Now You See It, Now You Don't

Just as everyone was reeling in shock, Evan strode over to Madison's side and snapped at me, "Caitlin, we trusted you, and you had the audacity to steal from clients? That was their daughter's life-saving money!

"I was wondering why you suddenly wanted to buy a car. Now it all makes sense!"

As soon as he said that, Madison chimed in, "Yeah, Caitlin! I thought you were my friend, but you turned out to be heartless enough to rob this poor couple! You're really shameless!

"You've always talked about how nice it would be if all the money in the bank belonged to you. I thought you were just kidding, but I never imagined you'd actually stoop to being a thief!

"Mr. and Mrs. Austin, don't worry! We'll make sure Caitlin pays for what she did!"

Alfie and Demi stared at me, eyes brimming with tears. They looked shocked but didn't immediately jump to blame me.

Of course. I was the only one who had stepped up to help them yesterday, yet overnight, I had somehow become the one who hurt them.

No one would know how to process something like that.

Seeing that neither of them made a move, Madison grew impatient and shoved them forward.

"What are you waiting for? The person who killed your daughter is standing right in front of you! Don't you want to avenge her?"

I let out a quiet sigh and met Madison's gaze head-on.

"The person in the security footage isn't me. I was at the hospital all night."

Upon hearing that, Madison and Evan both looked surprised.

"Stop lying! The footage is crystal clear. You're the one who stole the money!"

"Just because you said you were at the hospital doesn't mean it's a fact. Oh, I get it now. You must've gone to the hospital to fake an alibi, then snuck out to commit the crime!"

Hearing their furious shouting, I silently smiled.

"Too bad for you. I sprained my ankle yesterday. Ms. Pollard was worried and stayed with me the whole night. Why are you two freaking out? Unless… the person in the footage is actually one of you?"

Their shouting cut off instantly, and they exchanged uneasy glances.

Willow's gaze grew more probing, shifting back and forth between the three of us.

The silence stretched until, finally, her voice rang out clearly for everyone to hear.

"That's right. I stayed by Caitlin's side the entire night at the hospital. As the wife of the bank president, I can vouch for her. Caitlin never left my side, not once, throughout the night."