Ch. 1431..1440

Chapter 1431

Chapter 1431

Renee stood there, utterly shocked by Toph's unexpected reaction. She had always viewed him as the wealthy, naive son she could easily manipulate.

In their previous conflicts, no matter how heated they became, Toph would invariably return to her like an obedient puppy whenever she shed a tear and showed vulnerability.

However, something in his eyes had changed this time. Panic briefly gripped her, but she regained her composure and continued crying.

"Toph, what am I to you? I have realized my mistake and genuinely want to be with you. You're an exceptional man, and I should cherish you—"

"That's right, I'm quite exceptional." Toph forced a smile. "I must have seemed like a fool to you, huh?"

"Toph!"

"Do you have any idea what I've been through?" He locked eyes with her. "I felt like I was losing my mind. No matter what I attempted, there was always a voice in my head saying, 'You can't do it...'

"Renee, I started having nightmares. I'd wake up in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back asleep. I was exhausted but couldn't find rest. I isolated myself in my room, avoiding everyone, and I even neglected my comic."

He emphasized the last part. "But during all this time, you didn't even call."

Renee's expression changed. "Toph, I-I was busy."

"Busy? So busy that you couldn't even send me a text?" he asked.

"No!"

"Toph, I'm afraid you're not the one I truly love," he said with a pitiful smile, sadness clouding his eyes. "You see, you love wealth and status, the power to crush those you dislike. But do you know what I want? "All I want is a peaceful life, to be with the people I love, and to pursue my passions."

"Toph!" She hastily grasped his hands. "I understand now! I won't pressure you to read those books or ask you to compete with your brother. Eventually, you'll have half of what the Hamertons possess!" "What?" Toph stared at her in disbelief. Initially, he was at a loss for words, but then he chuckled at himself.

In the end, she couldn't let go of her desire for half of the Hamertons' assets. He bit his lip and forcefully pulled his hands away, causing a mug on the table to crash to the floor. Renee gazed at him in shock.

"It's impossible." He shook his head in anguish. "Let me go, Renee. Our feelings for each other have changed irreparably. We can never go back to how we once were!"

"Toph..." She gritted her teeth. "You heartless, despicable jerk!"

"Renee..."

"I wasted my life because of you, and now you're tossing me aside!"

Her outburst attracted the attention of onlookers, their skeptical gazes piercing Toph like sharp knives. People were accustomed to sympathizing with the vulnerable, but those receiving sympathy were never the weak ones.

Toph's heart pounded in his chest. He took two steps back, his head throbbing as if he had been transported back to a long-forgotten nightmare. It clung to him like a haunting specter, suffocating him.

He couldn't breathe.

He longed to escape, but Renee reached out to grab his hand. The two began a tumultuous struggle in the cafe.

"No, you can't leave!

"Toph! I did so much for you, and this is how you repay me? Are you devoid of all compassion?!"

Chapter 1432

Chapter 1432

Renee even told everyone about her attempted suicide.

"I swallowed sleeping pills because of this man, and I almost lost my life! But now he's leaving me just like that. I really don't know what I did wrong..."

Renee sobbed uncontrollably, leaving Toph standing there, utterly bewildered and unsure of what to do.

Suddenly, someone forcefully dragged Toph away. He was stunned when he realized the person who had pulled him out was Lena.

"Stop this nonsense, Renee!" Lena glared at her. "Do you only find happiness in destroying him?"

Renee was taken aback, her eyes turning sinister.

Lena stepped forward to stand in front of Toph. She had coincidentally passed the cafe close to the Thompson Group on her way to buy coffee. She had never expected to stumble upon this confrontation.

"Renee, tell us how he treated you," Lena said earnestly. "Speak honestly with your conscience. You were ready to betray the Thompson Group for your own selfish desires, and now you're threatening him. I used to feel guilty about you, but now, I find it hard to sympathize."

"Lena!" Renee seethed. "What are you doing here? Who do you think you are to say that? Don't forget that you were responsible for my mom's death!"

