’Vera Xavier figured that if Cara Preston recuperated at home for a while after the incident, then went to the provincial capital to file a report before returning, the whole story would be far more convincing.’

’Cara Preston was still young in this life, after all—nowhere near as ruthless and meticulous as she had been in the last one.’

Rona Langdon hurried home after leaving the school and quickly made a phone call. The phone rang for a long time before it finally connected, and a crisp but extremely impatient female voice came through. "I told you before, don’t call me unless it’s important. You didn’t take my words to heart, did you!"

Rona Langdon said hastily, "Susan, please don’t be angry. Of course I wouldn’t call you for no reason. I’m calling today because I really have something important to ask you."

As she spoke, her voice held none of the caustic bitterness she directed at Vera Xavier, nor the scheming impatience she felt for Cara Preston. There was only gentleness, concern, and a hint of fear. At that moment, she was no different from any other mother in the world speaking to her child.

"What is it?" Susan Caldwell asked coldly. "Hurry up and say it. I don’t want anyone to know I’m in contact with you!"

Rona Langdon’s heart soured. She had switched the babies all those years ago so her daughter could have a better life, but now that her daughter was grown, they weren’t close at all. She asked softly, "The Caldwell family of the Deputy Secretary of the Crestfall Municipal Committee... are they related to your family?"

"He’s my paternal uncle. Why?" Susan Caldwell asked.

Rona Langdon’s heart tightened. "Do your two families keep in touch?"

"Are you an idiot? I just said he’s my paternal uncle, so of course we keep in touch!" Susan Caldwell snapped. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"I just found out today that Vera Xavier is classmates with your uncle’s son, and they’re very close!" Rona Langdon said, her face fraught with worry. "I’m afraid she’ll discover something, and it will be bad for you."

The other end of the line went silent for a moment before Susan Caldwell’s voice rang out again. "Rona Langdon, are you out of your mind? Vera Xavier is just a classmate of my uncle’s son, and you’re already getting paranoid. Absolutely no one knows what happened back then. Acting like this, are you trying to make people suspicious?"

Rona Langdon was taken aback. "I..."

In truth, she wasn’t out of her mind; she just had a guilty conscience.

"Just act natural. And be calmer," Susan Caldwell commanded, her tone dripping with condescension. "With a mental fortitude like yours, where did you get the gall to do something like that in the first place? As long as you don’t expose it, no one will ever know!"

Rona Langdon realized she was right, and her heart instantly settled. She quickly forced a smile and said, "You’re right, that makes sense. So, should I try to stir up some trouble between them?"

"Are you a pig? I told you to stay out of it! The more you meddle, the more suspicious you’ll look!" Susan Caldwell snapped. "I don’t care if Vera Xavier is just getting a little friendly with my uncle’s son—even if she were getting close to my own brother, you would keep your mouth shut!"

Rona Langdon felt a sting of resentment at having her intelligence questioned and being called a pig by her own biological daughter. But she didn’t dare voice her displeasure, afraid of upsetting Susan. After all, her future depended on this successful daughter of hers.

She said softly, "I was just worried, that’s all!"

"You can be worried, but you can’t afford to panic!" Susan Caldwell said coldly. "That’s the end of it! And one more thing: don’t call me again unless it’s something important!"