They Wanted My Mom to Take the Blame, but the Animals Told Me Everything Chapter 08

They Wanted My Mom to Take the Blame, but the Animals Told Me Everything Chapter 08

“You’re full of crap!” Callie shrieked. “So you’re the one who planted the snake! You’re the culprit! You tried to kill Leo!”

Realizing Callie was trying to throw him under the bus, the man gritted his teeth and pulled a smartphone from his pocket. “I knew you rich folks loved finding scapegoats. Good thing I’m smart enough to keep receipts!”

He tapped the screen, and an audio recording began to play.

Against a quiet background, a woman’s voice cut through perfectly clear.

“Get a king cobra. Make sure it’s alive and release it into the garden at this address. There’s a camera blind spot on the east side of the fence. Use that.”

“Then prepare a standard cobra. It just needs to be barely alive. Drain most of its venom beforehand. You’ll get another fifty grand once it’s done.”

The man’s curious voice followed. “Miss Hanish, if you don’t mind me asking…”

The woman’s cold voice cut him off. “Don’t ask what you’re not supposed to ask. Just do your job.”

“Right, right. Consider it done.”

Callie collapsed entirely onto the floor. She never anticipated that he had intentionally used her name during the call just to secure leverage and record the conversation.

Mrs. Ashford stared at Callie, her faded eyes filled with absolute disbelief. “You… why would you want to kill Leo? He’s only seven years old!”

“I’ve been a fool—a blind old fool. I opened our door to the wrong person. I kept telling my son that Leo needed a mother, that he should marry you. I never imagined… never in my wildest dreams…”

Before Mrs. Ashford could finish her sentence, the sheer shock and anger overwhelmed her, and she fainted.

Fortunately, they were already in the ER. Several medical staff members immediately rushed to her side to begin treatment.

Like a lunatic, Callie crawled forward a couple of steps, grabbing frantically at Orion’s trousers. “Orion! It’s not what it looks like!”

She pointed a shaking finger at the man. “He faked that recording! I…”

“Enough!” Orion didn’t spare her another glance. He turned to his guards. “Since she won’t own up to it, let the police handle it.”

Then, his gaze shifted coldly to Callie’s mother. “You just said I’d never marry your daughter, didn’t you? Fine, then the engagement between the Hanish and Ashford families ends here.”

Having finally realized the full extent of what her daughter had done, Mrs. Hanish panicked completely. “Mr. Ashford, there must be some kind of misunderstanding. Our families have…”

Orion cut her off, his tone entirely flat. “The Hanish family is finished.”

Mrs. Hanish stumbled back, the color instantly draining from her face as she nearly collapsed.

Two police officers arrived seconds later. As Callie was hoisted up and dragged out of the ER, she finally broke down completely, screaming Orion’s name, begging the unconscious Mrs. Ashford, and sobbing that she only did it because she loved Orion too much.

But not a single person turned to look at her.

The Pomeranian sat on the floor, letting out a long, relieved whine. Leo is finally safe…

The cat licked its paw, then strolled over to my feet and rubbed against my ankle. “Meow.”

Not bad, girl. You actually understand me. If you ever need a cat’s help in the future, just ask.

I looked down at her and couldn’t help but smile.

A week later, Leo was fully recovered and discharged from the hospital.

My mother mentioned that because the anti-venom had been administered just in time, his vitals had completely returned to normal, leaving only a faint, shallow scar on his arm.

On the day of his release, Leo ran straight over to the cat resting near the ER entrance, burying his face into her furry belly. “Coco! I had a dream that you saved my life. Thank you!”

The cat rolled her eyes but didn’t resist. “Meow.”

Alright, alright. I don’t do sap. Let go of me already.

Watching them from a few steps away, I felt my lips curl into a genuine smile.