"She brought it upon herself. It had nothing to do with me!"

"You..." Renee's anger boiled over. She snatched a glass from the table and hurled it at Lena.

Quick on her feet, Lena pushed Toph away, narrowly avoiding the glass as it shattered against the wall with a jarring noise.

Renee then grabbed a shard from the floor and attempted to stab Lena.

The onlookers gasped and began to disperse, some mentioning their intention to call the police.

In the midst of the chaos, Lena took a step back and accidentally bumped into someone, who, in turn, steadied her and grabbed Renee's wrist. Renee was taken aback, her face reddening with embarrassment. "Uncle..."

Nicholas scolded her sharply, "Have you lost your mind?!"

He wrested the shard from her hand and pulled her aside. "What were you thinking?"

Renee glanced at the three of them with a sinister smile. "Uncle, you sure seem to be taking her side! Ha! Everyone's protecting her, even you!"

Nicholas' expression grew grimmer. "Renee, you betrayed the company, and now you're attempting to harm Lena and Toph! Shouldn't I stand up for them if not for you?"

Renee revealed an enigmatic smile, her eyes filled with sarcasm. "Uncle, don't you think you're getting a bit too close?"

"What are you implying?" Nicholas clenched his fists, his forehead veins pulsing with anger.

Back in his days as a gangster, there was a rule against harming women, one that he had thought he'd uphold for the rest of his life.

As he had grown older and faced the loss of his child, he had come to value life more and treasure the people around him. However, he felt an overwhelming urge to break that rule at that moment.

Chapter 1433

Chapter 1433

Before Nicholas lost his temper, Lena became agitated. She took a step forward, raised her arm, and delivered a resounding slap to Renee. The world fell silent after the slap.

Renee looked up, stupefied. Her cheek stung, but she found herself staring into a pair of clear, bright eyes.

"H-How could you hit me?" she stammered.

"I struck a rabid dog," Lena replied, her expression unchanged. "I cherish peace and can't stand incessant barking."

Renee seethed with anger, ready to fight Lena with her life. However, Nicholas intervened, forcefully pushing her away with one hand.

She stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud. Before she could retaliate, Toph pulled her up.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Toph felt embarrassed as he disregarded her struggles and yanked her away.

He used to tolerate her, even showing gentleness when they held hands. Renee hadn't expected him to be so strong.

"That's enough, Renee," he insisted, dragging her away.

Despite the onlookers, he gnashed his teeth and delivered his ultimatum. "Let's end our relationship."

She froze. "W-What did you say?"

"Let's break up!"

This news shocked Renee, but it felt like a relief to Toph. He finally overcame the obstacle he once believed insurmountable with his own strength.

"Renee, can't we at least reserve a small bit of longing for each other?"

Taking a deep breath, he glanced at her before walking away decisively.

The following days were peaceful as if nothing had occurred.

Renee swiftly moved out of the Thompson residence after the breakup. Linda attempted to stop her, but her mind was set. No one could dissuade her. Nicholas let her go, wanting nothing more to do with her.

Melvin had caused him to lose his child, while Renee had nearly brought harm to the Thompson Group. Kaitlyn had created her own share of troubles when she lost control.

If he were to forgive everything, he wouldn't be a saint but a fool.

Toph had received no word from Renee since that day. She had blocked him on all fronts, and the weight pressing on his heart appeared to have lifted.

There were certain lessons that one needed to experience firsthand in order to grow.

One day, everyone in the Thompson Group received a mysterious email during working hours. They opened it and found a series of screenshots from a surveillance camera. In the images, a middle-aged man was holding a young lady, confronting another person.

Some people with keen eyes recognized Nicholas' silhouette, holding Lena. Astonishingly, the woman standing opposite them was Renee.

The captions in the email were damning, depicting Lena as Nicholas's secret lover.

The email created a stir throughout the entire company.

"Lena from the sales department? No wonder I heard Ms. Pamela brought her in without even taking the entrance test!"

