Ch. 2811..2820

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2811-"Yes, we didn't expect the paparazzo to be secretly photographing you two…

How could it possibly be related to us? Claire is crying right now. Shouldn't you try to comfort her? Yeah, she came back after studying abroad, never expecting to be criticized so harshly in the comments section.

"Oh, I see. But wouldn't it be unwise to take it down now? Social media users might think it's a publicity stunt. It could affect her future audience's perception.

Mister Sherman, why don't we keep the news online for a while? Social media users are known to have a short attention span anyway. They'll forget about the photo when there's a new scandal."

Serena molded Claire into a victim over the phone, and she was quite satisfied with the effect.

"That could work. However, I hope you'll take Claire's future audience appeal into consideration. She just returned to the country, and her career is just beginning. We can't afford to ruin her reputation." Claire did not know what they were discussing on the phone. When Serena hung up, she anxiously asked, "What did he say?"

"Mister Sherman said he'll handle it and that we shouldn't interfere. Claire, do you think he'll figure out that we're behind this? I mean, we did work with the paparazzo to create this news."

Claire bit her lip tightly, fearing that Sherman would indeed discover that she was behind the stunt. However, she remained confident and said, "I've already paid that paparazzo a hefty sum, and there's an additional seventy thousand dollars after the job is done. That's more than what he gets paid in a year, so he's not going to rat us out that easily.

"Plus, you've portrayed me as the victim to Sherman. If our relationship in the past still counts for something, he wouldn't doubt me. Anyway, don't worry. You go out first and let me have some time alone." Serena did make Claire sound out to be quite pitiful, but those comments belittling her were also prevalent.

Claire got angry when she thought about it.

'Who do these people think they are? They have no sense of artistic aesthetics at all. How dare they say I shouldn't even be considered the top dancer among the new generation of dancers in the country?' Claire did not even regard the other dancers nominated in the comments. Where was this audience when she was building a career abroad? She had overcome numerous challenges to make it abroad, studying the latest techniques and perfecting her dance moves. These people knew nothing. about her at all!

Sherman did not entirely believe Serena. He acknowledged Claire's sadness, but though he did not want to doubt her, he could not help it. He immediately had someone track down the paparazzo. He had a dedicated legal team, so he did not need to personally intervene.

"I want that photo taken down. Don't let that paparazzo off the hook."

He was not a public figure, so he had no obligation to expose his private life to the public. However, this paparazzo had repeatedly crossed his boundaries, and he had had enough.

"Yes, Mister Sherman. Please rest assured we'll resolve this matter within two hours at the latest." Sherman's legal team acted swiftly, with Leo at the helm. He immediately found the paparazzo's phone number.

The paparazzo was startled. He was gleefully watching his growing number of fans and the skyrocketing internet popularity and never expected to hear an unusually cold voice from the other end of the phone.

'Hello, is this Mister Cecil Simmons?

You're infringing upon my client's rights. I hereby warn you that if you don't take down the photos you've been spreading online, we'll sue you for infringing upon Mister Sherman Parr's personality rights. It is our hope that you won't break the law knowingly."

Cecil proudly shook his leg. He was not going to take down those photos.

It's not like they can do anything to me! All these lawyers are good at intimidating people!'

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2812-"You've got the wrong person. I wasn't the one who took that photo. It was taken by someone passing by that day and then sent to me. This shouldn't be considered as me infringing upon Mister Sherman's personality rights, right?

Moreover, Mister Sherman looks so handsome! Why hide it? Social media users are clamoring for more photos of him. After earning so much money, he should give back to the people right?"

Leo would have scoffed if he was not dealing with official business. It seemed like Cecil was not going to admit to his wrongdoing that easily.

"So, does that mean you're unwilling to take down the photo?"

Cecil continued to beat around the bush. "It's not that I don't want to take it down; it's just that my current situation doesn't allow me to. It's not easy for anyone to make a living, you know? If I take it down, it's like working for nothing, no? You work for money too, so you should know I'm just doing my job."

'Ha, so he's trying to squeeze money out of us, eh?' thought Leo.

Cecil's hardships were irrelevant to him. Since he was unwilling to take down the photo, then he would see him in court. Moreover, it was only out of courtesy he called Cecil. After all, the legal team had plenty of ways to make this photo disappear online.

Cecil hung up the phone smugly, still admiring his masterpiece. Mere seconds later, his entire homepage went dark, and all his posted content vanished.

"What's going on? Did the server go down? What's happening? How could this be?"

Cecil kept refreshing the page, but no matter how many times he tried, his homepage remained blank. However when he clicked on others' pages, they were all fine. He thought his computer might have been infected with a virus and hurriedly shut it down and rebooted it.

However, whether on the web or mobile platforms, all he saw was emptiness, with only a lone username left there. Cecil collapsed onto the sofa, realizing that all his efforts had been in vain. Cecil was not the only one who noticed this.

Other social media users drawn by the hot topic also noticed the anomaly.

[What's going on? I just saw Sherman's photos, but now it won't load!] [Tsk, tsk, tsk! I have to say, the efficiency of big companies is indeed high What else could the reason be? Sherman simply doesn't want his photos exposed online, and this paparazzo struck a nerve. Just you wait: anyone who posts his photos will get blacklisted. If you want to keep your account intact, it's better not to mess with him.]

Some social media users still did not believe it and tried to upload the photo of Sherman and Olaire they e had saved. No matter who tried, as soon as they posted the photo, their accounts were quickly identified and then disappeared.

See? I told you not to try it. You overestimated Sherman's patience.

This is a violation of his privacy and personality rights. You should count yourself fucky that you only have your page erased. This kind of thing can definitely lead to lawsuits. Unlike you who only earn a pittance every month, Sherman has the time, energy, and money to fight these egal battles.]

