Pamela needed at all costs to prevent Melissa from coming to the logical conclusion, that she was doing everything in her power to keep her away from Josias.

So Pamela gets up, approaches her best friend, and takes her hands. In an appealing tone of voice, she replies, trying to be convincing.

“Melissa, I swear with all my heart: I was worried that Josias would harm you.”

“So you confirm that you lied?” Melissa clings to that detail, “Didn't Josias tell you at the construction site that he wanted to take me to bed?”

Pamela bites her lip. She didn't want to go back to what she said. “He said...