Ch. 1711..1720

Chapter 1711

Chapter 1711

Daniel's breath quickened, and warmth coursed through his body. In the past, he wouldn't have been so cautious around her, nor would he have kept this overwhelming feeling bottled up inside. Now... There was a wry smile on his face. The wheel of fate spun in mysterious ways!

Maisie placed a piece of braised meat in his mouth and smiled at him. "No thinking of anything else while eating!"

"But..." He playfully held her hand. "I really want to stay here."

"Not right now."

He sighed.

Even though it was the answer he had expected, her resolute response still made him feel disheartened.

"Alright." Daniel straightened up and obediently started eating. "By the way, how about I take you on a weekend getaway next week? Instead of studying all day at home, you need a change of scenery to clear your mind."

Maisie smiled. "Where are we going?"

"To my private hot spring club."

"You..." When Maisie heard this, the mischievous smile on his face told her immediately what was on his mind. Her cheeks turned red, and she nudged him with her elbow before turning away from him.

"I don't mean anything else by it." Daniel held her shoulder and said in a low voice, chuckling, "I just want to relax in the hot springs. Please don't mistake me for a pervert, okay?"

Maisie playfully thumped his chest with a laugh.

"But seriously, when are you going to pamper this old man?"

"What are you talking about?" Maisie looked into his eyes. "You're not old at all."

"But I'm much older than you." There was a hint of sorrow in Daniel's expression. "Age is an undeniable fact."

He looked pitiful, which only made Maisie's heart soften. She rested her small hand on the back of his hand as she snuggled against his shoulder.

"Don't make me wait too long, okay?"

Maisie nodded firmly.

Daniel grinned and kissed her forehead.

At that moment, Maisie's phone suddenly vibrated. She glanced at it and saw an email notification. She was about to dismiss it, but the sender's name caught her eye. "Leroy?" "Hmm?" Daniel was taken aback. "Why would he send you an email?"

Maisie opened the email and read it. Leroy's message was brief, but it contained two large files that needed to be downloaded onto a computer.

"Hello, Ms. Squire! There are two mock exam papers for the upcoming journalist qualification exam in the attachments. As long as you complete these two sets of questions before the exam, your success will be almost guaranteed! Best wishes."

"Heh, Leroy!" Daniel smiled slightly. Perhaps their "dinner" last time had left this renowned journalist somewhat fearful, which was why he had compiled his life's knowledge into two sets of practice questions to gain Maisie's favor.

"That's strange..." Maisie muttered to herself. "Mr. Kerk never contacts me on his own."

"It's alright," Daniel reassured her. "Since he's passing on his experience to you, work on these practice questions. It wouldn't hurt to be a little more prepared for the exam."

"Okay." Maisie grinned at him.

There were only a few weeks left until the exam, and she didn't have a professional background, so she had to put in more effort than others.

Winter gave way to spring, and the day of the exam arrived quickly.

Cumulus City, which was located further north than Centrolis, experienced spring a bit later. During the transition from frost to warmth, it was easy to catch a cold or spike a fever. Daniel had been extremely careful while taking care of Maisie, as he feared that any discomfort might affect her exam performance.

After the exam, Maisie stepped out of the test center and immediately spotted Daniel. He had parked the car far away and was waiting among the crowd.

Chapter 1712

Chapter 1712

He knew that Maisie was reserved by nature and wouldn't appreciate him parking an extravagant car right next to the exam site.

He was also dressed as casually as possible, but his demeanor exuded a sense of calm composure, which helped Maisie spot him easily in the crowd.

He waved to her. Since it was a cold day, he had brought a cashmere shawl for her, which he wrapped around her as soon as she emerged from the exam room. He held her small hand, trying to warm it with his breath.

"Are you cold?"

"I'm okay." Maisie smiled at him, but the smile was forced. The exam questions were still haunting her like an unshakable fog, obscuring her thoughts. They felt like a heavy stone pressing down on her heart, making it hard to breathe.

Daniel inquired softly, "What would you like for lunch?"

Maisie's mind was clearly not on food.

"You decide," she replied absentmindedly.

"I know a really delicious Thai restaurant. Would you like to try it?"

"Sure."

"Or how about some Western cuisine?"

"That'd work too."

"Maisie." Daniel held her by the shoulders, squinting and smiling gently at her. "Why do I feel like you turned into a completely different person after the exam?"

