The male officer frowned but shot a glance at his assistant.

The assistant reluctantly stood up and left to fetch water, but another officer returned in his place shortly after.

Carrying a paper cup, he told the male officer.

"Chief Lawson suddenly called Officer Jones away, so he asked me to bring this over."

The male officer nodded, and the man briskly walked over to hand the cup to Andrea.

Andrea reached out with trembling fingers. The moment their hands brushed, she distinctly felt the officer tap her hand twice in a rapid, deliberate warning.

Startled, Andrea looked up at him.

With a profound look in his eyes, the officer muttered, "Be careful."

Andrea's heart leaped into her throat. She gripped the cup tightly and murmured a quiet thank you.

She gulped the water greedily, intentionally coughing halfway through to stall for time.

By the time she finally finished the cup and the impatient male officer prompted her again, Andrea shook her head.

"Officer Vance, what I wanted to say is that I did go to King's Diner, but I only went because I wanted to see what my biological mother looked like. The only reason I lied about going there earlier is that I didn't want my adoptive parents to find out. I was terrified that if they knew, they would be angry and stop loving me."

"But I swear, I only met Jolin twice, and we didn't plot anything. I absolutely did not order her to tamper with that car!"

Officer Vance had been certain they had broken her psychological defenses and that she was finally going to spill something useful.

He never expected her to suddenly regain her composure and deliver an entirely different narrative.

His face darkened fiercely. "Andrea! Are you playing us?"

"I wouldn't dare. I swear I wouldn't. Every word I just said is the absolute truth, Officer Vance!"

Seeing her renewed defiance, Officer Vance realized their golden opportunity had slipped away, leaving him bitterly frustrated.

Half an hour later, Andrea was released without charge.

As she walked out of the police station, her body swayed unsteadily.

Conrad West's chauffeur was already waiting. Seeing her emerge, he rushed forward.

"Ms. Andrea, please get in. Mr. West and Mrs. Madden are waiting for you at home." He supported her as she climbed into the backseat.

The vehicle pulled away from the station.

The interrogating officer stood silently watching the car depart before pulling out his phone and making a call.

The line connected quickly, and he reported.

"Mr. Cedric..."

In the backseat of the car, Andrea curled into a tight ball.

Only now did her nerves completely snap, and she broke down into loud, weeping sobs.

Then, aggressively wiping her tears away, she glared at the driver.

"Is Lizetta dead yet?"

The driver, being one of Conrad's trusted men, looked back at her in sheer shock. Realizing her tone had betrayed her true feelings, Andrea quickly backpedaled.

"I'm just so worried about her. Mom and Dad must have been terrified these past two days."

"Mr. West and M

Mrs. Madden have

been sick with worry, but Mr. Dashiell locked down the hospital the moment he brought Ms. Madden in. They stood in the corridor for a full twenty-four hours, but Me Dashiell refused to let them see her. We have no idea how she's doing."

"I hope Liz is okay!" Andrea despised the way the driver kept respectfully referring to

Lizetta as 'Ms. Madden'.

While she forced out words of

blessing, her heart boiled with hatred

toward Remington for interfering

The car had been completely

sabotaged-how had Lizetta

managed to fight her way out alive?

Why hadn't she just died in a fiery crash on the spot?!

Just as Andrea's vicious thoughts peaked, the car violently jolted and slammed to a sudden halt.

"What happened?"

Andrea looked up, but before she could register anything, a deafening crash shattered the air.

Something had violently T-boned the

side of

of

e car sending it spine

control straight toward the

guardrail.

A split second later, the vehicle shattered the barrier and plummeted straight into the

lake.