Chapter 72: Secrets in the Shadows

Despite all fingers being pointed at Lily, even Professor James was unable to believe that Lily could actually do something like this. He was not even able to utter a word since he was the one who boldly escorted Lily here, and he was the one who brought her here. So, of course, he had no excuses and had nothing to lie about. He couldn't even pretend like he did not know her because all was even more obvious.

All fingers were pointed at both of them.

“And you, James, or whatever your name is. Yes. I hate your rich, oh yeah, your professor. You teach at this university, which is a very good thing. And oh, it’s a very good thing to have families connected together. You know, families who get to know each other, who get to be close to each other. But that aside, I don't know you anywhere else; I don't know you from anywhere. Your brother needs to stand and be affirmed that you brought this girl here, and she came here to kill someone. She killed someone. Someone. Because up until now, Isabella has not gained consciousness, and anything can happen to her at this extent. Nothing must go wrong because I knew Isabella, and she's a clean-hearted, kind person, and she would never do anything to anybody. So you guys must have done something to her. You guys must have planned something. Whatever you do, you better turn the tables around. Because I want her to recover as fast as possible. I want no excuses. I don't care what you guys are going to do. Just bring her back. I don't care what you are doing. Make sure she comes out of this without a scratch. Because the minute I find out that she is going to be in a critical position, then you would not like what I would do to you. You guys would not like what I would do. You would not like our face. You would not like our attack. You….. you won’t like it at all.”

Mirabel warned as Professor James laughed.

“So what exactly are you trying to say? Are you trying to say that I am involved in this? Or are you trying to say I tried to kill her? Did I move from my table? Did I go anywhere? Yes, you want to point fingers at Lily? You can point fingers at Lily. I did not bring her to this party as my escort, okay? I met her on the road; her car broke down. I met her on the road, and I assisted her, and I brought her here. If really she was my escort, wouldn't you have seen the connection between the both of us? There was no connection. Meaning there was nothing connecting the both of us together. And if she had any ulterior motives and wanted to do anything to Isabella, it was up to Lily. It is Lily you will face. Do not ever try to attack me. Not because you don't know me. Okay? I also don't know you guys either. Okay? My brother married your sister, and that is how we got connected. And that is the reason why your sister called us here, so that we could blend in as a family. I never knew her friend would want to poison her. Besides, she’s not anybody to me. But she’s Isabella’s friend. So don't point fingers if you don't know what is going on.”

Professor James attacked back as Mirabel kept quiet.

“I know exactly what is going on. Isabella told me everything. But I would like to keep those things discreet. Because me and you know exactly what I am trying to say. Me and you know the secret. But I won't talk, because that doesn't have to do with the poisoning of Isabella. But meanwhile, Lily, I would call the cops on you. They would investigate you. And if even a little bit of finger is pointed at you claiming you are the one who did anything to Isabella, you would pay for it woefully. In short, you won't even be able to see the next day because you would be locked up in your cell for years. Even if Isabella gets to wake up tomorrow, you are still a murderer because you attempted murder, and you would face the courts explaining why you tried to kill her. There is no reason. Except if she tried killing you, would you try to kill her back? Do you understand me, Lily?”

Lily was already shaking.

“I swear to you, I didn't do anything. I swear on my life. Somebody placed this thing in my bag. My bag was innocent. Do you think if I had actually done something like this, I would let you search my bag? Of course, I did not do anything. Please don't do this to me. Please. I beg you. Please. I'm telling you the truth. You can't. You can ask anybody. You can ask wherever the thing was bought from. Okay? Why don't you investigate the person who bought it, where I bought it from? I don't even know what you are even trying to do. You are frustrating me. Please, Mirabel, don't do this to me. I did not try to poison Isabella. Yes, me and her were in a very tight spot. And of course, we argue a lot. Of course, I want her. I don't want to see her around the guy I love. But that does not mean I will try to poison her. That would be the last thing I want to do in this entire world. I would never ever want to make the mistake of poisoning her. Please, just believe me. Just this once. Just find somewhere in your heart to believe me that I cannot do anything to her.”

Lily pleaded as Mirabel scoffed.

“I really don't care about you or about whatever was happening between you and Isabella. All I know is that you came here with a motive, and you achieved it. Nobody else did anything wrong. If really you were not planning to poison her, then how come the maid who ate her food also had the poison? That is if the maid would even be saved because we found out too late. If that maid gets to die, you are a murderer. Okay? Even if Isabella gets to wake up and that maid dies, you would be sentenced to life imprisonment.”

As she stormed away, leaving everyone in utter shock, including her aunt, who was not even able to say anything but was so frustrated. She looked at her husband and muttered to him,

“What are we going to do now?”

He rushed towards James and dragged him to a corner.

“Who is this girl? Yes, I know. You explained to me that her car broke down, and you assisted her. But I saw you guys. I saw you guys in the men's bedroom. You almost slept with this girl. Who is she to you that you tried to sleep with her?”

James's brother asked as James felt a bit scared. Even though he was a grown man, he was always scared of his brother because he had this commanding tone and never wanted anyone to try him.

“I did not know. Okay? She tempted me. Yes, she drew me to a corner, and she opened her body for me. You know how I get easily tempted by women, and I am a bachelor. Of course, I got tempted, and I tried to sleep with her. Nothing else. She's just a student in my school. Bro, I saw her on my way here. I swear. Swear to you. I can't poison Isabella, okay? Because I love her,”

James said to his brother, whose eyes almost budged out of his socket.

“What do you mean by you love your student? Aren't you even ashamed of yourself? How can you open your mouth and claim that you love her? You love your student, and she's dying. Now every finger will be pointed at you. You should better keep that a secret. Nobody must find out about it. Know what the authorities in your school would do? They know the authorities in that university you teach would do to you as a professor for trying to sleep with her. If you have slept with her, then you better know your limits. You better try to amend things and try your best to shut Lily up, because if Lily is taken to the cell, then of course she will want to blab about your relationship with Isabella, and it would not be good at that moment because you won't even be able to go there and warn her.”

James's brother warned as he walked away, leaving James alone. James's attention was now fixed on Lily, who was still shivering in fright as everyone was coming to warn her one after the other, and yet she could not even fight for herself.

James rushed towards her and dragged her back to the same corner which his brother had dragged him to before, slamming her back against the wall aggressively.

“You better know where to stop. I know that you always had issues with Isabella, but that did not mean you would poison her. How could you do something like that?”

James yelled at her, hoping that he would be able to place authority and warn her not to say anything foolish when they got to the police station.