Chapter 108

Emma stretched out her arms and legs, revealing deep red marks where the ropes had dug into her skin.

Ivy shrugged, lips pursed. “Well, I had to do something to get you over here. You never would’ve come otherwise.”

“That’s not true, she–”

Emma was so flustered she was on the verge of tears, but before she could finish, a police officer stepped down from the RV, carrying a large basket.

“Boss, this was all I found on board – no snakes.” He set the basket down, and everyone craned their necks to look. The sight left them speechless.

The basket was filled with giant eels.

They were thick and writhing, and at first glance, they really did look like snakes – enough to make anyone’s skin crawl.

Emma was dumbfounded.

Suddenly, it dawned on her – Ivy had tricked her again.

She’d been scared half to death, confessed to every supposed crime, and in the end, Ivy hadn’t broken any laws. At most, it was a tasteless prank.

The police couldn’t do a thing to her.

No wonder Ivy was so calm, so unbothered – she’d planned everything from the start.

“Officer, I told you – my sister’s just making things up. There was no kidnapping, no snakes… She’s just trying to frame me,” Ivy said, glancing carelessly at the half-basket of eels, flipping the accusation right back at Emma.

Emma stamped her foot in frustration. “You blindfolded me! I couldn’t see anything, of course I thought they were snakes! You used to keep snakes – you made me fall down the stairs and lose my baby!”

“I blindfolded you?” Ivy shot back with a laugh, then turned to Katrina. “Did I blindfold her?”

“Of course not,” Katrina chimed in smoothly. “We just wanted to surprise you for your birthday. How could we know it’d get the police involved and cause such a huge misunderstanding?”

Ivy offered an apology. “Sorry, officers, it was all just a misunderstanding.”

“Well, if that’s the case, you all can handle it yourselves. But you should know – pranks have their limits. Don’t go too far next time,” the officer said, giving them a brief warning before preparing to leave.

But just as the officers were about to go, Ivy’s tone suddenly changed. “Wait, officer! I want to file a report.”

Everyone froze, turning to stare at her.

“Ivy, what more do you want?” Adkins barked, unable to bear the family drama spilling out in front of their guests.

Especially today – relatives from the Ludwig family were here. Adkins had taken advantage of his younger daughter’s birthday party to strengthen ties, even thickening his skin to invite them personally.

Who could’ve guessed that, on this rare occasion, the Ludwigs would show up only to witness such a spectacle? The Windsors’ dirty laundry, aired for all to see.

Adkins was so furious he thought his heart might give out. He glared at his eldest daughter, wishing he could sew her lips shut.

But Ivy stood her ground. She pulled out a recorder and pressed play.

“Officer, three years ago I was abducted and trafficked. Emma colluded with the traffickers. I want to file a report and ask for justice.”

As her words faded, Emma’s panicked voice filled the room from the recorder.

“Sis… I’m sorry – I admit it, I admit everything… Three years ago, I lost my mind—l was jealous of how perfect you were, how everyone adored you, how you and Micah were so close… I just snapped… I thought if you were gone, maybe I could finally have what you had… I’m sorry, Ivy… I really am-”

“Be specific. What exactly did you do three years ago?”

“I… I… I worked with the traffickers… had them kidnap you and sell you off to the mountains – oh God, stop it, turn it off!”

When the recording ended, every face in the room changed.

The Windsors and even Micah stared at Emma in shock, unable to believe what they had just heard.

“Emma, was it really you who-?”