"You..." Maisie paused. "You don't want to know how I did?"

Seeing how gloomy she was, Daniel knew that she hadn't done well. He placed his hands on her shoulders and stroked her face, his gaze affectionate. "Don't dwell on the exam now that it's over. Besides, it doesn't really matter how you did. This isn't the only opportunity you will get. You can always try again if this time doesn't work out. You'll achieve your dreams."

"That's not it!" Maisie sounded anxious but didn't know how to explain further.

"What's wrong?"

"On the contrary." She hesitated for a moment. "Daniel, I knew how to answer those questions! Even the interview questions were something I was prepared for..." "Isn't that great?" Daniel beamed. "Then what are we waiting for? I'll ask the club to prepare a celebration tonight!"

"Daniel..." Maisie tugged on his hand with a troubled look.

Daniel furrowed his brows, realizing that something might be amiss.

"Alright, tell me. What exactly happened?"

"I had seen those questions before!"

In the car, Daniel's expression was dark as he listened to Maisie recount the entire situation.

"I initially thought those two sets of practice questions were just for... well, practice. But I only realized when I got to the exam that those questions were identical to the actual test questions! Even the interview questions were the same. They were all from those two sets of practice papers!"

"Are you sure?" Daniel asked, looking at her. "Could the question types and problem-solving approaches have been similar?"

"I'm sure," Maisie insisted. "They were identical, right down to the calculation numbers!"

Daniel's expression turned serious. He immediately ordered his assistant to check the list of people who were responsible for creating the exam questions, and it didn't take long for the assistant to provide him with a list that included Leroy.

This wasn't like Leroy!

While Leroy might fear him, he would never compromise his principles and use actual exam questions to curry favor with a woman!

"Daniel, what's going on?" Maisie frowned. "Did Mr. Kerk intentionally leak the exam questions? He could be held legally responsible for this, right?"

Chapter 1713

Chapter 1713

Daniel's expression darkened. If this matter was exposed by someone with an ulterior motive, not only would Leroy be held legally accountable, but Maisie might not escape blame either. After all, the email had been sent from Leroy's account and Maisie had been the only recipient.

Daniel immediately understood the gravity of the situation.

"Maisie, go back and pack your things. I'll find another place for you to stay. In the meantime, avoid meeting anyone and don't answer any calls from unfamiliar numbers. Leave this matter to me."

"You don't need to worry." Maisie chuckled and reached out to caress his cheek. "I didn't answer the questions, actually."

"What?"

"When I looked at the first question, I thought it was a coincidence. But as I continued, things felt more and more unusual," she explained. "I only answered a small portion of the first paper. During the interview I didn't respond the way I had prepared. I just rambled, and the interviewers shook their heads at me."

Daniel paused for a few seconds and then burst into laughter. His eyes glinted with pleasant surprise. He hadn't expected that this formerly innocent rabbit would transform into a clever cat armed with sharp claws, perfectly capable of protecting herself.

"Even so, you may be suspected, and that email remains evidence."

"I know," she replied in a low voice. "But it's the best way I could think of to protect myself."

Daniel held her in his arms and kissed her soft cheek.

"Don't worry, you did great." His voice was deep. "Leave the rest to me."

"How will you handle it?"

"That email is obviously an issue," Daniel asserted. "I suspect it might be the work of someone who has a vendetta against Leroy. He's been in the field for years, after all, so he must have offended numerous people. Maybe someone who has it out for him wants to make a fuss out of this.

"But they also sent the email to you." Daniel looked at Maisie. "This is unusual. That person is also out to get you!"

For the past couple of days, there had been no news from Leroy. Daniel couldn't even get in touch with him. However, Leroy's lawyer came to see them two days later.

"Mr. Quimby!" The lawyer appeared a bit agitated. "Mr. Kerk has been taken away for questioning due to a tip-off regarding an exam question leak."

"Mm." Daniel remained composed, as he had expected this.

"Mr. Quimby, Mr. Kerk has been wrongfully accused," the lawyer stated. "I've been discussing this with him for the past couple of days, and we've been investigating the matter. He sent those exam questions to an email before, but his account was hacked."

"Someone hacked Leroy's account?"

"Yes!"

"Have you identified the hacker?"

The lawyer shook his head. "That's proving to be quite challenging, so it will take time."

