Chapter 31: Don’t Deny It

Just as Maria was feeling anxious, her phone suddenly chimed with a notification. Eagerly, Maria picked up her phone to check, only to discover that the message was from an unknown number. The message contained a recording, and Maria felt an inexplicable curiosity about what was inside. As soon as she pressed play, Caro's voice came through clearly, talking with Wendy. The conversation was unmistakable, with no signs of editing. Listening to it, Maria could hardly believe her ears. This was a friend she thought she knew so well, yet Caro spoke as if Maria were a nobody. Despite the fact that Caro had initiated the bullying of Wendy, the conversation made it sound as if Maria had been the one behind it all. This was a complete reversal of the truth. Suddenly, something clicked in Maria's mind, and she dialed Caro's number with trembling fingers. The first call went unanswered, but Caro finally picked up on the second try. "Hello, what's up?" Caro’s voice was flat, as if noth