Chapter 77: Truly All Villains

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Truly All Villains

As Big Girl Monroe spoke, Heath Hale and Zoe Sawyer heard a story where everyone was the villain.

The story began with a cliché: the classic switched-at-birth trope common in novels.

Big Girl Monroe’s biological parents were a wealthy, loving couple in their village. However, the mother suffered complications during childbirth that left her unable to have any more children, making their daughter their one and only.

Chloe Monroe’s father, meanwhile, was a distant cousin of Big Girl Monroe’s father, and her mother was also a cousin of Big Girl Monroe’s mother.

The two cousins marrying into the same extended family was the talk of the village. The two families were close, and as it happened, both women were pregnant and gave birth on the very same day.

When Chloe Monroe’s biological parents learned that Big Girl Monroe’s mother had been injured during labor and could no longer bear children, the couple, coveting their relatives’ wealth, seized the opportunity. While the new mother was unconscious from exhaustion, they switched the two infants.

Chloe Monroe grew up carefree and doted upon. Big Girl Monroe, on the other hand, was forced to shoulder all the household chores from a young age, including laundry, cooking, and more.

At a tender age, Big Girl Monroe’s hands grew coarse, and the chilblains covering them were just as bad as her adoptive mother’s.

As the two girls grew older, they both took after their mothers and blossomed into striking young women.

But because the families were related, the girls bore a strong resemblance to each other, so Big Girl Monroe’s biological parents never realized the child next door was their own.

Chloe Monroe, however, only learned the truth of her birth after she got into college. Unwilling to give up her comfortable life, she conspired with her biological parents to keep Big Girl Monroe down at all costs.

They even schemed to marry her off to a notoriously cruel old bachelor in the next village. A college-educated girl, they reasoned, could fetch a hefty bride price.

If that failed, their backup plan was to keep her in a house somewhere and use her as a surrogate, bearing children for men who couldn’t afford a wife but needed an heir.

No matter what, they intended to bleed Big Girl Monroe dry and exploit every last ounce of her value.

Big Girl Monroe had always been bright and studious. Despite every obstacle, she managed to get into college through her own sheer effort.

Just when it seemed she was about to escape the fiery pit of her toxic family life, she accidentally overheard the plan Chloe Monroe had hatched with her parents.

In that moment, she learned not only the truth of her birth but also the full extent of their malevolent intentions for her.

Normally, the only way she could get a bite of meat was by fawning over Chloe Monroe. Her clothes and school supplies were all Chloe’s hand-me-downs.

Realizing that everything Chloe had was rightfully hers, Big Girl Monroe was consumed by rage. She resolved to get her revenge, which is why she was unmoved when she saw what Tim Lane did to Chloe Monroe. She didn’t even consider calling the police.

’With my tormentor dead, my own life could finally have a new beginning.’

The following year, she learned that her biological parents had died while searching for her and that her entire inheritance had been seized by her adoptive parents. In response, Big Girl Monroe simply went back, drugged the whole family until they were unconscious, and burned them all to death in a fire.

She then dropped out of college and fled, never looking back.

She lived a life of working, enjoying her freedom, and then working again whenever the money ran out.

She’d spent the last few years lying low around the university, looking for an opportunity to blackmail someone for a large sum—her retirement fund.

She had already arranged her escape route, ensuring she could disappear the moment she got the money.

But for all her meticulous planning, she never expected to be found out and arrested.

Carrying the interrogation notes, Zoe Sawyer walked out of the room and sighed to Heath Hale, "Until I read this, I really thought they were good friends. I never imagined this was the real story between them."

To have your life stolen, to be forced into labor at such a young age... And just when she was about to escape that hell, they tried to drag her back in and bleed her dry.

If it weren’t for the country’s nine-year compulsory education policy, Big Girl Monroe might never have had the chance to go to school at all.

"But regardless, failing to report a crime and then committing arson and murder... those are all felonies." Heath Hale shook his head. As a police officer, he couldn’t condone Big Girl Monroe’s actions.

But as a bystander, he had to admit the first half of her life had been incredibly hard.

The three of them sighed. Just as they were about to head back to the office to write up the report, one of Lynn Grant’s assistants came running over, holding a lab report.

"The test results for the items Zoe Sawyer sent over are back. It’s a type of incense. Prolonged exposure can cause hallucinations and physical harm." The assistant handed the report to them and hurried away.

’She still had a mountain of work to do!’

Zoe Sawyer stared at the report in Evan Keller’s hand when it suddenly clicked.

She remembered.

’That scent on Big Girl Monroe... wasn’t it the same one from Lily Golding’s dorm room?!’

’How are these three connected?’

In response to Zoe Sawyer’s question, Big Girl Monroe just smiled. "I’ve learned a few things over the last ten-odd years. I remember selling that particular blend to a student named Shannon Shelby."

"It was strange, though. Lily Golding was the first one who knew about it, but she claimed she wasn’t interested and said she’d introduce a classmate instead. She did, however, buy a different sachet from me—one that’s supposed to help you focus. It also has a strong scent that can mask other fragrances."

After hearing the answer, Zoe Sawyer stood frozen in the doorway of the interrogation room, lost in thought.

Evan Keller glanced at Zoe Sawyer with a sympathetic look. ’It seems she had no idea her former roommate was this kind of person...’

"She probably never told Shannon Shelby about the fragrance’s real effects, especially not her male alter.

Simon Shelby bought that incense and burned it in the dorm to impress Lily Golding. They were both exposed to it, but Lily had another sachet that masked its scent. So, the only one whose health was actually being harmed was Shannon Shelby," Heath Hale analyzed, stroking his chin.

Recalling the information Officer Lee had dug up, a look of understanding crossed Heath Hale’s face.

’Lily Golding must have done all this for the guaranteed admission spot and a place in the competition.’

’The incense isn’t lethal, but it is harmful.’

Suddenly, a chilling thought struck Zoe Sawyer. ’Lily... did she really not find the listening device under her bed?’

’Can’t think about it, don’t think about it.’ Zoe Sawyer rubbed her arms, trying to shake off the horrifying idea.

At the same time, she decided she would have to cut ties with Lily.

"What are the consequences for Lily’s actions?" Zoe Sawyer asked.

"Don’t worry. Her actions constitute intentional injury, but because Shannon Shelby hasn’t suffered any severe harm yet and the exposure time was short, she probably won’t face any major penalties.

"But a formal reprimand and a note in her permanent school record are definitely in order." Heath Hale thought for a moment before deciding to tell Zoe the unvarnished truth.

Heath Hale shot Evan Keller a meaningful look, and Evan nodded in understanding.

He then turned and walked away.

The case was solved. Now it was time to inform the school about Lily Golding’s and Shannon Shelby’s actions. ℴ

Whether they would still be eligible for the guaranteed admission and the competition was up to the school to decide.

"Let’s go. We need to see them."