"Have you checked if Leroy's email was used to send the questions to anyone else?"

"There was only one email address. There were no others."

Daniel's expression shifted subtly. Someone had hacked Leroy's account with the intention of leaking the exam questions to Maisie. As he'd suspected, this person was targeting both Leroy and Maisie. This meant that the person probably had a vendetta against Maisie, not Leroy.

"Mr. Quimby, regarding this issue..."

Chapter 1714

Chapter 1714

"I understand." Daniel waved his hand. "As long as Leroy sticks to his story for now and claims that his email was hacked, the relevant authorities won't have conclusive evidence that he definitely leaked the test questions. Just tell him to relax for a few more days. I will have the legal department of Quimby Group help you investigate the truth."

The lawyer, who was delighted, thanked Daniel profusely before leaving.

Daniel leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowing. He had his suspicions about the person responsible, but... could it really be her?

After all, she owed Leroy a great deal. Would she be so ruthless when it came to her mentor?

Amanda had to make significant effort to arrange an afternoon tea with Lily. She had learned from her previous mistake, so she chose a recently-opened coffee shop with exceptional decor and a new-store discount this time. Most importantly, the place was quiet.

The café was in a small white building near the edge of a forest, almost hidden amidst the trees. It exuded an artistic ambiance, and Amanda was confident that Lily would appreciate it.

To make things even better, the universe seemed to be on her side that day. The whole cafe was empty, so they felt like they had the place to themselves.

"Ms. Reyes!" As soon as they met, Amanda pushed a caramel macchiato toward Lily with a fawning smile. "I just ordered this for you. I made sure the temperature and sweetness were to your taste. Try it!" Lily smiled but didn't immediately reach for the coffee.

Amanda then presented a delicate little box.

"I picked this especially for you," she said, grinning. "I instantly fell in love with the design-it's elegant and simple, just like you."

Lily examined the item. It was a platinum necklace-not extremely expensive, but certainly not cheap either. Amanda had saved on their meeting location but splurged on the gift.

However, Lily had an extensive collection of fine jewelry. The necklace would seem rather ordinary in her jewelry box.

"Ms. Winslade, you're being too generous," Lily said, closing the box and pushing it back. "I don't need any gifts from you. No work, no pay, right?"

"Whoa, you're too modest, Ms. Reyes," Amanda said, her eyes wide with innocence. "How can this be 'no work'? You've already promised me..."

"Oh, you mean Maisie?"

Amanda beamed and nodded.

"It's such a pity. I haven't been able to reach her in the past few days." Lily pretended to be disappointed. "It appears that Daniel has hidden her away. No one can get in touch with her at all." Amanda paused with an elated expression. It seemed that Maisie had been taken in for questioning as well!

Leroy had leaked the test questions, and Maisie, as the beneficiary, wouldn't be able to avoid the legal consequences!

"Oh, Ms. Winslade." Lily went closer to Amanda. "Do you have any other way of getting in touch with Maisie? I can't wait to watch her fall out with Daniel!"

"Ms. Reyes, to be honest..." Amanda responded with a smirk. "I'm afraid you won't be able to meet her anytime soon."

"What?"

"She cheated in the exam, so she won't be able to escape the legal consequences!"

"Exam?" Lily's eyes narrowed. "How... do you know she cheated? Besides, when it comes to something like cheating, there should be evidence, right?"

"Ms. Reyes, you shouldn't be asking about that," Amanda responded with a hint of caution. "Anyway, she's in serious trouble this time, and I'm afraid not even Mr. Quimby will be able to save her!"

Chapter 1715

Chapter 1715

Lily pondered it. She had heard that Leroy had been taken in for questioning recently. Given the size of their industry and Leroy's prominent status, any minor changes in his life would become common knowledge in their circle. Furthermore, she had also heard... that Leroy was being framed.

Lily observed the person in front of her. This was Leroy's star pupil, but now it seemed that Leroy had raised a tiger.

"Why, Ms. Winslade." Lily swirled her coffee. "Don't be so reserved. Don't you want to share this news with me?"

"It's not that..." Amanda chuckled awkwardly. "It's just that there's not much to say."

Lily didn't press further, her gaze lingering on the handbag beside Amanda.

"Is this bag to your taste?"

