Chapter 1920
Still, Balfour decided to follow Leila’s tracks with Ivy.
The taxi pulled up to the Howard Mansion, and Leila rushed to pay the fare before dashing through the gates.
After high school, her family couldn’t afford to send her to college. With no other choices, she started job hunting and struck gold with at housemaid position at the Howards’, simple work with generous pay.
But more importantly, it was here she met Balfour Howard.
She had fallen in love for Balfour!
To her, he was a man high above her reach. She never dared to dream, just content with admiring him from a safe distance.
Then came Ivy, an ordinary girl who managed to become Balfour’s wife. Why Ivy?
Ivy was clever, indeed. Who would have thought of fingerprint analysis to prove her innocence?
Leila had to hurry home and wipe away all evidence.
Then Ivy would have no way to prove she hadn’t poisoned the old couple!
Back at the house, Leila didn’t bother to take off her shoes, heading straight for the kitchen!
But as she reached for the cloth to wipe the evidence away, Ivy walked in, pushed her aside, and snatched the pot. “Leila, what are you doing?”
Stunned, Leila tried to grab the pot back from Ivy’s hands.
Ivy, holding the pot, backed away as Balfour suddenly appeared. He pulled her behind him, standing protectively in front, and demanded, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Ah!” Leila hadn’t expected Balfour to be home too. She fell to the ground, unable to get up.
At that moment, Quinton arrived, somewhat bewildered by the scene. “Mr. Howard, my apologies for being late. What do you need?”
“You’re right on time,” Ivy said, placing the pot on the counter and looking down at Leila. “But I think there’s no need for testing now. Someone’s already acting guilty.”
Struggling through her pain, Leila rose and knelt before them. “Sir, I just came home to get some things. I don’t know why Ivy pushed me.”
“Leila, do you take us for fools? Just as I mention evidence on the pot, you rush back in straight for the kitchen?” Ivy squatted before her, lips pursed, eyes questioning. “I’m confident in my cleanliness when I cook. How could Dean and Alyssa get poisoned?”
Balfour had always ensured the best ingredients for his aging grandparents, with no issues until now.
Ivy continued, “For a moment, I doubted myself. Could it have been my mistake that caused their illness? But your accusations cleared my self-doubt!”
Ivy’s frown deepened, her gaze firm on Leila. “Only the real culprit would slander me for something I didn’t do.
I didn’t bring in any outside pots for breakfast; I used what we’ve always had at home. You panicked when you heard there was evidence on the pot!
And you were the only one there when I stepped away to the restroom for five minutes. I suppose that’s when you tampered with it, right?”
Leila shook her head, her guilt evident. “I didn’t… I didn’t…”
“You didn’t? Then why rush back to clean the pot if you’re innocent? Doesn’t that scream guilty?” Ivy pressed.
Now Balfour totally understood what had happened. He demanded to Quinton, “Take the leftover breakfast for analysis. Find the toxic substance and inform the doctors for proper treatment.”
Quinton nodded, “Yes! And Leila…”.
Without a hint of emotion, Balfour glanced at Leila, “Hand her to the police.”
Quinton affirmed, “Right away!”
