Vanessa let out a sharp, mocking laugh that cut through the silence of the house.

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” she sneered at me.

“You think you’ve solved everything.”

The wind outside howled against the heavy glass windows, rattling the wooden frames.

A dusting of fresh snow slid down the glass pane like white tears.

“Take her away,” Benjamin said, his voice barely a whisper.

“I don’t want to see her face again.”

Vanessa took a step toward Benjamin, forcing the officers to tighten their grip on her arms.

“You poor, blind fool,” Vanessa hissed, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

“You think those girls are yours?”

Benjamin froze, his eyes widening.

“What did you say?” he demanded, standing up slowly from the chair.

“You spent so much time protecting Claire’s memory,” Vanessa whispered, her voice dripping with venom.

“Maybe you should have looked closer at what she was doing before she died.”

My chest tightened as I watched her.

There was a calculation in her eyes that made my blood run cold.

“Don’t listen to her, Benjamin,” I said, stepping between them.