Chapter 834

Zoe Chamberlain stared at the photo on her phone screen, her fingertips trembling slightly.

The image showed Annika Heilbronn handcuffed to an interrogation chair, her usually sneering face now pale as paper.

"This can't be..." Zoe murmured to herself.

She knew Annika's methods better than anyone. That woman was like a venomous snake, always lurking in the shadows.

"Ready to talk now?" Vivian Laurent's voice snapped her back to reality.

Zoe jerked her head up, eyes bloodshot. "You're lying! There's no way she'd get caught so easily!"

Vivian slid the phone forward. "Should I arrange a meeting so you can see for yourself?"

"No!" Zoe shrieked, recoiling so violently she nearly toppled from her chair.

That nightmare of a woman. She'd destroyed everything.

Once a medical prodigy, the pride of a century-old pharmaceutical family, now reduced to public enemy number one.

"If she's already caught, why come to me?" Zoe's voice quivered.

Vivian met her gaze squarely. "Because you owe the victims an explanation."

Zoe's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Let me guess—you just want the Night identity."

"Correct." Vivian didn't deny it. "But more importantly, that name can't keep being used to harm people."

Zoe's nails dug into her palms.

The Night codename had once been her shield. Now it was her death warrant.

"I won't go public." She bit her lip. "The online hate...I can't take it..."

Vivian's eyes turned sharp. "The people you poisoned suffered a thousand times worse."

Zoe flinched.

"During withdrawal, they felt like ants were gnawing their bones." Vivian spoke each word deliberately. "Yet you lack even the courage to face your mistakes."

"It wasn't my fault!" Zoe clutched her head, sobbing. "Annika forced me—"

"Every victim had a family." Vivian's voice cut like a blade. "When parents watched their children writhe in agony, who should they blame?"

Zoe collapsed against the chair, tears blurring her vision.

"Telling the truth is your only chance at redemption." Vivian offered a tissue. "Your parents' clinic, your grandfather's reputation—they hang in the balance."

"Annika said..." Zoe's voice shrank to a whisper. "If I talked..."

Vivian suddenly grasped her shaking hand. "She can't touch you now. My promise stands—testify, and I'll protect you and your family."

The interrogation room lights cast deep shadows across Zoe's face.