Chapter 85

Her fingers trembled as the call abruptly ended.

Sophia stood frozen in place.

Vivian Ashcroft might be the first person bold enough to hang up on the police.

Her phone vibrated again—same police station number flashing on the screen.

This time, Vivian answered.

The voice on the other end made her pupils constrict.

After hanging up, she shakily tapped Isabella Valentine’s name trending on the hot search list.

The screen’s glow cast shadows across her ashen face.

"What’s wrong?" Sophia steadied her swaying figure.

"I’ve been set up." Vivian clenched her phone, knuckles whitening. "That video of Isabella… I leaked it using a burner account."

She rushed to explain: "Someone anonymously sent me that bullying footage. I was furious and posted it without thinking."

"Now her team released behind-the-scenes clips claiming it was just acting. The waitress retracted her statement too."

"The entire internet is condemning the ‘rumormonger.’ The police have already traced my IP…"

Sophia sucked in a sharp breath.

Realization struck instantly: "Why would the tipster contact you?"

"It was a trap!" Vivian pulled up the burner account’s profile. "This page has zero followers. How could it possibly trend?"

Everything clicked into place.

From the anonymous tip to the public backlash—every step was meticulously orchestrated.

Isabella didn’t just clear her name; she gained public sympathy.

Meanwhile, Vivian faced legal consequences.

Sophia suddenly remembered the shadowy figure in the garden last night. A chill crawled up her spine.

This scheme’s real target was her.

Isabella had witnessed her intimacy with Ethan Roscente but chose to strike at Vivian instead.

"I’m so sorry…" Sophia’s voice shook.

Vivian slammed her fist on the table. "That bitch! Couldn’t touch you, so she came after me!"

She raked fingers through her tangled hair in frustration: "I should’ve gone to the restaurant to secure evidence first…"

Even now, she blamed herself for failing to protect her best friend.

Sophia’s eyes burned as she pulled Vivian into a fierce embrace. "I’m the one who should apologize."