My Best Friend Played Dead and Played Me

A few days after Scarlett's panicked escape, I got a call from an unfamiliar number.

The moment I picked up, an anxious voice came through the line.

"Hello, is this Ms. Felicity Quinn? This is the city police department. Scarlett Thorne has passed away in an accident. You're listed as her emergency contact, so we need you to confirm her identity."

Elio and I exchanged a glance and rushed to the scene.

The police had brought the two children with them.

Their faces were tear-streaked, and they looked pitiful.

However, Elio and I weren't the soft-hearted fools we had been in our past lives.

We remembered all too well how the two children had joined Scarlett in setting us up.

Sure enough, while we were talking to the officers, Scarlett's son, Caleb, secretly signalled his little sister, Charlene, with a knowing look.

His scheming look was far too sharp for an eight-year-old.

When the police asked about the children's placement, Caleb intentionally dropped to his knees with a loud thud and cried out, "Ms. Quinn, Mommy is gone! You're all we have left! Please adopt me and my sister. We promise we'll be obedient."

Watching his little act, I scoffed inwardly but remained calm.

Elio helped Caleb up and said gently, "Hey, don't say that. Don't worry. I believe your grandparents and relatives won't abandon you."

Caleb took a step closer and clutched tightly at my sleeves. His voice trembled with sobs and desperation.

"Ms. Quinn, please take us in. We don't have parents or a home. We'll do anything. We can clean, cook, or whatever you need… Please…"

Charlene peeked out timidly from behind him. "Ms. Quinn, I promise I'll be good."

When I still didn't respond, Caleb dropped to his knees again and cried out, "Ms. Quinn, did you forget? My mom saved your life! She risked everything for you! Now that she's gone and we've got no one else, how can you turn your back on us?"

Charlene started crying too, wrapping her arms around my leg. "Ms. Quinn, if you don't take us in, Mommy won't be able to rest in peace!

"Mommy always talked about how you're the person she cared about most. She got sick while trying to rescue you back then. Now that she's gone, you're all we have left. How could you let your saviour's children end up on the streets?"