"Of course, it's perfect!" Amanda replied excitedly. "It's a gift from you, Ms. Reyes, so how can it not be perfect? I use it every day. Only generous people like you can afford these brands. I've been thinking about your kindness and I wanted to reciprocate today, but you..."

"No need to reciprocate." Lily smiled. "This bag was a gift from someone else. The design is too trendy for me. I'm getting older, and it doesn't suit me. But you're youthful and vibrant, so this bag is perfect for you!"

Amanda was on cloud nine after being praised. This handbag had been sent to her by Lily after their last meal. The brand and style were uncommon, and carrying this bag was a symbol of status. Amanda hadn't expected that Lily would so casually give away a bag worth tens of thousands of dollars. She had been carrying it non-stop and had even placed it on her bedside when she slept. "This bag suits you," Lily said, looking at her meaningfully. "But the man you want isn't as easy to get as a bag."

"Ms... Ms. Reyes, what are you saying?"

"Don't pretend you don't understand," Lily continued. "Daniel may appear calm and intelligent, but from what I know, he's never been calm when it comes to Maisie. If you mess with someone dear to him, he might lose his temper and take down the Cumulus Morning Post!"

"Ms. Reyes, are you joking?"

"Don't be nervous. I was just using a metaphor," Lily said with a smile. "You wouldn't possibly mess with someone dear to him, right?"

Amanda looked rather flustered. She ran a hand through her hair, then lifted her coffee cup to cover her face.

Lily stood up and bid her farewell. "Let's end our discussion for today."

"But Ms. Reyes, you haven't even taken a sip of your coffee..."

"I know this place is known for its macchiatos, but didn't the staff tell you? I come here for the hand-brewed Yirgacheffe!"

"What?" Amanda stared, looking dumbfounded. "You're a... member here?"

Lily smiled. "I'm a shareholder!"

Amanda stood there in shock. Unintentionally, she had chosen a café belonging to Lily when all she'd wanted was to save on meal expenses!

"Alright, this meal is on the house! Feel free to enjoy and order some more drinks. They serve other excellent beverages too!"

As Lily left, she patted Amanda on the shoulder twice, leaving her with an enigmatic smile. Unbeknownst to Amanda, the cafe's surveillance cameras were recording everything.

Chapter 1716

Chapter 1716

Soon, Lily went to see Daniel.

"I believe it'd be better if I handed this personally over to you. I can't fully trust my subordinates with it."

Daniel set aside the document in his hands and narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"

Lily reached into her bag and placed a USB drive on his desk. "All the records of Amanda using Leroy's account are in here."

Daniel was taken aback. "How did you obtain this?"

"Yeah." Lily smiled. "You have so many tech experts and professionals on your team, yet it would take them some time to uncover this information. So, how did I find out?"

"Can we cut to the chase?"

"Alright, but you need to promise me one thing," Lily said with an air of triumph. "Agree to cooperate and I'll tell you how I found this."

Looking helpless, Daniel pursed his lips and remained silent.

Lily decided not to tease him further. "Alright, consider the collaboration later. Investigating Amanda through the internet isn't very effective. Besides, she's not the type to leave traces online. The video footage inside the USB drive shows her logging into Leroy's account and sending the email using the computer in his office."

"His office?" Daniel was puzzled. "How did you manage to record Leroy's office?"

"To be honest," Lily confessed. "I had my suspicions when Amanda first approached me. I sensed that she had an ulterior motive, and I didn't want to be caught unaware if she had any plans involving me. That's why I decided to take pre-emptive action by using some rather unscrupulous means against her."

The designer handbag she had gifted Amanda had contained a small gemstone that was, in fact, a miniature camera capable of rotating 360 degrees. Amanda had grown extremely attached to the bag and started carrying it with her everywhere. This had allowed Lily to secretly record everything that occurred inside Leroy's office, and the footage had been instantly transmitted to Lily's phone.

"I have some friends overseas who work as corporate spies. They have various methods at their disposal, and this is one of them," Lily said with her arms crossed.

Daniel chuckled and nodded. This evidence had arrived just in time and was the most straightforward way to clear Leroy's name. However...

"Ms. Reyes." He looked up at her. "Your actions might potentially infringe upon someone's privacy. Each case should be kept separate. Even though Amanda impersonated someone to leak the exam questions, she also has a right to privacy."

