Chapter 29
What?
I stared at the screen in horror, trying to process what I had just seen. My heart pounded against my ribs as realization sank in. I had fallen for the Devon family’s tricks again.
Just when I was about to accept that Neil was right, that I had been careless, and that someone out there was still after me… it turned out it had been Ella all along.
My hands clenched into fists, and I nearly threw something at the screen. What is going on?!
The detective exhaled sharply. “It’s strange,” he said, his brow furrowed. “She’s the same person who called us before the fire 3
was even set.”
I turned to Max, my voice laced with poison. “We have to get home. Right now. I’m done being here.”
Max nodded immediately. “Of course. I’ll make the arrangements.”
The entire ride back, my mind raced. I was furious, calculating every possible angle. Was Ella really the one behind everything? Had she been trying to hurt me all this time? I knew she was manipulative, but this? This was insanity.
I didn’t even bother saying goodbye to anyone. I got straight into the car and left.
Once we arrived at the mansion, I couldn’t sit still. My anger was suffocating. I paced back and forth, my nails digging into my palms.
“Leah,” Max said concern lacing his voice. “I think you
I ignored him. I needed Ella arrested. Now.
should rest. You’ve barely recovered.”
“I’ve obtained the footage,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m taking it to the police, and she’s going to jail.”
Max sighed. “Two days ago, you were barely able to stand. You still need to rest, take your medication-”
“No.” My voice was sharp. “She thinks she can get away with what she did. She thinks I’m the same woman from years ago, the one she could step on and manipulate.” My jaw tightened. “She’s going to learn her lesson, and I’ll make sure she never crosses my path again.”
Max hesitated, then sighed. He knew there was no stopping me.
A small voice suddenly interrupted my rage.
“Mommy, you came back so early! I’m glad.”
I turned around, startled, to see my daughter standing there, beaming up at me. My heart softened just a little.
I forced a smile. “Yes, my love. I’m back.”
Then I turned to Max. “Find out where Ella is. Now.”
Later that evening, Max came into my room. “Okay,” he said. “I found her. She’s back with the Devon family.” He hesitated. “But Leah, there’s a problem. They’re hosting a public event, just like the one where we first met.”
The one where we first met.
A slow smirk curled on my lips. “Oh, that’s even better.” What was sweeter than public humiliation.
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Max’s eyes widened. “Wait… are you serious?”
I turned to him, unwavering. “Prepare everything. We’re going to get her arrested there. Is it back at new Orleans?”
“Well,” he sighed, “I think since Neil is here in LA they decided to host it here this time.”
“Even better!”
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Before he could argue, I was already heading to my dressing table.
“I’ll be back after I get my hair and makeup done,” I said.
This wasn’t just about revenge. This was redemption.
The first time I walked into that event, I had been powerless. A pawn in their game.
Not this time.
This time, I was going to walk in like a queen. And when I left, Ella would be in handcuffs.
When we arrived at the Devon Family eveng, it was just as I remembered, grand, cold, and filled with people who never truly accepted me.
Left to Max, I shouldn’t have been here. But I reminded him that the real perpetrator was in jail now and there was nothing to worry about.
Security tried to stop us, but I held up the police warrant. The officers pushed forward, clearing a path as murmurs rippled through the crowd. Every pair of eyes turned in our direction.
Then I saw her.
Ella.
She wasn’t hard to spot, not with the way she stood out in a ridiculous, colorful suit, like she’d been thrown up on by a clown.
As I approached, her expression changed. Her face drained of color, her eyes wide like she’d just seen a ghost.
Neil stepped forward, his voice urgent. If I wasn’t so pissed, I would have been swooned by how how he looked into that grey suit. “Leah, I was trying to find you at the hospital, but they said you’d left without a trace-”
I cut him off with a sharp slap across Ella’s face. The impact echoed through the room. Gasps erupted around us.
Ella flinched, cradling her cheek in shock. “What was that for?!”
One of the officers stepped forward. “You’re under arrest, Ms. Ella Stanley.”
“What?!” she shrieked. “What did I do?!”
The officer’s voice remained firm. “You’ll find out at the station. You’re being charged with arson for setting the fire.”
Ella’s panic was instant. She turned desperately to Neil. “No, Neil, I have no idea what she’s talking about! She’s setting me up!”
Neil immediately stepped between us. “What do you think you’re doing? We’re not going to let you drag her away over baseless accusations!”
I scoffed. *“Baseless? You think I’d be here without proof?”
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His expression flickered, but he didn’t move. “If you’re going to take her, you have to show us the evidence”
Of course. I should have known.
This whole act, his concern, his regret, was fake. He hadn’t changed. No matter what I went through, no matter how much I suffered, he would always, choose Ella first.
Disgust churned in my stomach. I didn’t owe him an explanation.
I turned to the officers. “Take her away.”
Ella screamed as they grabbed her. “Neil! Do something! Don’t let them take me!”
But before he could move, the police had her restrained. Her desperate cries echoed through the mansion as they dragged her toward the exit.
I watched, unmoved.
Then his mother stepped forward, her voice drippinh with contempt. “I will not let you destroy this family again, Leah.**
I met her gaze, stone–cold. “Destroy?“I let out a bitter laugh. “This family was rotten long before I ever stepped into it.” Her lips curled in disgust. “After everything Neil has done for you, even recently, when you were undeserving of it, you still insist on bringing chaos. Ella has been nothing but kind! How dare you drag her into this?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Kind?“** I repeated mockingly. “Setting me on fire was an act of kindness, then?”
She ignored me, turning back to Neil, clutching his hands in hers. “We won’t let her take Ella from us. We’ll make sure she stays free.”
I shook my head, utterly repulsed.
Ella’s screams faded into the distance as the police shoved her into the car.
I turned to Neil one last time, and he stared at me with burning hatred, “I should’ve known you’d never change.”
I let out a breath, “well good for you.”
With that, I turned around to take my leave.
