Chapter 38

Brandon was driving, focused on the road ahead, his expression unchanged: "Caroline, I accidentally broke your phone. I'll buy you a new one another day."

I frowned slightly, looking at Brandon's face in the rearview mirror.

My phone wasn't broken at all; he just didn't want to give it to me, using this as an excuse to buy time.

"No need, just get any one."

Brandon glanced at me distractedly: "How can that be? You should have the best of everything. Be good, Caroline, and wait a few more days. I'll get you a new one when the latest model is released."

Since he said that, it would seem odd if I insisted.

So, I nodded and said nothing more.

When we got home, Shirley and Paula were already sitting at the dining table, but their faces were red and swollen, and the atmosphere was very awkward. It was clear they had just fought.

I frowned. What was it about this time?

Brandon wasn't even home, so what caused the conflict between them?

And the most crucial part was that Shirley looked at Paula with obvious guilt in her eyes.

Shirley feeling guilty? Didn't she get James to deal with Paula? Could it be that she was found out?

Or did Paula also know the secret that Shirley knew? I bit my utensils, thoughtfully looking at Shirley.

After dinner, I quietly went to the coffee table in the living room and retrieved a bug from underneath.

This was something Kathy left for me the first time she came over. She thought I might need it someday, even if just to keep evidence.

I had left it there all this time, and it should have recorded Shirley and Paula's voices.

I glanced at Brandon, who was frowning at his phone, seemingly replying to someone's message.

Meanwhile, Shirley was playing with the kids on the couch, and Paula was washing dishes in the kitchen.

I got up and said to Brandon, "Brandon, I'm really tired today. I'm going to rest. Can Shirley take care of the kids for me for a day?"

Brandon put down his phone and looked at me gently: "Of course, you go rest. I'm here. Good night, Caroline."

I nodded and went upstairs.

After confirming that neither Shirley nor Brandon followed me, I hid in the bathroom and took out the recording device, pressing the play button.

At first, there was a rustling sound. I fast-forwarded, trying to find the recording of Shirley and Paula fighting.

But for a long time, there were just unclear sounds.

Just as I was about to give up, I suddenly heard Shirley's voice on the recording.

"Paula, when are you going to get out?"

"This isn't your house. Mr. Jordan and Mrs. Jordan want me to stay. What does it have to do with you?" That was Paula's voice.

Shirley spoke: "I'm warning you, get out quickly, or else."

Paula sneered: "How are you going to be unkind to me? Are you going to get James to deal with me?"

I was shocked. I didn't expect Paula to know about James. Did she find out or investigate?

Either way, Paula was even more cunning than I thought!

In the recording, Shirley was clearly as shocked as I was: "How do you know James came over? Did he tell you?"

Paula scoffed: "Of course. You came here a few years ago, and your first love, James, followed right after. What a coincidence, right?"

"James is so stupid. I just had to beckon, and he told me everything, including what you're up to."

"You're investigating someone named Elora, right? Did you know she had a child with Mr. Jordan?"

Shirley remained silent, and Paula's voice grew more arrogant: "Do you remember pushing me into the water when we were kids? You bullied me a lot growing up. I'm going to take everything from you."

"Brandon, and everything you have now, you don't deserve any of it."

Finally, Shirley couldn't hold back: "Do you know why? It's because our parents favored you when we were kids and gave me nothing. I had to get back at them this way. Blame them, not me!"

"You're lying. You're just selfish. You have no right to talk about our parents!"

Then there was a loud slap. I couldn't tell who hit whom. Paula's voice followed, incredulous: "You dare hit me?"

Shirley snorted: "So what if I hit you?"

Then the two started fighting, which explained the red and swollen faces I saw.

Suddenly, Paula shouted: "Shirley, don't think I don't know why you left your last nanny job!"

The fighting stopped, and the recording went silent. I even wondered if it was broken.

But then I heard Shirley's terrified voice: "How... how do you know?"

I immediately understood why Shirley felt guilty.

"How hard is it to find out? You were a nanny for a family, and their child went missing. They never found the child."

"Not long after, you resigned. Does that have nothing to do with you?"

"What evidence do you have? If you don't, shut your mouth."

Shirley's voice was loud, but it was clear she was bluffing.

Paula sneered: "Evidence? I found a child's bones in the backyard of our old house. Should I get the DNA tested?"

Shirley fell silent. Paula continued: "Should I tell the police the truth? That you tried to seduce the employer and, when you failed, took it out on the child? The child was only four years old, and you drugged and killed them."

"What do you want?"

"Keep your mouth shut. If you touch me again, I'll reveal this secret, and you'll go to jail!"

Shirley was clearly scared and didn't speak again. The rest of the recording was Paula's one-sided rant.

I paused the recording, feeling a chill.

If Shirley failed to seduce Brandon, would she take it out on my children? I didn't know!

But this was a consequence I couldn't bear. Even if Shirley hadn't acted yet, who could guarantee she wouldn't in the future?

Shirley was a lunatic. If she could harm a four-year-old, what else was she capable of?

I made up my mind. I had to get rid of Shirley and Paula, these two vicious sisters!

I pressed play again. After the fight, Shirley angrily called James.

"James? Did you tell Paula about my business?"

Her voice was accusatory.

"Paula is not my real sister. She doesn't deserve it! I问 you, are you involved with Paula?"