Chapter 136
Amboni sharply turned his head, looking at Laura, whose face was pale on the hospital bed, his eyes full of shock and suspicion, "So, what exactly did you do, Laura?"
"Nothing, I swear, I didn't do anything!" Laura interrupted him in a breakdown, her voice hoarse and desperate, "Why do you all keep doubting me? Just because I'm unlucky and picked the wrong bar?"
She looked at Vitale, her eyes filled with grievance, fear, and confusion.
Vitale showed no sign of softening at her breakdown.
"You and Isabella talked for a long time in that so-called quiet bar."
"From what I know, Isabella was in a bad mood. She might have even thought about leaving early to go back to a place she felt safe, like the apartment where Henley secretly protects her."
He took a step forward, his shadow looming over Laura again, "But you kept her there. You kept talking—about me, about Amboni, about things that made you uneasy. And then, not long after, that group of people showed up, targeting you specifically. The drugs were released in the exact area where you were."
"Laura, before you drown in fear and self-pity, you'd better use that still-clear head of yours to think hard."
"Think carefully, from start to finish. What have you done recently? Who have you been in contact with? What did you say that might have caused this kind of trouble? Or, without realizing it, did you learn something you weren't supposed to know?"
Vitale's words hit like cold, sharp lashes, striking at Laura's already chaotic nerves.
Driven by extreme fear and the will to survive, she forced herself to dig through the foggy terror and aftereffects of the drugs, searching her memory.
"I... I recently..." She stammered, her fingers clutching the bedsheet tightly, "Work, going home, dates with Amboni... sometimes chatting with Isabella... I didn't meet anyone unusual..."
She suddenly stopped, as if something clicked. Her eyes widened sharply.
"Marina!" she blurted out, her voice sharp with emotion, "It's Marina! Mr. Luca, Amboni! It's Marina!"
As if grasping a lifeline, she spoke faster, "I talked about her with Isabella, tonight. Marina has been spreading rumors lately, not just at the company but everywhere in our circle. She says she grew up with you and Amboni, that you're super close."
"She said Isabella isn't good enough for you, just a toy to pass the time. She said I'm not good enough for Amboni either, just a clueless burden."
"She's said these awful things more than once, right to my face or in front of other coworkers. I've tried to stop her, argued with her, but it's no use. She just got worse. Isabella probably heard some of these rumors too, which is why she was in such a bad mood tonight."
"But why? Those people came after me. The drugs were aimed at me. Even if Marina hates me, how could she know those dangerous people? How could she use such a cruel method? I don't understand, Mr. Luca."
Vitale listened to Laura's story, his face showing no emotion, but a storm was silently brewing in his eyes.
Marina. That name came up again, carrying even darker malice and a clearer connection.
"I see," Vitale said, his voice low and chilling. He gave a cold order to Efren, "Go, bring Marina here."
"Yes, boss." Efren didn't hesitate, turning and disappearing down the hallway.
Amboni frowned at the mention of Marina's name, a mix of disgust and concern flashing in his eyes.
He looked at Vitale, "Vitale, you think it's Marina? She's foolish and jealous, sure, but to drug Laura like this...?"
"We'll know after we confront her," Vitale cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He walked to the window, turning his back to the room, saying nothing more. But the heavy tension he radiated silenced everyone.
Amboni went to Laura's bedside, taking her cold, trembling hand and comforting her softly, "Don't be scared, Laura. If Marina is behind this, Vitale will figure it out. Just tell us what you know, the truth, and leave the rest to me."
Laura gripped Amboni's hand back, tears still streaming down her face, but a faint glimmer of trust and hope appeared in her eyes.
The wait wasn't long, but every minute felt like torture.
About half an hour later, the sound of frantic, stumbling high heels echoed down the hallway, along with Efren's impatient grumble.
The door to the medical room swung open again.
Marina was practically half-pushed, half-dragged in by Efren.
She'd clearly been pulled straight from some party, wearing a sexy silver sequined mini-dress, her makeup once perfect but now smudged. Her hair was a mess, and her face showed a mix of panic and irritation at being interrupted.
But when she was shoved into the room and saw Laura on the bed with clear strangulation marks on her neck, her irritation turned to shock.
"Laura? My God, what happened to you? What's going on? Who did this to you?" Marina exclaimed instinctively, stepping forward to check.
Laura sat up abruptly, pointing at Marina, her voice broken from emotion and crying, "Marina, who did you mess with out there? Why are you trying to hurt me? And Isabella! She almost... What did you do?"
Marina froze, caught off guard by Laura's sudden accusation.
She stopped in her tracks, confusion and a hint of annoyance at being blamed showing on her face, "Laura, calm down. What are you talking about? Why would I hurt you? Or Isabella? I didn't do anything. I've been at a friend's birthday party all night. Plenty of people can vouch for me."
As she spoke, her gaze swept the room. When she saw Vitale, her body visibly flinched.
"Vitale, what's going on? Why was I brought here? Is Laura okay? Is she just upset and talking nonsense?"
Vitale slowly turned around.
His face showed no emotion, but the icy coldness in his eyes made Marina's prepared excuses and act freeze on her lips.
He didn't speak, just tilted his head slightly toward Efren.
Efren understood, stepping forward to report, "The bar owner and two security guards on duty that night gave consistent statements. Marina instructed them to release low-grade aphrodisiac spray in a specific booth area that night and contacted outsiders to 'teach Laura a lesson.'"
"She told them to go hard on Laura but to absolutely not touch Isabella, because Isabella is backed by you, boss, and she didn't dare cross that line directly."
Efren's words hit like a heavy hammer, smashing through all of Marina's pretense and defenses.
Marina's face drained of color. She stumbled back, leaning against the doorframe, her lips trembling. She wanted to say something but couldn't make a sound, only staring at Vitale with utter terror.
Vitale didn't shout. He just asked calmly, "Why, Marina?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it felt like a cold wire tightening around Marina's throat.
"You, more than anyone, know what Isabella means to me. I've warned you, more than once, to stay away from her. Don't touch her with your dirty thoughts or tricks."
He took a step forward. Marina flinched back, her spine hitting the doorframe hard, "I told you, if you hurt her again, I'd send you back to where you belong—that underground cage your father uses for disobedient prostitutes and traitors. Did you think I was just bluffing?"
Overwhelming fear, mixed with long-suppressed jealousy and resentment, finally shattered Marina's last bit of reason and facade.
She jerked her head up, tears and mascara streaking down her face, her eyes wild with obsession and desperate accusation.
"Do you think I wanted this? Vitale, do you think I wanted to take this risk?" she screamed, her voice shrill, laced with sobs and hysteria, "It's because I love you! I've always loved you, since we were teenagers. And Amboni too!"
She pointed sharply at Amboni, "He should like me! We're the same kind of people. We grew up together, went through life and death, and understand each other's darkness and rules."
Her glare cut viciously toward Laura and the empty space where Isabella might have been, full of venom, "But you two? You choose to like them—those boring, ugly, stupid women."
"Isabella? What's so great about her? Flat figure, acting all high and mighty. And Laura? A scared little mouse who can't do anything but type in an office."
"My body is a hundred times better than theirs. I know tricks in bed that can drive any man crazy. I know how to please you, how to handle the shady stuff for you. I'm the one who should be by your side."
"But why won't you even look at me? Why do you treat me like trash and throw me aside to pamper those two worthless nobodies?"