"That's right," Lily agreed. "If this evidence is given to the police, it becomes another case for me."

"Then why did you give it to me?"

"I don't want your little rabbit to get hurt."

Daniel was momentarily baffled and suddenly didn't know what to say.

"In all honesty, your little rabbit is a simple-minded but talented individual. She's quite likable."

"You..." Daniel's expression shifted slightly. "Have you met her?"

"Well, I don't think I need to report that to you."

"Lily!"

Daniel was concerned she might say something misleading to Maisie, but he didn't realize that he was being petty this time.

"Alright, alright!" Lily waved her hand impatiently. "To put it simply, I can't stand to see innocent people wronged, and I can't stand to see wrongdoers escape punishment. Amanda should be punished. Why should so many others be involved? This is why I decided to hand over this evidence. Is that acceptable, Mr. Quimby?"

After a moment of silence, Daniel chuckled. When he looked at Lily again, his eyes held a hint of respect and gratitude.

"Rest assured, Ms. Reyes," he said softly, "I guarantee that you won't be in trouble. What you did is not a violation of privacy-it's an act of righteousness!"

Chapter 1717

Chapter 1717

At the police station, Daniel met Leroy, who appeared despondent. The formerly vibrant and prominent journalist now sat in a disheveled state. In just a few days, he had lost weight, his cheeks looked deeply hollow, and his face bore the marks of sleepless nights, such as the dark circles under his eyes. When he saw Daniel, there was a flicker of hope in his eyes, which quickly dimmed. "Mr. Quimby..."

"It's going to be okay," Daniel reassured him in a low voice. "The legal team of Quimby Group has stepped in to work on your case. They are currently negotiating, so you should be able to get released on bail. "Mr. Quimby, I am truly innocent!" Leroy covered his face and ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know what happened. I haven't logged into that email account, and during the period before the exam, I barely visited my office. I mostly stayed at home."

"I've verified everything." Daniel's voice was deep, and his gaze was intense. "Leroy, do you know who did this to you?"

Leroy moved his lips but couldn't utter a word. He already had a strong suspicion.

Who else could have entered his office at will and known his computer password? But he held on to a glimmer of hope, wishing his suspicions were wrong and hoping that people weren't capable of such treachery.

However, Daniel shattered his last shred of hope with a few cold words.

"It was Amanda."

Leroy was left stupefied, a cold chill running up from the depths of his heart.

"This is absolutely certain," Daniel told him. "I obtained surveillance footage of Amanda slipping into your office and using your computer to send the email. I was initially skeptical, given your role as her mentor and the person who paved her way to where she is today. But the evidence is undeniable."

"How could..." Leroy was overwhelmed with grief. "How could she do this? She's talented, and I've always considered her a star pupil. I mentored her, helped her with her interviewing skills, and provided her with resources. Why would she do this to me?"

"Because she wanted to target Maisie," Daniel stated coldly. "You were just a tool."

Leroy looked at him, his eyes empty.

"Because you have a great reputation in this field," Daniel continued. "Once you were tainted by the accusation of leaking the exam questions, it would cause quite a stir in this industry that could possibly extend to the public eye. More people would pay attention to this exam and, consequently, to Maisie."

"So..." Leroy fell silent for a moment. "Amanda was planning to create a scandal for Ms. Squire on the internet?"

"And simultaneously destroy your reputation."

Leroy closed his eyes, a sense of bitter despair washing over him. His reputation was already ruined.

Even though he had been wronged and had found evidence to prove his innocence, he had still spent several days in police custody. While Maisie had Daniel to shield her from the world, what about him? He used to be someone's protector, but now he had ended up in this situation.

Leroy recalled the story of the farmer and the snake. He was the foolish farmer, and Amanda was the ungrateful snake.

"Leroy." Daniel walked over and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm here. Nothing will happen to you."

"Mr. Quimby!" Leroy stood up abruptly.

Chapter 1718

Chapter 1718

At the moment, he no longer wanted to hide anything, nor did it seem worth it.

"Mr. Quimby, there's something else... I'd like to come clean about."

Daniel shifted slightly. He had anticipated this move from Leroy. Now that their mentor-mentee relationship was broken beyond repair, Leroy had no reason to protect Amanda any longer.

