Chapter 7 Annabel’s Killing Intention
The police and ambulance showed up almost together.
When Beatrice gave her statement, she nearly passed out from fear.
She heard the cops say the car at the cliff’s bottom had exploded. Fire trucks were there to help.
Annabel stayed cool, not like someone who’d just escaped a car chase.
After the statements, Beatrice refused to ride with Annabel, saying she felt sick. She left in an ambulance.
Annabel’s car, its rear smashed, went to the repair shop. She took a cab back to the White family villa.
Stepping inside, she heard cheerful laughter from the living room.
“Charles, you always bring us gifts from your trips–you’re so sweet to us!” Lillian White‘ s voice cooed, extra sweet, with a flirty tone..
Annabel walked in, her face blank. Her arrival stopped the chatter.
Charles reacted first, standing from the couch. “Annabel? You’re back? I got you a gift
too!”
Lillian, showing off, held out pink pearl earrings. “Annabel, look. They are so pretty!”
In her last life, those earrings were Charles’s only gift to Annabel.
She’d cherished them, only to learn they were cheap street stall junk.
Annabel glanced at them, her smile cold. “You sure know Charles’s taste, Lillian- someone might think you went on that trip with him!”
Lillian’s face paled at the dig.
Charles jumped in, defending her. “I asked Lillian’s opinion on the gifts, Annabel–don’t overthink it!”
Victor frowned, jumping in, “Annabel, that’s out of line–apologize to Charles!”
His tone was harsh; he only cared about Charles’s feelings.
Charles waved it off, playing nice. “Mr. White, I’m not mad–Annabel and I are getting engaged soon, after all.”
He grabbed the earrings and walked toward Annabel. “Annabel, let me put these on
you!
Annabel stepped back, her eyes flicking to the diamond necklace on Lillian’s neck. That necklace on you–I’ve never seen it before. Charles, did you just give it to her?”
Lillian’s hand shot to her neck. “That’s… uh…”
Chapter 7 Annabel’s Killing intention
She’d begged Charles for it, keeping him in bed for hours to get it.
Annabel pressed, her tone firm. “Yes or no?”
Lillian pursed her lips, silent. Charles slid an arm toward Annabel’s waist. “Annabel, if you like it, I’ll get you one next time–it’s just something I gave Lillian!”
Annabel laughed, a sharp sound–Charles dared act like she wanted Lillian’s stuff? She‘ d play along.
Dodging his hand, she pointed at Lillian’s necklace. “Trade. My earrings for your necklace!”
Lillian’s face twisted, her voice pitiful. “Annabel, these earrings are Charles’s heartfelt gift–swapping them is inappropriate, don’t you think?”
Victor piled on, his voice stern. “Charles got you a gift, and you don’t even thank him- now what’s this about?”
“This? What do you mean ‘this“?” Annabel asked, her voice icy.
She snatched the earrings from Charles. “He gives his future wife fake junk and his future sister–in–law an expensive diamond necklace? What kind of husband does that?”
“Fake?” Victor echoed, his brow furrowing.
Ignoring their stunned faces, Annabel called for a maid to bring a lighter.
“Burn a pearl’s surface lightly–no smell, it blackens, but the ash wipes off clean!” she said, her voice calm.
She flicked the lighter, holding the earrings to the flame. The pink pearls stank, dulled, and sparked.
Annabel snorted, holding the charred, black earrings. “Pretty clear these are fake!”
Charles’s face darkened like the burnt pearls, coughing awkwardly under everyone’s
stares.
“They sold me fakes! I’ll track them down–this isn’t over!” he blustered, his voice tight.
Annabel crossed her arms, her cold smile unimpressed.
Charles hesitated, then forced out, “Lillian, give Annabel the necklace. I’ll get your something else next time!”
Lillian froze–Annabel demanding a swap was bad enough, but burning the earrings? Unthinkable.
Seeing Charles’s serious look, her eyes filled with tears, anger and reluctance surging. She bit her lip, yanking off the diamond necklace.
“Fine, take it!” she snapped, shoving it at Annabel.
As she turned to storm off, Annabel’s voice stopped her. “Wait!”
Chapter 7 Annabels Killing Intention
Annabel held up the scorched earrings, her tone mocking. “Don’t forget your gift, Lillian!” she said, tossing them toward her.
“I… how could you…” Lillian choked, humiliation and rage overwhelming her. Sobbing, she ran upstairs, tears streaming.
Victor White glared at Annabel, his voice heavy with blame. “Can’t you just let your sister have this one?”
Annabel raised a brow. “Charles said to swap.“.
Caught in the middle, Charles felt his chest tightened. “Mr. White, please talk to Lillian
for me.”
Victor sighed, hurrying upstairs after Lillian.
Annabel watched, stuffing the diamond necklace into her pocket. She turned to leave.
“Annabel!” Charles called suddenly, his voice low, stopping her. “I need to talk to you- alone.”
Annabel blinked, surprised, wondering what he was up to.
“Fine,” she said, her tone guarded.
They walked to the garden at the back of the villa.
As soon as they stopped, Charles got to the point. “Annabel, has Walter told you when he’s giving you the shares and the pendant?”
Annabel sneered. ‘So that’s why he’s playing nice.
Annabel didn’t answer. She strolled toward the pond, her pace slow.
Charles followed, pressing on. “Annabel, do you think… maybe your grandpa wants to keep the pendant for himself? You said it was your mom’s, right? And the shares- those are yours by right!”
Then he added, his tone full of fake sincerity, “Don’t get me wrong–I’m just worried you‘ re being shortchanged. I don’t care about the shares or the pendant. I only want you!” Charles was mid–act, all heartfelt, when Annabel gasped. “Oh no, I messed up!”
He frowned, annoyed at the interruption. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his patience thin. “It slipped into the pond!” Annabel said, her pale face twisting with regret as she stared at the pond.
“Was it the pendant?” Charles asked, his voice tight, heart racing.
The pendant could unlock the White family fortune, and Annabel’s panic made him think it was gone.
“No,” Annabel said, crouching by the pond, reaching toward the water. “It’s the necklace you gave me–what do I do?”
Chapter 7 Annabel’s Killing Intention
Charles exhaled, relieved. “The necklace? Forget it. You like it, I’ll buy another.”
“No way—it’s the first gift you gave me. It means everything!” Annabel said, her face pained, her voice urgent. “I’m going in to find it!”
Charles hadn’t expected her to care so much about his gift. ‘Maybe she was just jealous earlier,‘ he thought.
Seeing her about to jump into the pond, he blocked her. “Don’t!” he said, his voice firm.
This was the White family’s estate. If anyone saw Annabel wading in while he stood by,
he’d look bad.
He hesitated, then grimaced. “Wait up there–I’ll look!”
Annabel’s eyes lit up, her voice grateful. “Thank you, Charles–you have to find it!”
Charles’s face was a mix of emotions as he stepped into the pond. He skimmed his hands over the surface, avoiding the deeper water.
“Charles, you’re not even trying” Annabel said, her voice tinged with disappointment.” Just come back up!”
Charles gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and crouched, groping the pond’s bottom.
He found nothing. Lungs burning, he tried to stand.
“Splash, splash-”
Charles thrashed, choking on water, swallowing several mouthfuls. Just when he thought he’d drown, the pressure lifted.
“Pfft! Huff, huff, huff…” Gasping for air, Charles opened his eyes.
Annabel knelt at the pond’s edge, staring down. Her dark eyes held something cold,
unreadable.
His heart froze–‘Did Annabel try to kill me?‘
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