Chapter 20
Though Gordon’s attack on the fake Winifred hadn’t caused any major injuries, he’d still committed a heinous crime with the police watching. He was instantly arrested.
By the time Kendall returned to Caledon, the news of the real and fake Winifred had already made headlines. He was stunned. If Winifred was fake, what about the things that had happened between her and Isabel?
Anxious to know the answer, he had someone find out where the fake Winifred lived. Then, he hurried there.
The fake Winifred ordered Ruth around in a dingy room. “You see this spot? Clean it! Why can’t you even do something so simple? The Court family’s maids are much better than you at this! And what the hell did you cook? It tastes horrible! I want seafood!”
Ruth was taken aback by her berating. After a while, she finally said, “This is all we can afford, sweetie. You’re no longer the Court family’s heiress, stop being so picky.”
The fake Winifred smashed a glass, infuriated by Ruth’s words. She pointed at the latter and shrieked, “What the fuck did you say, you old hag? I wouldn’t have ended up like this if not for you and Dad!
“Listen up. Kendall will take me away from here when he gets back! Have you heard of the Johnson family? They’re even richer than the Courts!” Ruth looked doubtful. “Are you sure about that? Will this guy you’re talking about really give you money?”
SO
The fake Winifred crossed her arms, saying obnoxiously, “Of course! He’s not the same as the Courts. He won’t care who I really am. I’m not related to him, anyway.
“You have no idea how easy it is to fool him. He believes everything I say, and he’ll give me whatever I want, no matter what it takes! I’m sure it’ll be the same this time. Just wait. I’ll go to the Johnson residence to look for him tomorrow!”
The rickety wooden door creaked as it was pushed open. Kendall stood there, dressed in all black. His presence was as daunting as a devil’s.
The fake Winifred was taken aback for a moment. Then, she said in a honeyed tone, “Kenny…”
In the next second, he dragged her out of the room and into a narrow alley where rainwater and sewage mixed to fill the air with a foul stench. He gripped the fake Winifred’s neck tightly and snarled, “What did you lie to me about?”
It was hard for her to breathe. Tears formed in her eyes, and she tried to break free. “Don’t be like this, Kenny. You’re scaring me… I’m scared!”
Instead of saying anything, Kendall tightened his grip on her neck. That frightened her, and she started begging for mercy. “I’m sorry! I’ll talk, so please let me go!”
He released her, and she staggered backward. She stared at him, finding him unfamiliar when she saw how manic he seemed. She stammered, “I’ll admit that I lied to all of you. Isabel didn’t orchestrate that accident, but I did. I wanted all of you to place your attention on me.
“I also planned many of the things that happened later. Isabel didn’t do anything to me at all. I was the one framing her the whole time.”
She trembled uncontrollably when she saw Kendall’s gaze darken. “I’ın sorry! I know I made a mistake! Please, let me go! I won’t do it again!”
Kendall wasn’t surprised by her words. He only found the whole situation ridiculous. She was ridiculous, and so were the Courts. He was the biggest clown.
He and Isabel had known each other for 11 years, yet he’d chosen to believe someone else without a shadow of a doubt whenever any conflict had occurred between them. He was supposed to be the one who knew her best, yet he’d never trusted, respected, or even understood her.
Kendall’s eyes were bloodshot as he repeatedly punched a utility pole in the alley, not stopping until his fist was bloody. It was only then that he finally understood just how horribly wrong he was.
Chapter 21