"Ms. Pamela must be quite generous to keep her father a mistress, huh?"

"I doubt it... Maybe even Ms. Pamela doesn't know about this!"

"She treats her like a sister but treats her like her stepmother! Hahaha!"

Chapter 1434

Chapter 1434

The people in the office discussed among themselves. The incident had become gossip. Not only that, but the more it spread, the more ridiculous and horrible it became.

Zuko called people from the IT department over.

"Mr. Hamerton, the email was blasted to many. Not only that, it was sent through the company's intranet, but the IP address has been erased. Although we can't find out who did it for now, we're sure this person is familiar with the company's IT system."

Zuko squinted. In reality, he knew Renee was the mastermind without even checking. What surprised him was that someone was helping her.

It seemed Melvin's men were still dominating the Thompson Group.

"Erase all trails of the email," he ordered. "We must minimize the impact!"

"Got it, Mr. Hamerton."

Zuko turned his head to look at them. "Also, how long do you guys need to find the culprit?"

They looked at each other, not daring to delay on this mission.

"Two days!"

"Sure." Zuko nodded, "Bring that person to me two days later!"

Lena had applied for leave from the office. It had been two days since she came in.

Ever since the email was blasted out, she became the target of the company. Even employees from other departments came to the sales department, especially just to see what she looked like. It was chaotic in the sales department. The employees kept complaining.

"People are coming to watch every day. We're being stared at like zoo animals all day. How do we work!"

"Okay, stop it." Someone stood up to stop the complaints.

After all, Lena was nice to them. Although she was stingy with words, she would always volunteer on all the tasks and often work overtime for them.

"What, I can't even say that? Such a thing has happened. How would she still have the dignity to stay..."

"I actually think that a blurry screenshot of the surveillance camera image can't prove anything. Mr. Nicholas didn't do anything over the line!"

"Would they show you when they do something that's over the line?"

"Hahaha!"

"Do you have nothing to do?!" Jade roared as she stood before them with a cold expression.

The people scattered. She glanced at Lena's empty desk. She could not help but sigh.

At that moment, Lena stood before Lina's office with chicken soup in her hand.

She initially did not want to come to the office. Still, she was worried that Lina would not have an appetite, so she insisted on bringing the soup she made.

However, it was different now.

Before the email was blasted, she could bring the soup over as she wished.

However, she had locked herself at home since then. She had no idea how to face her.

She did not care what other people thought, but what if even Lina misunderstood her?

Lena bit her lip.

She usually had absolute calmness even if a mountain was to collapse before her, yet she was pacing back and forth at the door nervously now. Suddenly, the door opened.

She was stunned. She saw Lina's bright eyes when she looked up.

The latter looked at her, revealing a warm smile.

"You're finally here!" She quickly pulled her in. "Mmm! It's chicken soup! Look at me. I could smell it through the thermos!"

Lena was stunned. She put down the thermos immediately and carefully poured the soup into a bowl for Lina.

"You didn't come the past two days, Lena. I've been missing your soup!"

Lena had complicated feelings. Her lips moved, but she could not say a word.

She had played many scenarios in her head, but none were like this. Lina treated her as normal as if nothing had happened.

Chapter 1435

Chapter 1435

Lena sat there, unsure of what to do.

Lina could sense her unease and intentionally asked, "Why do you look like that?" She chuckled.

Lena looked up after a moment of hesitation and said, "Lina, did you..."

She wanted to ask, "Did you not receive that email? Don't you feel uncomfortable after seeing those pictures?"

Ultimately, she asked, "Don't you have any questions for me?"

Lina gently placed the bowl she was holding down and took Lena's hands.

"Zuko is investigating. We'll soon find out who sent the email," Lina assured her.

"Lina, those pictures... They're real." Lena bit her lip. "I saw Renee fighting with Toph at the cafe the other day. I went up to stop her, and she threw a glass at me. I didn't know your father was behind me when dodged the glass."

"You don't have to explain." Lina smiled warmly. "I believe you."

Lena teared up. Hearing those words meant the world to her.

