Ryker threw Emily to the ground and glared down at her with a menacing expression. "Emily Collins, do you think I'm stupid? Frances Ramos is motivated by money. What benefit would killing Deirdre bring her if she had no one backing her?"

Emily's teeth trembled as she crawled closer and said, "Deirdre's death doesn't benefit me either! I have everything I want now. Whether she's alive or dead, it doesn't matter to me. You can't blame me for everything just because there were conflicts between us!

"And..." Emily's eyes flickered with emotion as she searched for excuses, trying to avoid the truth. "And Brendan was never good to her. That basement was filthy, messy, and damp. Even a normal person couldn't bear staying there for a month, let alone someone like Deirdre, who had just given birth. It's natural for her to get infected and die in that environment— Ah!"

Emily screamed in pain.

Suddenly, Ryker leaned in, grabbing a handful of Emily's hair and pulling it upward.

Intense pain s