Chapter 166

Fraser remained clueless about the secret meeting between Lainey and Millie, who had already come together and settled on a single version of events.

Meanwhile, his phone buzzed with two fresh surveillance clips from Denny.

In the first video, Millie, dressed in her server uniform, was caught on camera slipping something suspicious into a cup of coffee.

The second video captured her dashing out of the cafe, clearly frantic, moments before the ambulance pulled up.

Damn it!

That proved it. Someone had messed with the coffee.

Fraser felt the weight of suspicion grow heavier.

Life rarely played out so straightforward-no waitress would risk everything to target his mother, not without a push.

Rage threatened to send him storming off to find answers, but a glance at his mother, pale and motionless in her hospital bed, anchored him in place.

He couldn't just leave her behind and hope nothing else happened.

The only choice was to stay by her side, counting the minutes until his father arrived to relieve him.

Night crawled by, every hour stretching painfully long.

At sunrise, Jeff finally showed up to take over. Fraser wasted no time heading for the door.

Before stepping out, he shot Jeff astern look. "Don't let Lainey get anywhere near Mom by herself.I mean it. I'll fill you in once I'm back." Jeff couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his gut.

Fraser's warning seemed strange, but after the doctor filled him in that his wife might not have made it last night, fear gripped him.

Was it possible that Lainey had a hand in what happened to Hilda?

No. That didn't make sense.

Maybe Fraser was just worried that Lainey would freeze up in an emergency, unable to cope if something went wrong.

Yeah,that explanation felt safer.

As he clung to that thought, Jeff's nerves settled a bit.

Fraser soon pulled up to Verdant Crest with a small group of bodyguards in tow.

He wasted no time storming into the kitchen, where Millie was scrubbing dishes. "Tell me the truth. Who put you up to this?"

Millie nearly dropped the plate in her hands, her face drained of color. She crumpled, sobbing and begging for mercy."Mr. Benton, please! I'm begging you! I swear, I didn't want any part of this! I never meant to hurt anyone!"

Between frantic tears, she repeated the story Lainey had coached her on. "It was a woman, I swear. She paid me and said she'd go after my family if I didn't do what she asked. I didn't have a choice-please believe me!"

A storm gathered in Fraser's eyes, his suspicion now all but confirmed.

He cut straight to the point, barely containing his irritation. "Keep going. Did you get a look at this woman's face?"

Millie's whole body shook as she put on her act, hesitating for effect. Her gaze darted to the floor. "E.. 1can't remember very well. She had on a big hat, and there were sunglasses covering her face." After a moment, she acted as if something suddenly clicked. "But wait! I did hear something.The woman with her, she called her Eleanor."

At that moment, Lainey entered the kitchen.

She peeked down at her phone, noticing the fresh audio file with a glint of triumph barely hidden in her smile.

Armed with this recording, she knew Jeff would be convinced that Eleanor was responsible for Hilda's incident.

She made her way to Fraser in a rush."See? I told you she was behind it! That woman's always hated me,and she never misses a chance to hurt Mom. Fraser, let's not wait. We need to call the police now. Mom deserves justice!"

Fraser's frowNn deepened, a heavy silence settling over him.

In truth, he doubted Eleanor could ever hurt Hilda, but Millie didn't have a motive to pin this on her out of thin air.

While Fraser wrestled with what to do, Lainey stepped in, her voice smooth and persuasive. "I get that you always want to give people the benefit of the doubt. But Mom deserves better than this-don't let kindness blind you to the truth. Here's an idea: instead of calling the cops, why don't we take Millie and speak to Eleanor face to face?"

It was exactly what Lainey had wanted from the start.

She counted on Fraser's reluctance to drag Eleanor into a police matter.

As for the showdown itself?

She was more than ready.

This time, Eleanor wouldn't slip away.

After weighing it for a few seconds, Fraser gave the bodyguards a signal. They moved swiftly, hoisting Millie to her feet.

Lainey dropped her gaze, unable to hide a trace of a smile.

Victory felt close-Eleanor wouldn't walk away unscathed.