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Auntie Ava looked heartbroken. She raised her hand to slap me.
I tried to dodge, but Uncle Alex kicked me behind the knees. I cried out in pain, falling to my knees, and took the slap full force.
Behind them, Ingrid hid in Eli's arms, hand over her mouth. She looked scared and upset, but her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
The slap was hard. Blood trickled from my lip. My mind raced.
Last time, I was too shocked by Iris's death to defend myself. That's how Ingrid and the others trapped me.
I won't let that happen again!
Instead of reacting with anger, I acted concerned and warm, like always.
“Auntie Ava, Uncle Alex, what's wrong? Did something happen? Don't worry, I'll call Iris. We can figure it out together.”
I dialed Iris's number. I knew she wouldn't answer, but it made Auntie Ava pause.
Everything I did showed I didn't know Iris was dead. Seeing this, Auntie Ava and Uncle Alex exchanged confused looks.
Ingrid bit her lips in frustration. She stepped forward, giving me a look of utter disappointment.
“Luna, everyone knows you killed Iris. Why are you still acting?”
“Iris was so good to you! She was so kind! How could you hurt her!”
Her words shattered whatever was left of Auntie Ava and Uncle Alex's self-control. They lunged for me again.
I slapped Ingrid hard across the face. “How dare you curse Iris! She's fine!”
Ingrid stumbled back, hand on her cheek. She didn't expect me to counterattack.
I grabbed Auntie Ava's hands, tears streaming down my face. “Auntie, what's going on? Tell me!”
Auntie Ava and Uncle Alex weren't unreasonable people. After a moment, they could tell I genuinely didn't know.
Auntie Ava always treated me like a daughter. Seeing me so upset, she asked grimly, “It wasn't you? You didn't know she was dead?!”
Seeing the momentum shift, Eli jumped in urgently. “Luna, you killed Iris when Ingrid and I were gone! Stop lying!”
I fired back, “After you left, I came straight to the lounge. I never went out. Ask Maggie! Or check the security cameras!”
“And why are accusing me out of nothing? Couldn't it be you two who left and killed her, then framed me?!”
Ingrid and Eli turned red, speechless. They didn't expect me to fight back so fiercely. They didn't know I'd gone to the lounge. They were stuck.
I helped Auntie Ava up. “Let's go to the security room. We'll check the footage.”
After watching the clear footage and hearing Maggie's statement, Auntie Ava and Uncle Alex realized they might have misunderstood. Their hostility faded a bit.
But Ingrid must have poisoned them against me beforehand. They weren't fully convinced.
Anyway, I'd avoided the chaos of my last life. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Ingrid and Eli looked furious. They never expected things to turn out like this.
Ingrid clung to Auntie Ava's arm. “Luna, this is your place. You know all the blind spots. Of course you could avoid the cameras and kill Iris. We can't out argue you. I just feel bad for Iris.”
“Ingrid, you keep saying Iris's dead! Who's the real monster here?!” I slapped her again—harder this time.
Ingrid fell to the ground.
Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, “The police are here!”
