It was one thing to punish her, but this was a death sentence.

What more did Caitlin want from her?

CRASH!

Overwhelmed, Elsa grabbed a vase from the table and hurled it against the floor.

Glass shards scattered everywhere.

Why?

Why was everyone pushing her to the brink?

The Forresters and Xander were pushing her.

And now Caitlin was, too.

Especially Caitlin.

Caitlin would rescue a stray dog off the street. She had even spent eight figures setting up a shelter for stray cats and dogs.

Was their nearly eight years of friendship worth less than a stray animal?

Did Caitlin really want to watch her die?

Would her death finally make Caitlin happy?

Elsa collapsed into hysterical sobs.

She cried for a long, long time before she managed to pull herself together. She picked up her phone and dialed Caitlin's number again.

She had to make Caitlin forgive her!

She had to get her to come to the Forrester home and back her up!

This time, an automated voice came through the line: 'We're sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable.'

Hearing that message, Elsa's hand, gripping the phone, began to tremble.

Blocked.

Caitlin had blocked her number.

Caitlin had gone too far. How could she be so merciless as to block her?

She was leaving her with absolutely no way out.

No.

No!

She had to think of something.

She couldn't let the Forresters get away with what they'd done to her.

She had to make them regret it!

Elsa dialed another number.

The call was quickly answered.

"Hello, who is this?"

It was Gertrude's voice.

Louie had signed the contract with SummitEdge Holdings yesterday, and their lives

were about to get much better, so Gertrude was in a good mood.

Elsa clutched the phone tightly and said, "Gertrude, it's me. It's Elsa."

There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by the sound of a door opening. Gertrude had stepped out onto the balcony to take the call.

"What is it?" Gertrude's voice was a bit cold.

Ignoring her tone, Elsa felt a small sense of relief that Gertrude was at least willing to talk to her.

If Gertrude would talk to her, it meant she might forgive her.

And if Gertrude forgave her and spoke to Caitlin on her behalf, Caitlin would almost certainly listen to her.

"Gertrude," Elsa said, her voice

breaking into a sob. "I'm so sorry. I never should have turned on you and Catie for a lowlife like him. know was wrong. We've been friends for nearly eight years. Can you please give me one more chance?"

Gertrude wasn't surprised to hear Elsa crying.

It had been two months.

Once the Forresters realized they couldn't get anything more out of Elsa, it was only

a matter of time before they dropped the act.

She continued, "Elsa, you don't know

you were wrong. You're just scared. Knowing the Forresters, once they found out you and Catie had a complete falling out, they wouldn't just show their true colors-they'd utterly destroy you. You're not calling to apologize you're calling to get Catie to back you up. You want to use her to solve your problems with the Forresters and get out of the mess you're in!"

"If Catie didn't have her current status and power, would you still be calling us?"

"And if I'm not mistaken, you already

called Catie before you called me But unfortunately for you, Elsa, both Catie and Lare just passersby in your life. We have no obligation to clean up the messes you make!"