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“I’ away

“Yes, we all are,” Helena added with forced sincerity, while her gaze re you at the hospital that it was just a bad case of the flu”

“Actually, it was a bad case of arsenic poisoning,” Elle said bluntly as she approached the side of the table where Helena sat, while Hunter remained a few feet behind, ar the arsenic and I probably would have died”

“Arsenic poisoning?” Helena set her coffee cup down and had the audacity to look startled at that statement “How is that possible?”

Elle stared down her step it into ar”

Helena’s hand fluttered nervously to her throat, though her expression turned indignant “That is an outrageous accusation, Elaina What ?”

“Because you recently took out a fraudulent second loan on this house to withdraw the equity, and you knew eventually I was going to find out and getting rid of me was your best option”

Gas sitting next to her mother, noore a nervous expression on her face, which reflected Helena’s growing apprehension As far as Hunter was concerned, the two of therown quiet as she watched and listened as her mother adamantly denied her involvement

Helena sat up straighter in her chair, conte off her “You have absolutely no proof to back up your preposterous claims”

“I do,” Claire finally said as sheinto Elle’s tea leaves and sugar and watched where you put the bottle of arsenic And when you left the house, I took a picture of the poison so I’d have proof, just in case so happened to Elle”

Fury flared in Gwen’s eyes as she glared at her sister, her jaw clenched tight “Shut Up”

“No, I’ to shut up!” Claire shouted and stood up froer on Gwen and Helena “You could have killed Elle and that’s not so I wanted on my conscience You two treat her like she’s a pariah in this house when Elle has done nothing to deserve it, and I’ her suffer”

Then, surprisingly, Claire turned tear-filled eyes to Elle, her features apologetic and etched with genuine re I’ve said or done to hurt you, and for me it stops here And I need you to knohatever these two are conspiring against you, I have no part of”

“I know,” Elle said, clearly believing the other girl, while Hunter silently applauded Claire’s courage for supporting Elle and for standing up against her sister and her corrupt and vicious mother

Claire ran out of the roo Elle to face the other to to smother their fear beneath disdainful, superior expressions that did nothing to deter Elle frooal She set the dossier on the table and slid it toward Helena, who didn’t dare touch it