Chapter 182 182

Chapter 182 182
"She is the person who planted cameras in your house," the officer explained.

Rose’s eyes widened in pure horror.

"She was also passing information to Mrs. Dohuk," the officer added.

"No," Rose breathed out.

"She told them about your movements," the officer continued, reading directly from the notes. "She gave them information about where you were going and when you would be traveling."

Rose’s head began shaking back and forth continuously. "No, no."

"She also told the person behind the accident that she would not be driving you that day," the officer said. "She arranged for them to believe that you would be driving yourself."

Rose stared at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "But she didn't know Cynthia would be driving."

"Exactly," the officer confirmed.

Rose stood up from her chair, her knees shaking. "You're lying."

The officer kept his face serious, remaining calm. "Are you saying you don't believe the police investigation?"

"No, no, that's not what I'm saying," Rose said, her breathing growing completely uneven. "Sofia can't do this to me." She turned her head toward Wilma, her eyes full of tears. "She was there when I was grieving Cynthia! She was the one who stayed around me!"

Rose wiped the hot tears from her cheeks with her trembling hand. "She promised me loyalty after Liam fired her. She promised she would stay with me." She looked back at the officer, her voice breaking. "Why would Sofia do this?"

Beside them, Miguel had not spoken a single word since stepping into the room. His jaw was clenched so tightly the muscles in his face stood out, and his dark eyes were fixed on the photograph on the desk. Sofia was the woman he had grown so deeply attached to over these past months. She was the woman he had trusted, the woman he had truly believed was different from everyone else.

Cassy noticed the painful look on Miguel's face and gently rested her hand on his upper back to comfort him. Miguel barely reacted to her touch.

"How much?" he muttered under his breath.

Everyone in the room turned their heads to look at him.

"How much did they pay her?" Miguel asked again, his voice sounding almost completely emotionless. "What could they possibly have paid her to do this?"

Rose looked down at the floor, a cold wave of fear washing over her heart once again. "Who do I trust?" she asked softly.

Nobody in the room answered her.

"Who can I trust?" Rose cried out, her voice trembling.

The officer closed the yellow folder on the desk with a quiet thud. "We captured her."

Rose looked up instantly. "What?"

"She was trying to keep track of your movements," the officer said.

Just then, the heavy side door opened up. Two uniform officers walked into the room, holding a woman tightly between them.

Sofia walked between the officers, her arms held firmly.

Rose stared straight at her. Miguel froze completely in his seat, his eyes glued to her face. Sofia kept her head down, refusing to look in Miguel's direction.

Rose took a step forward toward her. "Sofia..."

Sofia finally raised her eyes, looking directly at Rose.

Rose’s voice trembled with deep pain. "Why would you do this?"

Sofia stayed completely silent, her lips pressed together.

"Tell me they are lying," Rose sobbed out.

Sofia looked into Rose’s tear-filled eyes. "They aren't."

Tears spilled over Rose’s eyelids, running down her face. "You did this?"

"Yes," Sofia said, her voice quiet. "I did it."

Rose stared at her, shaking her head. "Why?"

"I needed money."

Rose could not believe the words coming out of her driver's mouth.

"I needed money for my son," Sofia explained, taking a small breath. "You know I'm a single mother. I told you that."

Rose’s eyes hardened, her voice turning sharp through her tears. "I paid you well."

"I know."

"Even when you weren't working, I paid you!"

"I know," Sofia said, her voice cracking for a brief second. She raised her hand to wipe her own face. "But my situation wasn't good. My ex-husband has been making my life miserable. I was trying to raise my son alone."

Rose stared at her with complete betrayal. "You could have come to me."

Sofia shook her head. "I know you never treated me badly. I know."

"Then why?"

"I was scared," Sofia said, fresh tears gathering in her eyes. "I didn't want my son to experience the same pain I experienced growing up."

Rose stood completely still, saying nothing.

"I thought I had no other option," Sofia whispered, looking up at Rose. "I did it for my son."

Hearing those words, Rose’s eyes slowly shifted across the room toward Matilda. For a long moment, she said absolutely nothing to her mother or her driver. If Sofia could make such terrible, unforgivable choices simply because she wanted to protect her child from suffering... then perhaps a mother who had abandoned her child years ago to keep her safe had not been acting out of pure hatred after all.

Rose looked away, turning her back to Matilda.

Sofia continued speaking, her voice growing even quieter. "I never thought anyone was going to die. I thought I was only supposed to spy on you. I didn't know it would lead to this."

Rose’s tears fell onto her clothes. "You knew people were planning something against me."

"I knew they wanted you gone."

"But you still helped them."

Sofia closed her eyes tightly. "I know." She opened them and looked at Rose one final time. "And I'm ashamed."

Wilma stepped forward, his tall frame towering over the small room. "You betrayed your own people."

Sofia turned her head to look at Wilma.

"We are wolves," Wilma said, his voice dropping into a cold, dangerous register. "Wolves are loyal to each other."

Sofia stared at him for a quiet moment. Then a small, bitter smile touched her lips. "That's why I'm a lone wolf." She turned her face away from him. "I never promised anyone my loyalty."

Miguel finally raised his head and looked directly at her face. Their eyes met across the small distance between them. For several seconds, neither of them said a single word, the silence heavy in the room. Sofia looked at Miguel's hurt expression, then immediately lowered her gaze back to the floor, unable to handle his sight.

The two police officers took Sofia firmly by her arms, turning her back toward the heavy side door. They led her down the hallway toward the holding cells.

Miguel watched her dark hair disappear through the doorway, standing completely frozen without being able to utter a single word.