Chapter 71
Haynes furrowed his brow. Before he could speak, Jasper blurted out, “We can’t let this murderer get away with it! Rachel, you’re too soft-hearted, so some people think you’re a pushover!”
Stella couldn’t help but chuckle at his outburst.
Jasper glared at her. “Stella, what are you laughing at?”
Stella said wryly, “Oh, the innocence of a pure and untouchable angel…”
She didn’t finish her sentence before Jasper interrupted her. “Who are you calling that?”
This time, Stella didn’t bother with subtlety. She retorted, “Of course, I’m talking about Rachel, Ms. Pearce.”
Jasper was on the verge of losing his temper again but knew better than to lash out before Haynes and Keen, so he resorted to tattling.
“Haynie, Stella pushed Rachel down the stairs, leading her to surgery. Don’t tell me you’ll let it slide like before!”
Stella chuckled. “Mr. Wilkinson, it’s bad enough that your brain’s not working. Now, your ears, too? When did Ms. Pearce say I pushed her?”
Jasper opened his mouth to retort but found himself at a loss for words. “Even if Rachel doesn’t say it, I know it was you.”
Stella raised an eyebrow. “Really? Do you have some superpower?”
“Stella, you-“
“Enough.” Haynes cut in sternly, halting the bickering. “Stella, did you push Rachel?”
“Why don’t you ask Ms. Pearce herself?” Stella replied coldly.
Haynes’ eyes narrowed as he turned to Rachel. “Rachel, did Stella push you?”
Rachel’s eyes filled with tears, and she forced a fragile smile. “It wasn’t Ms. Cameron. I slipped by accident…” But her hesitant demeanor told a different story, suggesting it was indeed Stella.
Stella inwardly scoffed at Rachel’s attempt to play the victim while maintaining her angelic facade. How could anyone expect to have it both ways?
Stella’s voice was calm and detached. “Since Ms. Pearce says it wasn’t me, I’ll be leaving.”
Jasper wouldn’t have it. “You think you can walk away like this? Do you believe I won’t-“
He paused, meeting Haynes’ gaze. “Do you believe I won’t call the police on you?”
Stella turned back to him. “Go ahead. Call them. Let’s see if they believe you over Ms. Pearce. Even the victim says it wasn’t me, so what more do you want?”
Jasper was red-faced with frustration. “That’s because Rachel doesn’t want to make things difficult for Keen and Haynie!”
“So what?” Stella looked straight at Rachel. “Ms. Pearce, did I push you or not?”
Rachel looked as if she might burst into tears. “Ms. Cameron, let’s not discuss this before Keen.” Her words implied she was enduring this for Keen
Jasper seemed to have an idea and turned to Keen. “Keen, didn’t you say you saw her push Rachel?”
Keen’s little face was stern and determined. “Yes, I saw it. She pushed Rachel.”
Jasper seized on this as his smoking gun, pointing at Stella. “Haynie, Keen wouldn’t lie!”
Haynes’ gaze turned icy as he looked at Stella. “Stella, did you push Rachel?”
Though disinclined to justify herself, Stella wasn’t about to let them tarnish her name. “I didn’t push her. She fell by accident.”
“Then why did she fall down the stairs?”