She looked at Lina with emotions welling up, uncertain how to express herself.

"Sis..." She choked, wanting to address her that way.

However, Lina didn't seem to grasp the significance of the term. She merely thought Lena didn't want to bother using her name.

While smiling, Lina embraced her, but Lena's unease grew.

Would Lina still treat her kindly if she discovered her true identity one day?

She pondered, her expression growing somber. Was Renee right? Did she truly belong in their lives?

Perhaps she should distance herself. Without her, maybe Renee's mother would still be alive, and Toph and she wouldn't be in their current situation. "What's wrong, Lena?" Lina asked.

"Oh, nothing," Lena forced a smile and cleared the empty bowl. "Sis, I'll bring you some chicken soup tomorrow if you'd like!"

Lina remained silent, gazing at Lena.

Lena was taken aback. 'I called her 'sis'?'

"What did you just call me?" Lina asked.

"..."

"This is great!" Lina's face lit up. "Call me sis from now on. It's much better than calling me Lina!"

Lena blushed, pursed her lips, and chuckled.

Before the conversation could continue, the assistant knocked and entered, placing quarterly reports and important documents on Lina's desk. Lina inquired, "How's the progress on the email incident?"

"IT will resolve it soon."

"Good." She nodded. "Spread the word: No more rumors in the company. Anyone spreading rumors will need to resign through HR."

Zuko sought out Chris at the pizza place.

Chris was dining alone in the small, nearly empty restaurant. The sounds of him devouring pizza filled the space.

Zuko smiled and entered.

That was the good thing about him. Unlike other men, he would not get drunk at a bar whenever something bothered him. He would either go for a 5k run or eat pizza.

He would either exhaust himself or suffer from overeating.

He already had two large pizzas at the moment.

Chapter 1436

Chapter 1436

As Chris reached for his third slice of pizza, Zuko intervened. "Are you trying to eat yourself to death?"

Chris was taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure and rolled his eyes. "Let go! I skipped breakfast." "So, you're compensating at lunch?" Zuko sat beside him. "I'll also have a pizza with extra pepperoni, please!"

Julius looked at Zuko in puzzlement, wondering why Zuko was back again.

Soon, their pizzas arrived, and Zuko joined the eating session. He glanced at Chris and asked, "Did you hear about the email that got leaked at the Thomson Group?" Chris responded glumly.

"I've uncovered the truth," Zuko revealed. "Renee is the mastermind, and Melvin's team assisted her on the technical side."

"Melvin?"

"That's right."

Chris scoffed. "He's like an annoying ghost!"

"Renee reached out to them. She bribed people at the café to obtain surveillance footage from that day and sent screenshots of the more incriminating angles."

Chris slammed his hand on the table. "Where are those people? Where's Renee?"

"I've terminated their employment," Zuko said flatly. "We also discovered unauthorized account changes and embezzlement. I've reported them to the police. They're under investigation." "As for Renee..." Zuko paused. "She's gone missing. We've dispatched search teams."

"Oh..." Chris toyed with his pizza.

"What's wrong?" Zuko chuckled. "Why do you look like you don't trust Lena? Don't tell me you suspect her and my father-in-law-"

"What are you talking about?" Chris glared at him. "Of course, I trust her!"

"Then why the face?"

"I just..." He sighed. "I trust her, but she's not explaining herself. That's frustrating!"

Zuko patted his shoulder, torn between laughter and sympathy. "It's not the first time you've known her!"

Chris looked down.

That was true-she had always been like that. She didn't feel the need to explain herself to those who loved her, and she couldn't care less about those who didn't. Explanations were unnecessary.

But it still bothered him.

She shied away from physical contact. Until now, only Lina had been able to get close to her.

And suddenly, Nicholas was added to that list.

Chris had seen the pictures. Nicholas' hand had rested on her shoulder, and she hadn't pulled away. Her body had even leaned toward him as if she were seeking protection.

Who was Lena? She had always been the protector. When had she ever sought protection?

