for him, who didn’t love him.
The moment in the water felt like nothing more than a dream.
But he wished that dream would last a little longer.
Raymond’s lips trembled. Clenching his fists, he forced out the words, “It… it was Mom. She pushed me, and I slipped and fell into the pool.”
He stole a glance at Celestine, searching for any reaction.
But his mother seemed to have expected his answer. Even though he was lying, her face showed no anger, no confusion, not even surprise.
She was utterly unmoved.
And suddenly, she seemed even farther away from him than before.
Pain wrenched Raymond’s heart.
His cheeks burned with shame and wounded pride.
Dahlia, fueled by rage, broke–free from Chester’s grasp. “You hear that? Your own son just said it–his own mother pushed him in! Chester, if you don’t divorce that woman who’s tearing this family apart, I swear to God I’ll hang myself right above your bed tonight!”
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“Mom, don’t say things like that–the kids are right here!” Chester’s face twisted in alarm as he rushed after her, trying to restrain her again.
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