35. The Witness

**Bianca**

When I saw Conroy’s fingers curl into fists, I shifted closer to Avery. If Conroy were to lose his temper, I would be there to protect him. Avery decided to risk it all by being the one to expose the truth to him, even though he knew how he might react. Part of why he did it was to shield me from his outburst, and from Jasmine in case she decided to try anything.

But I wouldn’t let him deal with it alone. The moment I see him struggling, I would take his place.

Conroy froze, the gap between his lips allowing me to see his teeth. Contrary to my fears, instead of acting out, he calmly shook his head.

“I see how it is,” he said. “She wrapped you up in some conspiracy, didn’t she? I get that you care and you only want what's best for me, but blaming my sister? Really? You’re too smart to fall for something like that. Can’t you see that she’s simply jealous that she’s no longer near me? That’s why she goes after any woman who’s near me. She’s going after Jasmine the same way she went after Ella. Whatever ‘proof’ she showed you was most likely falsified.”

“You won't know unless I show it to you,” Avery insisted. “Like you said, I'm smart. I wouldn't have come to find you if I didn't check out the information myself. So please, just hear me out and then cast your judgment. After tonight, I won't bring it up again. And if you're still convinced that I'm wrong, I'll make Bianca formally apologize to Jasmine however you want. I'll do the same as well. And Bianca and I will no longer be in contact. Please, Conroy.”

My heart ached at his last statement, but I had to remind myself that our evidence is solid. He's just saying whatever he needs to to get Conroy to listen.

Avery’s pleading worked. Conroy agreed.

He led us further away from the main part of the park and led us to a place in the park that was under construction. We walked past the signs warning us not to enter. I glanced sideways at Jasmine. She had been quiet all this time. Conroy promised that he would hear every bit of our “ridiculous” statements out, but he had one condition. Since Jasmine was the one being accused, then she deserved to listen as well. I beg to differ. I didn’t thrust Jasmine further than I could throw her. In the back of my mind I calculated what her play will be when we’re done explaining everything. The reason why she’s so quiet could be that she herself was thinking of a way to get out of this. But there was nothing she could do at present since she didn’t know what we had in store.

Conroy stopped and leaned against a recently installed black lamppost. “I’ll give you ten minutes at most. That’s me being more generous than I should be.”

“That’s more than enough.” Avery looked at me. “Are you ready?”

I nodded. “I’m more than ready. You start and I’ll answer any questions that follow.”

Avery agreed. “Sounds good.”

Conroy watched us, but he didn’t say anything. Jasmine stayed close to him but her eyes were on us.

Avery withdrew a few pictures out of the folder that I gave him of the car that caused the accident. He explained how I wanted to prove I was innocent and hired a private investigation. He continued to speak about when he and I went to confront the driver. And the driver’s client.

“Wait, wait, wait.” Conroy waved for him to stop. “It wasn’t enough for you to bring my sister into this, you had to include my girlfriend too?”

“Conroy, you promised that you would wait until we were done.” Avery gave him a warning look.

“Fine! Go on, but hurry up.”

When he got to the part where we traced Cinderella's phone and smelled blood, Conroy raised his eyebrows but didn't interrupt.

**Conroy**

I had to keep myself in check. I didn't want Jasmine to think that I had become a hothead while we were separated. But as I watched him side with my ex-wife and spurt out this nonsense, I couldn't help but think.

How had she managed to rope him into this without me knowing? Was it when we went to the restaurant? Or was it before that?

A sense of betrayal swelled up inside me. It's as if he made a choice and chose her over me. I pushed it down.

“Her blood was all over Jasmine's garage,” Avery stated. “We found her phone there too. Conroy, we have every reason to believe that she killed her, or that she was somehow involved in her killing. You can't think that it's simply a coincidence that Jasmine came back right at the same time Cinderella went missing? She was using her to keep tabs on you while she hid. She knew who she was all along. For some reason she never let it be known that she was alive.”

I glanced sideways at Jasmine. Her face didn't betray much, but she must be in so much pain. Look at what I'm subjecting her to. My poor sister hasn't even been back for a full week and yet here she is being accused of being some kind of psycho killer.

“That's why I think she might have sent someone to hurt Bianca and get her out of the way for Cinderella to‐”

“Your ten minutes are up,” I cut in. There is no way I’m going to listen to this bullshit any longer. Avery's mouth hung slightly open.

“What? Wait, I clocked the time. It hasn't even been five minutes…”

My hands grabbed his collar before he could finish his sentence. He stared at me with wide eyes that gradually hardened.

“Let go of me,” Avery muttered.

I stared directly into his eyes. “I said your time was up. I decide, remember? Why are you so hellbent on destroying the only good things I have going on in my life? Ella and Jasmine are murderers? Are you even hearing yourself?! You sound bloody stupid, Avery.”

Avery got tired of me yelling at him. He grabbed my arms and ripped them off him, accidentally tearing a part of his shirt at the area above his chest.

“Listen, I don't want to fight with you. I didn't come here for that. So calm down!”

“Don't tell me what to do! Bianca must have paid that driver off. Just tell me, with all that half-assed evidence, do you actually have any witnesses, huh? She did all that and no one saw or even heard anything?”

When is he going to come to his senses? Or has he completely lost them ever since he starting hanging out with *her*?

An arm appeared between us. It belonged to the woman in question.

“We have a witness,” Bianca said. “That witness is me. I saw when Jasmine poisoned me. She did it right in front of my face.”