Chapter 205

“I really have no idea why Molly would think that about me p>

“I care about Cindy, but I care about Claire just as much p>

The officer saw that Octavia was being careful with her words, so he decided to push further. “Actually, Claire told us you tried to stop her from joining the winter camp p>

Octavia’s face paled. She hadn’t expected Claire to bring that up to the police. Now she was starting to worry that Claire might have recorded their conversations. If Claire was willing to talk about something like this, she clearly wasn’t holding back anymore.

“Officer, I think that child must have misunderstood.” Octavia managed a weak smile. “Maybe she’s still upset about us sending her back to her birth family, so p>

She let her sentence hang in the air. It made her seem like a gentle adoptive mother, unwilling to say a single bad word about her daughter, even trying to protect her. Anyone listening would think the issue was with Claire, not Octavia.

But the officer wasn’t so easily swayed.

“So you’re saying Claire is angry about being sent away and that’s why she’s slandering you?” He put an extra emphasis on the word “slandering p>

Octavia shook her head. “It’s not that serious. She’s just upset, or maybe she misunderstood what I meant p>

The officer stared at her for a long moment. These rich housewives really knew how to talk their way out of anything. Not only did Octavia avoid taking any blame, she somehow managed to make Claire look bad without even saying anything outright. If Claire didn’t have any proof, it would be hard not to take Octavia’s side. The woman was just that convincing. No wonder the young female officer at the station called her “the queen of playing innocent p>

“So you’re saying you never told Claire to drop out of the winter camp?” The officer’s voice was steady, but his eyes were sharp.

Under that gaze, Octavia felt a chill run through her. She started to wonder if Claire really did have a recording. So, she didn’t dare to lie outright.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear with my words,” she said. “I just wanted her to go easy on Cindy, not put so much pressure on her p>

“As her mom, was really happy Claire got into the camp, but at the same time, I was worried about Cindy. Cindy’s grades aren’t the best, and she keeps comparing herself to Claire, Ever since she found out Clare was going, shes been crying every day p>

“I just want my two daughters to get along. I thought maybe Claire could help me talk to Cindy, calm her down a little p>

Octavia sounded so sincere, it almost seemed real.

“I didn’t even realize Cindy was so sensitive,” she continued. “It was actually her deskmate who told me Cindy had been crying at school all the time p>

“Officer, you look like you might have kids yourself. When your child is hurting, it makes you anxious, doesn’t it p>

“When Cindy’s friend told me about it, I honestly didn’t know what to do p>

“Her friend meant well. She even

said that if Claire didn’t go to the et

camp, maybe Cindy would have half

a year to catch up on her studies and not fall behind p>

Octavia pressed her fingers to her forehead, eyes turning red as if she might cry. “I made a mistake. I actually went to talk to Claire about it p>

“But I regretted it right after. Both girls are my daughters. How could I ask Claire to

give up something she earned, just because Cindy was upset p>

“I thought about it a lot after I got home p>

The officer wasn’t buying it.

“So you’re saying you know nothing about what’s been going around online and you never hinted to Molly. that she should stop claire from

joining the camp?” fo

Octavia acted as if she’d just heard the craziest thing. She jumped in to defend herself.

“Of course not. Why would I ever let her hurt Claire p>