Body language was the most honest form of communication. It revealed what was in one's heart.

That was what irked Chris.

He admitted he was being petty, but how could any man in the world remain unaffected by this?

He wanted to talk to her, but she had been acting as if nothing had happened for the past two days. She even sent chicken soup to Lina every day!

He took a massive bite of pizza and choked, coughing vigorously.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated. It was a text from the heroine.

Lena: [I've prepared your favorite dishes. Come eat later.]

He was at a loss for words.

After devouring three pizzas, how could he possibly eat more later?!

Chapter 1437

Chapter 1437

Chris went for a 5k run before heading to Lena's apartment.

The three pizzas he had devoured were enormous. Despite his lengthy run, he still felt stuffed when he returned home.

Regret washed over him when he opened the door and caught a whiff of the food wafting from the kitchen.

"Welcome home?" Lena greeted him while bringing out the final dish, a steaming bowl of soup.

The spread on the table looked enticing, filled with his favorite dishes. The risotto was perfectly cooked, its grains glistening. With the seared steak on the side, it promised to be a delicious meal.

"Come and eat!"

He was taken aback but accepted the cutlery from her with a smile.

Chris had never seen Lena this skilled in the kitchen.

As he took his seat, Lena studied him carefully. Something seemed off today, but she couldn't quite pinpoint it.

Why wasn't he devouring the meal like he usually did when she cooked for him? Why was he so composed today?

"Hurry up and eat!" She urged, "Isn't seared steak your favorite?"

"Uh... Haha, well..."

"Why are you grinning like that?"

She scrutinized him with a judgmental look, remembering something a coworker had mentioned.

Chris shivered under her gaze. "What's the matter, Lena?"

"Nothing," she replied calmly. "I just recalled something..."

"What is it?"

She gazed into his eyes. "If a man is reluctant to eat at home, he must have already eaten elsewhere."

"Ahem!"

He wasn't sure whether to laugh or sigh.

"Well... there's one more thing." Lena continued with all seriousness. "No matter how good the food is at home, it won't satisfy a man. Meanwhile, even the worst food tastes good outside when they've never tried it!"

"Pfft!"

Chris laughed, leaning on the table and pounding it.

Lena was utterly oblivious to the implications of her words. She certainly had no idea that her colleague had been talking about men having affairs...

How could she compare his situation to that?!

Chris couldn't stop laughing. He wanted to explain but didn't know how.

Lena frowned, finding him unusually odd tonight.

After he finished laughing, she finally asked carefully, "Am I... wrong? Did you eat before coming home?"

"I-I did," he admitted, his belly still shaking from laughter. "But your metaphor doesn't quite fit."

"Oh."

Chris looked at her, "Lena, what you said makes men sound terrible."

She was taken aback, and he gently held her hand.

"But I'm an exception," he said warmly.

She blushed and withdrew her hand softly.

Tonight, she had planned to explain things to him.

"Chris, actually, I—"

"It's okay. You don't have to say it."

After a good laugh, he felt a bit hungry. He grabbed a slice of seared beef and enjoyed it thoroughly. He looked at Lena, and the knot in his heart had completely unraveled. "I trust you."

Chapter 1438

Chapter 1438

"You..."

Lena sat quietly, absentmindedly twirling a fork in her hand, and then she chuckled.

"You want to discuss the email incident, don't you?" Chris inquired. "I'm aware of the nasty rumors circulating within the Thompson Group, but Zuko has identified the culprit. Those rumors will naturally die down.

"Lena, I don't see you as the type to manipulate others for personal gain, especially by cozying up to the wealthy. So, I believe there's nothing improper happening between you and the director."

"That's what I wanted to discuss." Her voice was gentle. "There's actually something between... us."

"What?"

"Chris..." She emphasized, "He's my father."

After dinner, Chris left the condo and headed to the beach alone.

The autumn sea breeze carried a distinct chill, and the bright moon above resembled a teardrop from the sky.

His thoughts were in turmoil, and he sought the brisk sea breeze to find solace.