"During Amanda's tenure as the editor-in-chief of the Cumulus Morning Post, she accepted bribes multiple times. She facilitated false advertising for some shell companies and published fake news... "And these companies profited immensely from this deceitful promotion. Eventually, they fled with the money, leaving the creditors high and dry. Some people even lost everything and resorted to suicide." Daniel's brows were furrowed. "So, no one has held her accountable over all these years?"

"She was skilled in handling public relations, and she made sure not to leave any incriminating evidence after the deed. I am the only one who knows the details of these deals." When Leroy looked at him again, there was a newfound determination in his eyes.

"Mr. Quimby, I've always regarded her as a student I personally nurtured and treated her with undue leniency... Now, it's not only harming others, but me as well. This time, I won't be lenient with her!" "Hah, you won't be lenient with her?" Daniel's tone was scornful. "Leroy, if she hadn't attempted to deceive you, how long were you planning to keep all this hidden?" "Mr. Quimby..."

"Amanda plotted to get wealthy and sacrificed lives, and you turned a blind eye to it! Are people like you even worthy of being called journalists?"

Daniel's voice was unrelenting, and Leroy stood frozen in place, unable to utter a word.

"Go to the police and tell them everything!" Daniel glared at him. "Don't even think about evading the responsibility you need to bear!"

After dealing with everything, Daniel dragged his weary body back to the hotel in the evening. Inside, a subtle fragrance filled the air. Maisie had lit scented candles.

She was reading a book on a lounge chair by the French windows, so focused on it that she didn't hear his footsteps as he entered.

As soon as he saw her, all the weariness that had burdened him vanished. He walked over and crouched down in front of her. Startled, Maisie gave him a light smack with her book. "Why do you walk so quietly?"

"You're just too focused." Daniel chuckled. "What's so captivating about that book?"

Blushing, Maisie hid her book from him. He sat down next to her and allowed her to lean against his chest, gently stroking her long hair.

"Fine, if you won't show me, just tell me."

"It's just a romance novel," Maisie said with a light laugh. "The female lead loves the male lead deeply, but he has no feelings for her and sees their relationship as a transaction." Daniel's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly interrupted her. "Novels nowadays are full of nonsense. Don't read it."

"What's the matter?" Maisie widened her eyes. "Didn't you ask me to tell you about it?"

Daniel broke into a cold sweat. Of all the books she could be reading, she had to pick this one. If one drew a parallel, wouldn't he be the heartless male lead? What if she read on and remembered something from the past...

By now, Daniel was sweating all over.

"Anyway... romance novels use clichés. They're all about endless love and stuff. They're not very meaningful," he said with a forced smile. "You don't plan on writing one too, do you?"

"How did you know?" Maisie laughed. "I am thinking about that!"

Chapter 1719

Chapter 1719

"You..." Daniel's throat tightened. "What do you want to write about?"

"I don't know." Maisie smiled innocently, her soft hair nuzzling his chin. The sweet fragrance of her body wafted toward his nose.

Daniel struggled to control himself, afraid to expose his feelings. He coughed discreetly to hide his embarrassment and gently pushed her away just a little, making sure not to give himself away. "Well, if I do write a novel, I don't want to write about such a tragic story. I want to write about us," Maisie said, raising her head to look at him.

"About us?"

"Mm!" Maisie grinned innocently. "I want to include all the good things you've done for me."

"What about the times I wasn't good to you?"

"When have you not been good to me?"

Daniel felt a pang of guilt and hugged her.

"In the past..." he murmured. He had genuinely mistreated her in the past. He had treated her like a pet, summoning her whenever he pleased and disregarding her when he didn't.

He had no idea how Maisie had managed to endure those harrowing days, living meekly and fearfully by his side. She had not forgotten her love for him or their child, even during those crazy, forgetful moments.

"Hmm?" Maisie seemed puzzled. "What do you mean 'in the past"?"

"It's nothing," Daniel said, planting a light kiss on her forehead. He smiled and said, "If you want to write, I'll support you fully."

"Thank you," Maisie replied. "But I already have someone supporting me-a professional!"

"Who is it?"

"Well..." Maisie blinked mysteriously. "I'll keep it a secret for now."

Daniel had a good idea who this professional was most likely, Lily. He only hoped she wouldn't cause any trouble, like Amanda had.

