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Ellie pushed herself up, her body aching.
She met Jessica’s devastated gaze and spoke blankly, "I didn’t hurt her, Mrs. Whitlock. But you’ll believe her anyway. So go ahead.”
Jessica's heart twisted as she stared at Ellie. The moment she got a proper look at her in the clear light, an unsettling realization hit—Ellie looked strikingly similar to Olivia. Her heart clenched with a strange ache she couldn't explain.
A few weeks ago, when a worker had come to the Whitlock house to deliver a painting, she had felt the same strange pull of concern. That girl had worn a cap, obscuring most of her face, so Jessica hadn’t thought much of it. But now, under the clear light, Ellie’s resemblance to Olivia struck her like a blow to the chest.
Her heart twisted painfully.
Her gaze flickered to Ellie’s cheek, where a clear handprint burned red from the slap Jessica had given her. The sight made her feel even more uneasy. And despite knowing she should be focusing on Olivia, a part of her couldn't shake the deep concern she felt for the girl standing before her.
The realization sent a fresh wave of unease crashing over her. Why was she feeling more concern for the girl standing before her than for the daughter sobbing in her arms?
The thought unsettled her.
And then, guilt clawed its way in.
Three years ago, she was helpless. She had been in France with Jack when she received that dreaded phone call—their house was on fire, and Olivia had been inside. By the time she made it back, after days of being stranded due to bad weather, Olivia had already been in the hospital, recovering from severe burns. She had cried, begged, screamed at the heavens to keep her daughter safe. Jessica had been powerless back then, forced to rely on fate to spare her daughter.
And now, seeing Olivia hurt again, that same helpless rage took over.
She tightened her arms around Olivia and spoke in a measured voice. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” Then, her tone turned steely. “We can call the police. There must be cameras here. She needs to learn she can’t just attack people like this.”
“No, Mom, it’s fine.” Olivia’s voice turned sharp as she suddenly snatched Jessica’s phone, slipping it into her bag. “Just make sure she gets fired. Someone like her doesn’t deserve to work around decent people after attacking someone like me.”
Jessica hesitated only for a moment before nodding. “You’re right.”
She sighed and turned, but then her eyes landed on the discarded coffee cup lying on the ground. The label on the side read ‘Iced’.
Jessica’s expression froze.
So Olivia had lied? She hadn’t been burned?
Jessica’s fingers clenched as realization dawned—she had wronged Ellie.
And worse, she had hit her.
But the fear of failing Olivia again, of disappointing her and not being there for her just like in the past, made her swallow the truth. She stayed silent.
Meanwhile, Olivia smirked in satisfaction, already dialing Jack. “Dad, there’s a problem at the event. You need to get someone fired.”
Within seconds, Ellie’s phone buzzed with a message from the older woman: ‘Sorry, we can’t work with you anymore.’
Ellie read the text, then slowly lifted her gaze to Jessica. Her breath came heavy with restrained fury.
“If she’s so innocent in your eyes, maybe you should get your eyes checked.” Her voice was calm, yet cutting. “Even after seeing how terrified she looked the moment you mentioned the police, you still don’t think she’s guilty? You must be blind.”
Jessica’s expression remained cold, indifferent. She said nothing.
Ellie exhaled sharply, sidestepped them both, and stormed out of the event grounds without another word.
Jessica watched until Ellie disappeared into the distance, something unsettling and painful twisting in her chest.
Behind her, Olivia whined impatiently, “Mom, can we stop wasting time already? Let’s go home. I have a party tonight.”
Jessica didn’t respond right away. Instead, she glanced at the coffee cup again, her grip on Olivia tightening.
The nagging doubt that had always been there since the past three years, started to take root in her heart.