Charlotte had narrowly escaped death. She had pulled through, and her life was no longer in danger. But things didn’t look nearly as optimistic on James’s side.


    The doctor exined that James had been poisoned for a long time. The toxin had already spread through all of his vital organs. At this point, no treatment could save him.


    When Mrs. Jasper Sr. heard the news, her vision went dark. She copsed on the spot.


    The next day, Lilian visited the prison.


    Across the ss divider, Vivian sat inside, dressed in her prison uniform. Lilian sat on the other side, holding the phone to her ear as they spoke through the inte.


    A mocking smile appeared on Vivian’s face. “Mrs. Jasper? Now that’s a surprise. I never thought I’d see you here.”


    Ever since her feelings for Sean had been exposed, and Lilian had pped her in the face, their rtionship hadpletely fallen apart. The pretense of warmth between them was gone. Not long after, Vivian was kicked out of the Jasper household.


    From that moment on, she had stopped calling Lilian “Mom.” Instead, she addressed her coldly as “Mrs. Jasper.”


    Throughout Vivian’s arrest, trial, and eventual sentencing, Lilian had never visited her once. It was only Mrs. Jasper Sr. who had gone to see her twice.


    Mrs. Jasper Sr. had always been blinded by her favoritism. Even now, with James at death’s door from poisoning, she still refused to believe that Vivian could be responsible.


    Lilian’s gaze was cold. She didn’t waste any time. “Did you poison James?”


    “Poisoned?” Vivian raised her brows in feigned surprise, but there was amusement in her eyes. “James was poisoned?”


    “Drop the act,” Lilian said, her voice t. “You’re the only one with a motive. You did it under Joseph’s orders.”


    Vivian chuckled. “Mrs. Jasper, you can say whatever you want, but do you have any proof?”


    “If you did it, there will be evidence. No matter how careful you were, you’ll have left something behind.”


    Vivian smirked, eyes glinting with arrogance and provocation. “So you haven’t found any yet.”


    Lilian’s gaze turned colder. “Vivian, if you really poisoned James, the Jasper family will never let you walk free. And if you’re still hoping Joseph wille rescue you, you clearly haven’t heard-he’s been arrested.”


    The smile instantly vanished from Vivian’s face. Her voice rose sharply. “What did you say? Joseph’s been arrested?”


    Lilian’s lips curled into a cold smile. “You really thought Joseph Ford was untouchable in Antis? His political backer lost the election. The moment the new prime minister took office, sheunched a joint task force with multiple agencies to take him down. He barely escaped and fled back to Jersey City, trying to drag Sean down with him. Fortunately, Sean’s bodyguards stepped in. Joseph failed. He’s in police custody now. He can’t even save himself-do you honestly think he’sing for you?”


    Vivian’s heart lurched. When she heard that Joseph had tried to kill Sean, she blurted out without thinking, “Is Sean okay? Was he hurt?”


    Lilian let out a coldugh. “That has nothing to do with you. Right now, no one can save you. If you confess and admit you poisoned James, thew may see it as voluntary disclosure, and your sentence might be reduced. But if you wait until the police find hard evidence, you’ll lose that chance.”


    “Reduced sentence?” Vivian sneered. “Do you think I’m stupid? If I really poisoned James, do you honestly think the Jasper family would let me go? A lighter sentence? That’s a joke.”


    Lilian’s voice dropped. “So you’re not nning to confess.”


    Vivian’s words were airtight. “Why should I confess to something I didn’t do?”