Thanks to the evidence provided by Lily and Leroy's testimony, Amanda was soon taken in for questioning by the relevant authorities. Besides the fact that she had impersonated someone else to leak exam questions, the numerous false reports she had published had caused the stock value of the Cumulus Morning Post to plummet, nearly driving the company to the brink of closure. And yet, Amanda was still fantasizing about Lily eliminating Maisie.

While Amanda was detained at the police station, she still held on to the delusion that Lily would come to her rescue. When Lily finally showed up, she was dressed in black, she was wearing sunglasses, and she exuded an aura that was both intimidating and formidable. It didn't look like a rescue mission. Instead, it seemed like she was there to deliver Amanda to hell.

"Ms. Reyes!" Amanda appeared nervous. "Did you bring a lawyer? How will they defend me?"

"Ms. Winslade," Lily sneered, gazing at her with a trace of mockery. "Even now, you're thinking about having someone defend you?"

"Well..."

"You still consider me your ally?" Lily's tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Amanda, what on earth made you think I would form an alliance with you?"

Chapter 1720

Chapter 1720

"Ms. Reyes, you..." Amanda's eyes widened, and her mind was in complete disarray.

In theory, her plan shouldn't have gone awry. Lily was Daniel's former wife, and she had feelings for Daniel, so she should despise Maisie. Besides, Amanda could have used her as a pawn to eliminate the thorn in her side without anyone suspecting her.

How had everything changed?

"Amanda." Lily smirked. "Stop thinking that everyone else is as naive as you are. Or should I say, as morally bankrupt as you are?"

"Ms. Reyes..."

"From the very beginning, you wanted to use me to get closer to Daniel! And while I was in the midst of a fierce battle with Maisie, you'd sit back and reap the benefits. Isn't that right?"

"No!" Amanda protested. "Ms. Reyes, please listen to my explanation. I genuinely had your best interests at heart."

"I could hear you scheming all the way from abroad! You dare say you were never jealous of Maisie? You dare say you didn't want to destroy her?"

Amanda was left dumbfounded, unable to utter a word.

As Lily picked up her bag to leave, she said one last thing to hurt her. "I'm not here to rescue you. I'm here to tell you that there's a prison cell with your name on it. Also, there are no feelings between me and Daniel. I'm not the kind of woman you think either.

"Amanda, I disagree with your way of doing things. Learn how to be open and just while you're in jail!

"Right, one last thing." Lily turned back to smile at her. "I must inform you that I was the one who exposed you for impersonating Leroy!"

Amanda slumped into her chair, her whole being feeling drained.

Lily left the police station and took a deep breath. Her phone rang, and Rachael spoke from the other end of the line. "Boss, where are you?"

"Where else?" Lily replied as she stepped aside. "I came to see Amanda. This will bring me bad luck!"

"Well, I have some good news for you."

"Oh? What's that?"

"I received a submission today."

Lily chuckled. "Isn't that something that happens every day? When's the last time your inbox was empty? We receive hundreds, even thousands of submissions every day, and you're constantly complaining about not being able to keep up."

"This one is different!" Rachael's tone was enthusiastic and slightly mysterious. "This article is refreshing, and its concept is excellent. It's distinct from the style of well-known authors. Although it's not very long it's filled with genuine emotions. I believe that, with a few minor revisions, it has a good chance of getting published."

"Oh?" Lily knew Rachael had a discerning eye, and any praise from her had to mean that the writing was extraordinary. "What's the content? Are you sure it has market value?" "You'll see for yourself when you read it!"

"Why was the submission sent to your email and not mine?"

"Boss!" Rachael replied, a mix of laughter and exasperation in her voice. "When you handed out your business card last time, didn't it have my email address on it?"

Realization struck Lily. "Could it be..."

"I can't say for sure," Rachael said. "But when I read the words, I couldn't help but think of that gentle voice and those rosy cheeks. The writing is just like the author, I believe this much.

"By the way," Rachael continued. "The author used a pen name. I've forwarded the email to you. If you have time, take a look. I'm sure you'll like it."

After sharing the information, Rachael hung up. The company was still relatively small, and she needed to oversee many matters personally.

Lily quickly opened her phone and took a cursory glance at the document. The writing was delicate, but some of the word choices and phrasing needed further consideration. However, one detail stood out and piqued her interest.

"Dansie...?" Lily paused for a moment, then chuckled. "I'd really like to see Daniel's reaction when he finds out about this!"