He still couldn't fathom what Lena had revealed.

"My mother was Krystal Harding, and she had connections to the underworld. Her reputation wasn't exactly spotless, and Nicholas Thompson is my father.

"Lina ended up on that ship, falling into my mother's hands. In return for a favor, my mother saved Lina and gave her the gun for protection.

"I recognized that gun when I first saw Lina.

"So... you can understand why I care for her so deeply now, right? You even questioned my sexual orientation. Ha... It's not like that. She's my sister, and Nicholas is my father. They're my only family in the world!"

Chris gripped the beach railing, his head lowered as he took a deep breath.

He had read her diary.

He had glimpsed that thick, enigmatic book a few times at the Thompsons', but Lena was meticulous. She never left her diary unattended-it was always with her. Thus, he had only seen its cover by chance. The diary contained Krystal's writings, filled with admiration and adoration for Nicholas. She described his heroic deeds.

Lena's entries followed Krystal's.

As he flipped through the diary's pages, suspicion crept into his thoughts.

To an outsider, Krystal's version of events seemed one-sided. Lena treating Nicholas and Lina as family appeared to be her wishful thinking.

Still, Chris couldn't bring himself to tell her that.

Now, he finally understood why Lena's eyes sparkled when she spoke of the Thompsons, her voice quivering with emotions.

He also comprehended why she had knelt in a certain direction that morning when he was recuperating in the village near Centrolis.

It was the day of Krystal's death sentence.

Lena had lost her mother that day.

And it was precisely because she had lost her mother that Nicholas and Lina meant so much to her.

Back then.

Chris asked, "Are you absolutely certain Mr. Thompson is your father? Have you... confirmed it?"

Lena shook her head.

She insisted there was no need because her mother had clearly documented it in her diary. She grew up in the village, where everyone knew she was born into the underworld. Chris wanted to ask if her mother had connections to the underworld, but he bit his tongue before the words escaped.

Suddenly, his disordered thoughts recalled the teachings on marriage ingrained in him from a young age.

"We come from the four major families and usually arrange marriages within our circles to consolidate our status."

Even if they didn't marry into the four major families, their spouses came from influential backgrounds, such as the Irwins of Southeast Aciatic.

Chris gripped the railing tightly.

At that point, he hoped that Lena was indeed Nicholas' daughter.

With the Thompsons' support, his parents would readily agree to their marriage.

Chapter 1439

Chapter 1439

Renee returned to the prison once more.

The air inside carried a grim, damp, and moldy odor, a stark reminder of her last encounter with Melvin at this place, a memory she'd rather forget. As she approached the entrance, she instinctively stepped back.

"What's wrong?" the female officer asked coldly.

Renee composed herself and pulled down her cap, concealing her face from prying eyes. She hadn't initially wanted to come here, but a call had informed her that Jacquelin wished to see her. After some thought, she decided to oblige, her sole aim being to silence Jacquelin's prison gossip.

"Please walk faster, miss," the officer urged with suspicion. "You don't have much time for the visit. If you keep this pace, you won't have the chance to say what you want!"

Renee's heart raced. She glanced at the officer, who was also scrutinizing her with an enigmatic look that hinted at recognition.

Renee quickened her pace, following the officer.

Soon, Jacquelin emerged in the visiting room. Gone was her former arrogance. She looked pale and out of place in the prison attire, which did not suit her at all. A glimmer of hope appeared in her cloudy eyes upon spotting Renee.

"Ms. Renee!" she exclaimed, charging toward her as if she'd found a lifeline.

Instinctively, Renee leaned back, grateful for the glass separating them.

Renee couldn't hear Jacquelin's voice through the soundproof glass without a phone. Still, she could see her distress and the prison guards' stern expressions. She bit her lip, growing uneasy in her seat. "Ms. Renee... Ms. Renee!" Jacquelin eventually calmed down. She stared at Renee after taking her seat and picking up the receiver. "Help me, Ms. Renee! I-I can't stand being here for another second!" Renee's heart pounded. "Jacquelin, you made a mistake. How can I help you? You brought all this upon yourself."

