Bianca watched the screen carefully but didn’t see anything unusual. However, as the officer zoomed in on the video, Bianca’s expression changed, and her eyes widened in surprise.
In the footage, a woman sitting next to Reese’s desk was discreetly opening and closing a drawer while trying to wake Reese, who was asleep at her desk.
Bianca saw a small white medicine box in the woman’s hand when the video was fully zoomed in.
“So, she swapped Reese’s medication!” Bianca exclaimed in shock.
Dave raised an eyebrow at the officer, who immediately understood the cue.
“We’ve already detained and questioned the woman in the video. As you suspected, the mastermind behind this was Ashley Scott.”
Bianca’s heart raced. It was indeed Ashley!
Hearing the officer’s conclusion, Bianca felt a surge of mixed emotions-excitement with a deep sense of anxiety.
Everything was going too smoothly. The investigation and the police interrogation had quickly produced favorable results.
But now, the urgent task was to reveal the truth to the public and bring the criminals to justice!
“Sir, do you have any other concerns?” Bianca asked, realizing something and turning to the officer.
The officer sighed and nodded slightly. “Based on the current evidence, we can only charge the person who swapped the medication. As for Ashley Scott, we still don’t have enough evidence to convict her.”
Bianca understood. Even though the woman who swapped the medication had admitted that Ashley was behind it, there wasn’t enough solid evidence to build a case against Ashley.
“Did they have any communication or financial transactions?” Bianca asked.
The officer shook his head. “They did communicate, but we can’t access the details of their conversations. As for financial transactions, Ashley used an anonymous account for transfers, and the source was traced to a different country.”
Bianca was surprised. It was unusual for Ashley to be so cautious, almost leaving no trace of her involvement. It didn’t fit her usual style.
‘Was there someone else giving her instructions?’
“But…” The officer’s voice trailed off, hesitating a bit before he continued, “According to the suspect’s confession, after swapping the medication, she handed the original ones to Ashley. So…”
“So, if we can find the original medication that should be with Ashley, that would be enough to convict her!” Bianca interrupted, finishing the officer’s thought. “That’s right. The only problem is, she might have already disposed of it.”
“I don’t think she will do that,” Dave said, a slight smile on his lips as he looked at Bianca. “You know her well, don’t you?”
Bianca smiled back, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Of course. She’s the type who would keep those pills just to mock me when my reputation is completely ruined!”
“We have a tough task ahead. We need to find those pills with Ashley without her knowing. If she finds out, she might destroy them, and we won’t be able to prove her involvement.”
The officer’s words made Bianca think deeply.
Dave said gently, “We need to find someone close to Ashley, someone she trusts.”
That gave Bianca an idea. “I know exactly who to talk to!”
They stepped out of the office, and the night had grown late. Dave held Bianca’s hand, hesitating to say goodbye.
“Do you have to leave now?”
Bianca looked away before smiling at Dave. “I need to go home. I need my mom’s help for this plan, and it’s hard to explain everything over the phone.”
Dave let out a soft sigh. “Okay, come back as soon as you can. I can’t sleep well at night without you.”
Bianca nodded silently, deciding not to tell Dave that her mom had actually stopped her from leaving.
When Bianca arrived at Madison’s place, her mother was still awake and visibly relieved to see her.
Before Madison could ask about the day’s events, Bianca approached her with a serious tone. “Mom, we need to talk about something important.”
Madison could tell from Bianca’s expression that this was a big issue.
****
The next morning, Ashley strolled down the stairs in a bold purple lace dress.
Stacey, who was busy making breakfast, noticed Ashley and quickly wiped her hands on her apron before hurrying over to her.
“I heard that last night, Brandon Foster, the famous singer, supported Bianca. What’s so special about her that all these big shots are rushing to help?”
Stacey was truly puzzled about how Bianca managed to pull this off.
Ashley, however, remained calm and collected. She played with her vibrant red nails and said, “So what if influential people support her? It doesn’t change the fact that she handed out those shady weight-loss pills that put her employee in the ICU. That’s undeniable evidence. Without proof of her innocence, people will lose trust in her. Those who support her will face backlash! Her reputation could crumble, and she might even face legal trouble.”
“Ashley, are you sure no one will find out that the pills were switched?” Stacey asked with concern.
Ashley raised an eyebrow confidently. “Don’t worry, Mom. This time, it’s going to be flawless!”
Stacey felt restless, even though Ashley seemed confident.
“Get rid of the real medicine soon so you don’t get caught,” Stacey suggested.
Ashley glanced at her. “No need to rush. I have my reasons for keeping it. Besides, I’ve hidden it in a secret place where no one will find it.”
Seeing Ashley’s courage, Stacey decided not to press the issue further.
Ashley finished up breakfast and headed to work. At that moment, Peter came out of his room, and Stacey went back to serving him breakfast as usual.
Peter seemed normal but unexpectedly said, “Stacey, if you’re free today, why don’t you and your friends go shopping? You could pick out some new clothes.”
Stacey was surprised. Peter rarely suggested buying her new clothes. ‘What was going on today?’
She ladled soup into his bowl and replied, “The company’s been tight on funds lately. We should save what we can.”
Peter smiled warmly as he took the soup from her. “To make up for missing the prenatal check-up with you, even if the budget’s tight, we can afford a few outfits. Seeing you dressed nicely always makes me feel better.”
Stacey wondered about his sudden kindness. ‘Maybe he was having a change of heart.’
Given Madison’s current situation, she probably looked down on Peter.
Appearances often swayed most men, and encountering a young, attractive, and attentive woman could easily catch their interest.
Peter’s sudden kindness lifted some of the sadness Stacey had been feeling.
She agreed to go shopping with her friends later in the day to pick out some new clothes, planning to surprise Peter with her new look when she returned in the evening.
Peter smiled, but his eyes darkened slightly, though Stacey didn’t notice it.