Flossie pleaded earnestly.


    She turned to Matthew and continued, “Mr.


    rk, everything I’ve said is the truth.


    I never intended to cause you harm! Ste and I are friends.


    The chaos at the wedding wasn’t something I foresaw.


    I really didn’t know he had nned that! Neville scoffed, “The truth of the matter is known only to you and Benny.


    Now you’re the only one here.


    How can we know if you’re telling the truth?”


    Flossie realized that no matter what she said, they wouldn’t forgive her.


    Struggling against Neville’s skepticism, she instinctively defended herself, “No, I truly didn’t know…”


    “Enough.


    ” Matthew cut her off, tired of the pointless exnations.


    He was still distressed over the disrupted wedding he had organized for Ste and the pain she had suffered while he was in aa.


    He hadn’t directed his frustration at Flossie, believing it unjust to me a woman, but his patience was wearing thin.


    “If you have something to say, say it quickly.


    Don’t waste our time.


    ”


    Neville remained skeptical of Flossie.


    “What more can she offer? She wants us to forgive her boyfriend and then fall into another one of their traps.


    We were lucky this time.


    Do you want Ste to live in fear again?”


    Matthew’s expression darkened upon hearing this.


    “I won’t help him,” Flossie dered somberly.


    “Why should we believe you?” Neville challenged directly.


    With a heavy heart, Flossie closed her eyes and her voice shook as she confessed, “My baby is gone.


    ”


    Her revtion silenced Neville, sparking a flurry of thoughts.


    Noticing the shift in Flossie’s attitude toward Benny, Neville ventured cautiously, “Did Benny have something to do with it?”Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Flossie kept her eyes shut, overwhelmed with sorrow, and did not respond.


    When she opened her eyes, she looked resolutely at Matthew.


    “I want to make amends for my past actions.


    I hope you’ll give me a chance.


    ”


    Seeing Matthew’s nonresponse, Flossie sensed a glimmer of opportunity.


    “I’m the only one who can get close to Benny.


    Working with me is your fastest way to bring him down.


    ”


    Matthew remained silent, his expression unreadable.


    Flossie paused, gathering her thoughts, and then added, “Since you’ve chosen to keep your recovery a secret, I assume you’re nning a surprise move, right?”


    Under Matthew’s intense gaze, Flossie felt her nerves, her palms sweating, but she maintained eye contact.


    Showing any sign of weakness might convince him she was dishonest, not genuinely offering help.


    This was herst chance.


    Matthew weighed her sincerity, mindful of past deceptions and determined to prevent further worry for Ste.


    After a long silence, he posed a stark question.


    “What I need is for Benny to bepletely out of the picture.


    Can you handle that?”