"Alrighty," Dave said, turning back to the screen. "It's uploading."
"Great," Heather said, leaning forward slightly. The video was at 86%, then 99%, and finally 100%.
Dave reached for the remote but accidentally knocked over his coffee. "Aw, man," he muttered.
Heather grabbed a rag from the corner, helping him soak up the spill.
"No, I got it," Dave said, taking the rag from her. "It's my mess, after all."
He cleaned the spill near the computer, muttering under his breath. "Excuse me. Let me clean myself real quick," he said, stepping out.
Heather turned back to the screen as the video began to play. She watched carefully, her heart pounding. There she was, asking for the water and stepping aside to take the call. The room was empty for a moment. Then Evelyn walked in, glancing around before pulling out a small vial and pouring its contents into the water.
Heather's breath hitched. That bitc... she stopped herself, her jaw tightening. She quickly transferred the footage to her phone. Grabbing her bag, she called Marcus, but he was an hour away. She couldn't wait. She asked for the keys to one of her father's cars and headed out, her mind raced with what she had just seen and what to do.
Heather sat in her car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. She had the video. She had proof. Evelyn had poisoned her father and had the audacity to blame her for it. The sheer nerve of that woman. It was almost laughable, that woman, who had accused her in front of everyone, who had gone so far as to slap her, was the real villain.
The audacity, the cruelty of it, made Heather's fingers tighten around the wheel. How evil could someone be? Heather's lips curled into a bitter smile. She couldn't wait to see Evelyn's face when she exposed her. Her father would finally see Evelyn for what she truly was, a snake, and throw her and Lauren out of their lives for good.
If only it were that easy.
She glanced at the hospital entrance, her resolve hardening. She wasn't going to let Evelyn get away with this. She parked the car, sitting silently in the car. How was she going to expose Evelyn? Was she going to tell her infront of her daughter? What if her dad was awake, would that be the first news he'd want to hear? Should she tell someone else? But who?
Caius? She laughed, as if she had just told a very funny joke.
She needed to do this in a way that felt satisfying. Heather stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut behind her, and walked briskly toward the building.
...
When Heather opened the door to her father's hospital room, the first thing she noticed was how quiet it was. Her father laid motionless on the bed, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Evelyn was the only other person in the room. Lauren was nowhere to be seen. She probably went home.
Heather stood in the doorway, her eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. Evelyn was standing over her father, holding a pillow dangerously close to his head.
Evelyn turned her head. "Oh, it's you," she said, trying to maintain a calm expression. "I was just adjusting his pillow."
Heather's eyes darted between Evelyn and the pillow. The scene didn't look like she was "adjusting" anything.
"You're trying to kill him," Heather said, her voice was low.
Evelyn let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, shush. Who said anything about killing him?"
"I know about the poisoning," Heather snapped, stepping further into the room.
Evelyn was silent for a moment, her gaze steady. Then, she said simply, "Oh."
Heather blinked. Oh? That was it? This woman wasn't scared? She wasn't even trying to deny it?
"Where's Caius?" Evelyn asked suddenly.
Heather stared at her, stunned. She's seriously asking about Caius right now? Instead of begging for mercy?
"Does Caius know?" Evelyn pressed, her lips curling into a sly smile.
"No," Heather said. "He doesn't know."
She was some worth happy hearing that.
"I'm going to tell everyone about it. I'm sure you'll have plenty of fun when you're banished from this family."
Evelyn's eyes shifted to Mr. Lionel, who laid peacefully unaware of the storm brewing around him.
"The audacity you had to blame me," Heather continued, her voice rising. "Knowing fully well you did it."
"I had to," Evelyn said simply, her tone was devoid of remorse. "Or else everything goes to you."
"What are you talking about?"
"He's going to give you everything."
"You tried to kill my father because of his properties?" her jaw tightened.
Evelyn's lips twitched into a faint frown. "Oh, you of all people don't know what it feels like to always be a second option."
Those words hit harder than she expected. Evelyn was wrong. She had always been a second option. Not until she took charge of her life.
"Oh, wait… you do." her tone sounded like she was mocking, but didn't intend to.
"Enjoy your last days while you can," she said coldly. "Very soon, you're not going to be able to access him."
She turned to leave.
"Who's Alex?"
Heather's breath caught. She turned slowly. "What did you just say?"
"Who's Alex?" Evelyn repeated.
Heather's hands clenched into fists. "You don't know what you're talking about, " she said, her voice trembled with anger. She was fiercely protective of her son.
"Oh, I know what I'm talking about," Evelyn said, her smile returned. "Tell me, Heather. Who's Alex?"
"It's none of your business,"
Evelyn tilted her head, studying Heather with a calculating gaze. "Why are you keeping him a secret?"
Evelyn did eavesdropped on her call. The thought made her blood boil.
"I won't talk about Alex, and you won't talk about the poison."
"I'm not bargaining with a witch. And there's no way you think I'd let you throw this off so easily."
"Then you don't mind me telling everyone about Alex,"
"You don't have any proof," Heather shot back.
"I can find him," Evelyn said, her smile widening.
"Try your luck," Heather said, her voice was steady but her heart was beating. She couldn't let Evelyn get anywhere near Alex or even find him. She wasn't sure how low Evelyn was going to go, but she was going to go lower.
"If my father dies mysteriously, I'm going to tell everyone what you did. I have the footage on my phone, just incase you're thinking of getting rid of the evidence... I don't want to hear a word about Alex from someone else."
Evelyn raised her hands to her lips, miming zipping them shut. But Heather wasn't done. She stepped closer. Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"And if I see you close to my son..." She leaned in. "I will take you apart, limb by limb. And I'll make sure you feel every second of it."
Evelyn's eyes widened, genuine fear flickered across her face for the first time. Heather stepped back, a cold smile tugging at her lips. She glanced at her father, who looked like a vegetable, then turned and walked out of the room without another word.