âMara, still playing the victim, huh? Mr. Howard, Iâm telling you, sheâs behind all this mess. You have no idea how vicious she can be. And thatâs not all-she even killed her own sister!â
A bombshell dropped in the room.
Despite his suspicions that Mara had done unspeakable things to Ivy, Balfour had never imagined that this could be connected to the dark past.
âWhat on earth are you talking about?â Maraâs voice was laced with urgency as she clutched his arm.
âBalfour, donât listen to her crazy talk!â
Olivia leaned against the door frame, a smirk playing on her lips as she made sure she had a clear path to escape. âPoor thing, the CEO of Howard Group, completely blinded by such a woman. The death of Victoria, whom you thought died because of you, was orchestrated by none other than her own sister, Mara!
She plotted to win you over by killing her sister If you donât believe me, you can investigate it yourself.â
Balfourâs face registered shock. The more outrageous Oliviaâs claims were, the harder it was for him to dismiss them, despite the seeds of doubt that had already been planted in his mind.
Seeing that the situation was spiraling, Mara didnât even bother to explain.
All she had done, even eliminating her own sister, was to catch this manâs attention, to make him love her just a bit more. And now, with Ivy unconscious, did Olivia think that she could stand in the way of Maraâs relationship with Balfour?
âBalfour, do you believe her wild accusations over me? Fine!â
With that, Mara stormed out, slamming the door behind her, leaving Olivia and Balfour to exchange bewildered looks.
Once Mara was gone, Olivia collapsed to the floor. âThat woman is a maniac, a murderer. She killed her own sister for you, and who knows who else sheâs hurt. You better start an investigation, Balfour.
Maybe sheâs also the one who harmed your grandma and Ivy!â
Balfour-snapped back to reality and grabbed Olivia by the shoulders. âExplain yourself. What do you mean she killed her sister?â
Oliviaâs face was a picture of terror. âI donât know much, just that after the kidnapping incident years ago, Maraâs sister Victoria didnât die. It was later that Mara deliberately took advantage of a moment of distraction to sabotage her.â
The story really began when Mara and Victoria were children.
08:18 Despite Demo temperament.
sisters, they sisters, they Vere as different as night and day in both appearance and Victoria was everything Mara couldnât be. Standing beside her sister, Maraâs achievements always overlooked.
and looks, Even their high school admission process was a stark contrast. Victoria breezed into the most prestigious private school without breaking a sweat, while Mara had to settle for an utterly unremarkable public school.
Despite her own struggles, their fatherâs words would always sting, âYou both are my daughters, yet how come Victoria makes me so proud? Sheâs never been a worry, already at J&H High School, practically guaranteed a spot in a top university. Then thereâs you, always causing me grief. What kind of school will you end up in, I really donât-â
Mara was tired of hearing such comparisons and complaints, and every time she felt like lashing out, her fatherâs disdainful look would force her to swallow her anger.
What was the use?
She wanted to say she was trying her hardest. It wasnât that she wasnât good enough, it was just that her sister was too exceptional, making her seem worthless by comparison, Victoria wasnât unkind to her sister, but as the one constantly praised, her well-intentioned words always sounded harsh to Maraâs ears.