Chapter 8: The Last Lie Finally Crumbles

The forensic report was placed on the conference table.

The investigator slowly opened the file.

"The skin tissue recovered from Kate's fingernails belongs to Gwen Lincoln."

The room instantly became silent.

Gwen's face lost all color.

"No... that's impossible," she muttered.

"Kate scratched me a few days before the engagement. That's probably how it got there."

The investigator calmly nodded.

"We considered that possibility."

"Which is why we also requested a medical examination."

"The scratches on your wrist were less than twenty-four hours old."

Everyone's eyes fell onto Gwen's hands.

She instinctively pulled down her sleeves.

"Miss Gwen," the investigator continued.

"Would you explain why your injuries match the victim's final struggle?"

For the first time, Gwen was speechless.

She opened her mouth several times but failed to say anything.

My mom stared at her in disbelief.

"Gwen... what happened that night?"

"Tell me the truth."

Gwen suddenly burst into tears.

"Mom, I was scared..."

"Kate kept threatening me."

"She said she wanted to ruin my engagement."

"I only locked her inside so she'd calm down."

"I never thought something like this would happen."

The investigator immediately interrupted her.

"So you admit locking her inside the basement?"

Realizing what she had said, Gwen froze.

She hurriedly shook her head.

"No... I... that's not what I meant..."

But it was too late.

Everything had been recorded.

My dad still stepped forward protectively.

"Officer, my daughter didn't kill anyone."

"At worst, she made a foolish mistake."

"She couldn't have known criminals would enter the house."

The investigator looked directly at him.

"Unfortunately, the evidence suggests otherwise."

"Someone deliberately disabled the basement security alarm before Miss Kate entered."

"The system password was entered using Miss Gwen's fingerprint."

Gwen's legs gave out beneath her.

She collapsed onto the chair.

Zac stared at his sister with trembling eyes.

"You... actually planned this?"

"No!" Gwen screamed.

"I just wanted to scare her!"

"I never wanted her to die!"

"I only wanted her to disappear forever!"

Those words echoed throughout the room.

Even my parents stood frozen.

"Disappear... forever?" my mom whispered.

She finally understood.

Everything I had ever tried to tell her had been true.

The basement.

The bullying.

The accusations.

None of it had been my imagination.

My mom slowly covered her face as tears poured through her fingers.

"Kate..."

"Mom was wrong..."

Those were the words I had waited my entire life to hear.

But now...

I could no longer answer her.

Orion quietly stepped backward.

His face was filled with horror.

He suddenly remembered every time I had tried to explain myself.

Every apology he had refused to hear.

Every insult he had thrown at me.

He closed his eyes in regret.

"I... was the one who betrayed her," he whispered.

The investigator closed the case file.

"Gwen Lincoln, you are under arrest for unlawful confinement, destruction of evidence, and your involvement in a homicide investigation."

Two officers stepped forward and placed handcuffs around her wrists.

"No!" she screamed desperately.

"Mom! Dad! Save me!"

"I'm your daughter!"

This time, neither of them moved.

They simply stood there, staring helplessly as the daughter they had protected all their lives was led away.

Outside the police station, rain began to fall.

For the first time since my death, I felt the darkness surrounding me begin to fade.

But I knew...

My story was not over yet.