"You..." Jacquelin looked at her in disbelief. "Ms. Renee, you were with me when we stole the client-"

"It's too late for regrets," Renee interrupted firmly. "Remember, Mr. Thompson is my uncle. He won't dig into my actions as long as I keep my distance."

"Renee!" Jacquelin lost control and shrieked before falling into a momentary daze as if her soul had been ripped away. Then she sobbed, nearly on the verge of kneeling.

"M-Ms. Renee, please, I beg you to bail me out! I know you can do it! My crime is serious, but I might be pardoned with your support..."

Unbeknownst to her, Renee wished for Jacquelin to remain behind bars. There was no way she would help her.

"Enough!" Renee abruptly stood up. "Jacquelin, you must face the consequences of your actions. Don't involve me! I came here today to deliver this message..."

Her voice trembled with emotion. "Control your tongue, don't spread rumors! If you utter another word, I'll make your family suffer."

Jacquelin was rendered speechless, her spark of hope extinguished. She had never thought Renee capable of such cruelty, a painful realization.

She forced a bitter smile. "Well... That's just great! If that's the case, I won't reveal the secret I was going to share with you!"

Chapter 1440

Chapter 1440

"What?" Renee was about to leave when she suddenly stopped, narrowed her eyes, and asked, "What do you want to say?"

"Just a little secret."

"Is it related to me?"

Jacquelin remained silent, only smiling. The tables had turned now, and she held the upper hand.

Renee raised her hand in frustration, but a glass barrier was in front of her, preventing her from reaching Jacquelin. "Jacquelin!"

"Ms. Renee." Jacquelin smirked. "Since pleading with you didn't work, I'll keep this secret to myself... Well, I suppose you're not interested in knowing the true relationship between Mr. Thompson and Lena, are you?"

Renee was stunned, looking at her in silence. Jacquelin's words had an impact. She could care less about other things but wanted to get to the bottom of each matter regarding Lena.

She sat down slowly and looked at Jacquelin in confusion.

Jacquelin said leisurely, "Get me out of here, and I'll tell you about it."

Renee paused. "I promise you, but the process takes time. Why don't you tell me about it first? I'll figure something out for you."

"Really?"

"I'll keep my word. Tell me about Lena first, and I'll get you a lawyer the moment I step out of this place."

Jacquelin contemplated. She did not dare trust Renee easily anymore but hated Lena, too. Their grudges ran deep. Even if Renee lied to her this time, she could only chalk it up to her bad luck.

If Renee could take care of Lena, though, she would be happy to see it through. She chuckled and told Renee, "I heard that you made up a rumor about Lena being Mr. Thompson's mistress? You're mistaken! She's his illegitimate daughter!"

"What?" Renee nearly slipped from her chair.

Jacquelin emphasized the words "illegitimate daughter", so Renee believed that it was not her delusion.

"W-What are you saying?" Her voice trembled as she asked, "How did you find out?"

"Ms. Renee, you're quite dense." Jacquelin sneered. "I started paying attention to her from the first day she arrived because Jade brought her in. Do you really think someone under the care of the head of the sales department has no background?

"At first, I thought she had an affair with Mr. Thompson, too. Then, I wondered if she had some hidden relationship with some rich heirs.

"But later on, I discovered her little secret... She has a habit of writing in her diary!"

Renee was taken aback. She had also noticed Lena's habit. While living together in the Thompson household, she occasionally passed Lena's room and saw her writing at her desk. However, Lena was very cautious. Whenever there was any movement near the door, she would go and lock it.

Jacquelin continued. "I suspected she wouldn't carry her diary around with her but would keep it in a very secretive place. One night, when we were working late, she didn't have her diary and typed a few lines on her computer."

"Y-You saw it?"

"With so many people around her, how could she possibly let me see it?" Jacquelin chuckled coldly. "But she didn't know that the computer she used... had been tampered with!"