Chapter 5

Evelyn's POV

Yesterday, I'd already installed pinhole cameras in various corners of the Lancaster house, especially at the stairwell, living room, and Mia's bedroom.

I knew someone as scheming as Lydia would never behave herself. The first thing she'd do here was assert dominance over Mia and stage another sob story for Gideon.

Sure enough, before dinner, the show began.

Gideon hadn't returned yet. Mia was reading in the second-floor sitting room.

Lydia walked over carrying a cup of hot coffee, her steps deliberately swaying.

"Mia, reading? Have some coffee to perk up."

Lydia approached Mia, deliberately stumbled, and the entire cup of scalding coffee flew toward Mia's face.

Mia was prepared. She dodged to the side, and the coffee splashed onto the sofa.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry, Mia! I didn't mean to!"

While apologizing, Lydia took the opportunity to viciously pinch Mia's arm.

Mia cried out in pain and instinctively pushed Lydia.

The push wasn't forceful, but Lydia acted as if she'd been struck by a sledgehammer, her whole body flying backward and rolling straight down the stairs.

"Help! Mia's trying to kill me!"

At that moment, the front door opened. Gideon happened to walk in.

He looked up to see Lydia rolling down like a broken doll, landing at his feet with a gash on her forehead, blood flowing out.

"Lydia!"

Gideon dropped his briefcase and rushed over to cradle Lydia.

Lydia leaned weakly against Gideon, pointing at Mia upstairs, tears streaming down her face.

"Gideon... Mia... she said I was trying to seduce you... she pushed me... my head is so dizzy..."

Gideon's head snapped up, his eyes glaring viciously at Mia.

"Mia! Have you lost your mind? Lydia is my friend. How could you be so vicious!"

Mia stood at the top of the stairs, face pale, trembling all over.

This wasn't an act. Mia was genuinely furious at this scene and hurt by Gideon's look.

"I didn't... Lydia did it herself..."

"Shut up! I saw it with my own eyes! What excuse do you have?"

Gideon stood up holding Lydia and strode outside. "I'm taking Lydia to the hospital for an examination! Mia, if anything happens to Lydia, I won't let you off!"

Mia tried to chase after them to explain, but I stopped her.

"Don't go."

I pulled Mia back to her room. "Let Gideon go."

"But Evelyn, Gideon misunderstood me! That woman did it on purpose!" Mia stamped her foot anxiously.

"I know Lydia did it on purpose. Gideon probably knows too, but he just wants an excuse to blow up."

I opened my phone and pulled up the surveillance video from earlier.

The footage clearly recorded how Lydia deliberately spilled the coffee, and how she deliberately used the force of Mia's light push to jump backward and roll down the stairs.

Especially that little adjustment Lydia made before rolling to protect herself. A perfect fake fall.

"Look, this floor really is too hard. Lydia should wear knee pads next time she performs, or those knees are going to bruise."

I pointed at Lydia's somewhat awkward posture on the screen and sneered.

Mia watched the video and gradually calmed down, the tears in her eyes receding.

"Should we... send this video to Gideon now?"

"No. If we send it now, Gideon will just become angry from embarrassment and might even destroy the evidence."

I put away my phone. "We need to wait for the right moment. Like when we can slap Gideon in the face in front of everyone."