At my words, Chelsea instantly panicked. She lunged forward and snatched my phone from my hand, nearly losing control of her expression.

"I'm just calling my fiancé to ask about the bank card. Why are you so worked up?" I lowered my gaze slightly, a faint, knowing smile tugging at my lips as I questioned her.

She drew in a deep breath, taking a long moment to steady herself.

Only then did she release her grip on my phone, forcing a stiff, unnatural smile onto her face.

"Melissa, I just didn't want you to alarm Andy. If he senses something's off, he might find another way to target the company. But if you really want to call, go ahead… just don't mention my name."

As she spoke, her expression turned bitter.

"My family's little company is nothing compared to yours. If he finds out I exposed him behind his back, he definitely won't let me off."

Hearing those words again, anger surged through me. Even now, she was still playing her petty games.

In my previous life, I had believed her completely.

To keep Andy from taking things out on Chelsea because of me, I had always put in a few good words for her in front of him. Because of that, he never once knew she had been speaking ill of him behind his back.

Who would have thought that my so-called best friend had been scheming all along to take him from me? She had worked so hard to maintain a perfect image in Andy's eyes. If I repeated any of this to him, that carefully crafted facade would shatter instantly.

In my previous life, when Andy lost all faith in me and chose to marry Chelsea… I had truly played no small part in it. The thought made me clench my jaw, a self-mocking smile creeping onto my lips.

I could still see it clearly—the way he had walked away from me, utterly dejected. It was I who had betrayed his sincerity.

This time, I wouldn't let him down again.

I raised the phone and dialed his number.

"Melissa, you finally called me!"

The moment his delighted voice reached my ear, something in my chest stirred uncontrollably.

At the same time, the barrage of comments flooded my vision once more.

[Melissa, you idiot—don't mention the bank card, or Andy will trick you again!]

[She just won't listen. Poor Chelsea, trying so hard to help her, only to be unappreciated!]

[Go ahead, say it. Once she does, McKinnon Group is finished! Andy will bleed them dry, and her whole family won't even have a grave to rot in.]

I curled my lips into a cold smile, choosing once again to ignore the comments.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Chelsea.

Her gaze was vacant, clearly lost in thought—no doubt plotting her next move against me.

Since she wanted me to say it… then I would gladly oblige.

"Andy, is there something wrong with the bank card you gave me? My finance director said that right after transferring your money into the company's account, it got frozen. Even the police have called, and it still hasn't been resolved."

Andy's voice immediately turned grave.

"Melissa, don't panic. I'm on my way to your company right now. I want to see what kind of tricks are being played to frame me. No matter how big the problem is, I'll handle it for you."

Hearing his words, I finally let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. In my previous life, I had failed him again and again—doubted him, mistrusted him. Otherwise… how could I have ended up sold to an underground clinic, dismembered piece by piece?

Just as I hung up, I caught sight of Chelsea from the corner of my eye—her face was twisted, barely concealed. She exchanged a glance with the finance director across from her.

Both of them looked unsettled, their eyes darting with unease.

Chelsea's gaze toward me was filled with resentment. Under her breath, she muttered in disbelief, "How… how is this possible? Why didn't it work…"

I let out a silent scoff, then turned to her with a bright, curious smile.

"Chelsea, what were you just saying?"

Chelsea froze for a moment, a flicker of panic flashing through her eyes.

Then she quickly composed herself, letting out a hesitant sigh.

"Melissa… I don't even know what to say anymore. But since Andy is coming, I'd better stay out of it. I don't want to make things unpleasant between you two."

She tried to leave, but I grabbed her arm firmly, my smile bright and unyielding.

"Why the rush, Chelsea? You're my strategist. When Andy gets here, if there's anything wrong, you can question him directly. I won't blame you. You're my best friend. I'm going through the hardest time right now—how can you not stay with me?"

In the end, Chelsea couldn't leave. Because at that very moment, a group of police officers had already arrived at the company.

The officer in charge took out his credentials and spoke.

"Who is the CEO of McKinnon Group? We need your cooperation with an investigation."

I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"I am Melissa McKinnon, CEO of McKinnon Group."

"Ms. McKinnon, based on relevant leads, your company is suspected of involvement in organized money laundering. We need to review some of your recent project accounts."

Before I could respond, Chelsea suddenly pointed at me, her face filled with grief, her voice heavy with disappointment.

"Melissa, I told you those projects weren't safe—you should never have gotten involved. Why wouldn't you listen?

"And now look—the truth is out. You haven't just harmed yourself, you've dragged the entire McKinnon family down with you!

"You got mixed up in something like this, ruining your own health with your reckless behavior—and now you're trying to pull me in too? I'm your best friend!"

For a moment, I couldn't even process what she was implying.

It wasn't until I caught sight of Andy standing behind the officers—his gaze filled with doubt, a trace of disappointment on his face—that it hit me like a thunderclap.

I pointed at Chelsea and shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! I've always followed the rules. I've never been involved in anything illegal!"

But Chelsea calmly pulled up a series of documents and chat records on her phone.

Every page was filled with so-called evidence of my involvement in illegal activities.

"Melissa, what do you have to say now? These chat records—they're yours, aren't they?"

My heart jolted.

Suddenly, I remembered something from my previous life—one day, Chelsea claimed someone was harassing her, and she was too afraid to turn on her phone. She borrowed mine to call home and reassure her family.

For two full hours, my phone had been in her hands—and I had no idea what she did with it.

After that, my phone began receiving strange messages and calls. I blocked them all, thinking nothing of it.

I never imagined she would save everything… and bring it out now. There were even records of transfers from the company's accounts.

My hands clenched instinctively, my nails digging into my palms until they nearly drew blood.

Grinding my teeth, I looked at Chelsea and the finance director, forcing the words out one by one.

"I really underestimated you. You planned all of this to frame me from the very beginning."

Chelsea's face twisted into an expression of heartbreak.

"Melissa, don't blame me. I just didn't want you to keep falling further down this path."

As she spoke, she turned to look at Andy, her gaze brimming with barely concealed affection.

"Besides… how could you do this to Andy?"

The finance director chimed in as well, his face full of helplessness.

"I'm sorry, Ms. McKinnon. I just couldn't let you lead the company down a path of no return."

My face went deathly pale, drained of all color.

Andy remained silent the entire time—he had probably believed Chelsea's words and was completely disappointed in me.

The officers stepped forward, seizing my hands as they reviewed the materials Chelsea had submitted.

"Please come with us."

I bit down on my lip until it bled, refusing to give in.

"I didn't do this. I was never involved in any of it!"

"That's not for you to decide. We will conduct a full investigation."

I walked up to Andy, looking into his calm, unreadable face.

"Do you believe I didn't do this?"

He said nothing.

Just as I was about to speak again, someone shoved me from behind.

My forehead slammed into the sharp edge of the door, splitting the skin and leaving a deep, bleeding gash.

Afraid I might say something more, Chelsea clamped a hand over my mouth.

"Officer, take her away quickly. She might try to escape again!"

I was dragged out of the company.

All the employees pointed at me, whispering among themselves.

In this life… was I still destined to end the same way?