Chapter 174 Almost Finished

Chapter 174 Almost Finished

Cecilia slid the hospital receipts across the table to Genevieve. "After you got the money, you didn't send it all to the hospital. You bought a handbag, bought jewelry, and booked a flight to Miami. When Lyrial died, you were the one who flushed the drug packet down the toilet in the restroom."

Genevieve's whole body trembled. "She was already barely hanging on! Her family owed so much money—she was willing to take the gamble!"

"She gambled on a way to live, not a way to die." Cecilia stood up. "You watched her collapse. You watched her stop breathing. And then you stood in that hallway crying and screaming that the hotel had hurt people." She paused. "Genevieve, your tears are cheap."

Genevieve lunged forward, trying to grab the phone.

But at that moment, the lights in the private room went dark. The sound of a lock clicking came from outside the door.

Cecilia was already standing by the exit, her voice drifting through the darkness. "I'm giving you ten minutes. Think it over—do you want to go to prison for Scarlett, or do you want to turn her in and get a reduced sentence?"

"You can't lock me in here!"

Cecilia pulled the door open and stepped out. "You can also keep waiting for her to send someone to save you."

The door shut. In the darkness, Genevieve started pounding on it. Her cursing quickly dissolved into sobs.

Five minutes later, she broke.

"It was Scarlett! She made me do it! She said no one would die—she said it would just shut down Isla Island and tank Laurent's stock price!"

"The poison came from her people! The packet came from her people! All I had to do was smear the sauce on the cut in Lyrial's steak!"

"Lyrial didn't know! She really didn't know! She thought she'd just end up in the hospital for a few days!"

"I took the money—I took it! My mom needed surgery. I was scared of being poor. I didn't want to live like that anymore!"

"Scarlett said if I kept my mouth shut, she'd help me leave New York. But she wants to kill me—I know she wants to kill me!"

Outside the room, Cecilia watched the audio file sync to her phone. She sent it directly to the police, Zoe, and Felix.

---

At the same time, in the study at Campbell Manor.

Scarlett watched the livestream replay remotely, her face twisted with fury.

"Useless!" She hurled the tablet to the floor. "She couldn't even keep her mouth shut!"

Her assistant asked in a shaky voice, "Should we send someone over now?"

"Go!" Scarlett shouted. "Bring Genevieve back here!"

But the moment the call went through, the assistant froze. "Miss, the police have already arrived at Gray Whale Club."

---

Knightley Group, top-floor office.

After Roman brought Felix back, Felix watched the replay without a flicker of expression.

Roman stood nearby and said quietly, "Boss, Reed Group is still waiting for your answer tonight."

"Cancel the partnership." Felix closed the tablet. "Notify legal—terminate all transport agreements related to Campbell. And send the old Florida case files to the feds."

Roman nodded, then hesitated. "What if that trail goes cold again?"

Felix looked at him. "Your brother's case is tied to that same trail?"

Roman's eyes reddened. He forced a smile. "Maybe. I've been looking into it for years. Every time I get close to the truth, someone dies and the accounts disappear."

Felix's tone was steady. "If it goes cold, we'll start over. The living can lie. Money doesn't. The dead have waited long enough—we can't give up for them."

Roman lowered his head. "Yes, sir."

---

Late that night, every light in Campbell Manor blazed. When Scarlett stormed into the living room, Elliot had already finished watching the livestream recording.

The old man raised his hand and struck her hard across the face. Scarlett fell against the sofa, her cheek swelling immediately.

"Have you lost your mind?" Elliot's voice shook with rage. "I told you to secure the engagement. You went out and caused a homicide! Now the entire internet has watched Genevieve name you. The police have the original footage. How am I supposed to bury this?"

Scarlett clutched her face, scrambling to defend herself. "It's just her word against mine. They can't convict me."

"You're still gambling?" Elliot stepped closer, leaning on his cane. "Felix has already reopened the Florida case. Reed Group just sent a termination notice. The port line is dead. You've dragged Campbell into the fire, and you still think they can't convict you?"

Suddenly, sirens wailed outside. Scarlett's face went pale.

The butler hurried in. "Sir, the police are here."

Several officers entered the living room. The lead detective held up his badge. "Miss Scarlett Campbell, in connection with the Isla Island poisoning homicide, we need you to come with us for questioning."

Scarlett straightened, trying to hold onto her composure. "I want my lawyer!"

"Of course." The officer looked at her. "Now, please cooperate."

Then the officer pulled out handcuffs and locked them around Scarlett's wrists. She looked up at Elliot. "Grandfather, save me!"

Elliot didn't answer.

---

The back garden at the Laurent Estate.

Cecilia finished Eloane's counseling session and walked over to sit on a long bench.

Zoe handed her a glass of ice water. "How's Eloane?"

"Not good." Cecilia took the glass. "The recording's out. The homicide is all over the news. Felix is going after Campbell. She can't handle too much more stress. We need to keep her away from the news for a while."

Zoe sat down beside her. "Scarlett was taken in."

"I know."

"You're not happy about it?"

Cecilia looked out at the distant lawn. "Lyrial's dead. Her mother's still in the hospital. Genevieve destroyed herself. Scarlett's in an interrogation room. No one really won."

Zoe sighed. "But this time, she won't get away with it."

"Money can buy a lot of things." Cecilia gripped the glass, her voice flat. "It can't buy back the weight of a life."

Inside the interrogation room, Scarlett sat at the table, her makeup streaked from crying.

The officer laid out the livestream testimony, the transfer trail, surveillance footage from the mall, and hospital payment records in front of her. "Genevieve has already testified that you ordered her to poison someone at Isla Island."

Scarlett let out a cold laugh. "She's lost it. She'll say anything to get her sentence reduced."

"Your people went to Gray Whale Club tonight to take her away."

"I sent them to ask her what the hell was going on."

The officer watched her. "Miss Campbell, you can keep denying it."

Scarlett leaned back in her chair. "There's no direct evidence I ever touched poison. No signature. No recording. If you think you can convict me with a few words from her, you're being naive."

---

Meanwhile, Genevieve's video had spread across the internet.

She sobbed as she confessed that Scarlett had ordered the poisoning, that she'd pocketed the money meant to save a life, that Lyrial had died still believing she'd get the money to save her mother.

The comment section exploded.

Some called her a murderer. Others dug up her work address. People started calling her friends and family.

The hospital stopped sending reminders about renewing the private room. Debt collectors showed up outside her apartment building. Former coworkers kicked her out of group chats.

Genevieve sat in the temporary holding cell at the station, hugging her knees and shaking.

She finally understood—Scarlett wasn't going to save her.

Footsteps echoed outside. A female officer opened the door. "Genevieve Bennett, the police need you to provide additional testimony."

Genevieve lifted her tear-streaked face. "I'll talk. I'll tell you everything."

At the same time, Campbell Group's stock price plummeted in pre-market trading. Port partnerships were suspended. Reed Group terminated their agreement. Wine distribution channels were cut off. An emergency board meeting was called.

Elliot stood in his study, staring at the documents covering his desk, his face ashen.

The butler said quietly, "Sir, the legal team has arrived."

Elliot closed his eyes. "Send them in."

The door had just opened when an assistant rushed in, his voice tight. "Sir, the FBI is here too. They say they're reopening the Florida factory explosion case."