Not only were the social media users afraid, but even Cecit was scared!

Trembling, he tried to call Leo back.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2813-Although Claire gave him 140 thousand dollars to take the risk and post the photo on his page, it was still a shock for Cecil when Sherman got so angry and wiped out his years of hard work.

Like that social media user said: this was considered lucky. After all, Cecil probably would not be able to handle it if the case truly went to court. After all, 140 thousand dollars would not even be enough to hire a lawyer.

Sherman's lawyers were on a different level. He even had a whole team of them! What did Cecil have? The measly 140 thousand dollars was not even enough to clean up his mess!

'That damn Claire! She told me I'd make big money if I posted the photo online, but look at the mess I'm in,' thought Cecil.

He spat on the ground in frustration.

Claire and her team were also closely monitoring the situation. She never expected Sherman to act so ruthlessly and leave her with no dignity at all.

[I think it's a publicity stunt by Claire. Otherwise, how could they take down this photo from everywhere so quickly?] [Is Claire trying to pressure Sherman to go public with their relationship? If it was, then I must say that it's not looking good for her. She'll be known for this scandal before she's known for her dancing.] Since they were not fans of Claire, they began to relentlessly mock Claire in the comment section.

"Claire, don't pay attention to what they say. They're just uncultured people.

How could they possibly spend money to appreciate real art?" said Serena.

Other staff members also chimed in to comfort Claire. "That's right, Miss Claire, you're the number one in contemporary dance, acknowledged by senior figures in the industry. What do these chronically online users know?"

Even if she was the number one in contemporary dance, what was the use?

Sherman still did not give her any face.

Claire was gritting her teeth, not expecting Cecil-that useless waste of space to call her again. "Why are you calling me?" she growled through gritted teeth, staring at the screen. "Didn't we agree you wouldn't contact me except for the final transfer?"

Cecil grumbled through the phone, "Damn it, you've ruined me. So how dare you tell me not to call you? Do you know that Sherman's lawyer just called to warn me? They might actually sue me, all because of your stupid matter! What should I do now?"

"Huh! Cecil, are you this spineless? I warned you from the beginning that with reward comes risk. You're only facing a little risk now and you come to me complaining?" Claire did not really care whether Cecil would end up in court.

After all, she had him as a shield. Besides, this whole thing was solely for her benefit; she got all the advantages while Cecil got stuck with the blame.

"What do you mean? Are you trying to leave me to deal with this alone? We're in this together, you need to understand that. Sherman doesn't know that you benefited from this as well Even the locations were carefully planned by you. Do you think he'll still want to be with you after he finds out?"

Claire could hear the sound of Cecil lighting a cigarette on the other end of the phone. Cecil was acting like a complete thug.

So what do you want? I've already given you seventy thousand dollars.

After this is over, I'll give you another seventy thousand dollars. That's more than what normal people earn in a year! Plus, you should know that a hundred forty thousand dollars is more than what your skill is worth!"

Even if the photos he took were not worth that much, what did it matter?

The most important thing was to' deal with Sherman's legal team. "Just find me a good lawyer, or I'm going to tell Sherman about what you've done!"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2814-"Why you! I-"

Cecil hung up on Claire before she could finish her sentence. Serena looked at her with a worried expression.

"What are we going to do? I've warned you countless times not to work with such a sneaky guy, but you just wouldn't listen. Now you're caught in the middle.

Mister Sherman thinks this has nothing to do with you and is going after Cecil directly, but Cecil is pinning it all on you. What are we going to do?"

She paced anxiously, making Claire dizzy with her frantic energy.

"Can't you think of a solution instead of just creating anxiety? What use are you to me if you can't even handle this small matter?" She threw her phone down

forcefully, making everyone in the room hold their breath.

"You need to come up with a solution fast! I'm doing this for the sake of the team. How can I pay all of your salaries if I don't have the publicity? We're all in the same boat, and we should be united, not against each other, right?"

Suddenly, Claire smiled and took Serena's hand. "I'm sorry, Serena. I was too impatient. I'm just worried about everyone's future. Let's quickly come up with a plan."

Serena could not help but want to pull her hand away from Claire's grip. From the moment she started working with her, she had watched her become increasingly unstable emotionally.

Serena became more convinced that Claire should not have returned in the first place. She wanted too much, not just Sherman but also fame in the country, to the point of resorting to such despicable means to get it. A dancer should just focus on giving a good performance.

Maybe some of the nice things she said were for their sake, but ultimately, it was for herself. After all, she was the one benefiting the most while they were just used as shields.

Serena was not sure if she wanted to continue working with such a person.

Claire was no longer the dancer she knew.

Claire noticed her hesitation. "Why don't you all go downstairs first? Let me have a chat with Serena."

Claire let out a sigh of relief once they were alone, but the next moment, tears welled up in her eyes. "Serena, do you doubt me, too? Do you also think all of this is my fault?"

Serena hesitated but ultimately got to reassuring her. "Claire, we all know what you want to achieve. You want to make contemporary dance better, but we don't need to resort to such means.

You're a dancer, and you shouldn't get involved in these worldly matters. Can you still dance on stage with a single-minded focus? Do you remember why I was so determined to sign you when we first met?"

Claire nodded. "Of course I remember. At that time, I was just an unknown dancer trying to make it abroad, and no stage was willing to hire me. It was you who saw the passion in me. I'm very grateful to e you. If it weren't for you, I might still be dancing in some unknown place.

But I have to be honest, Serene …

Since we returned to the country, you must've noticed how rapidly the outside world is changing, especially with the help of the Internet.

"You may be famous today, but you could disappear from the public eye OI tomorrow. want to promote contemporary dance, and the best way to do that is to ride the online Phope you can join me broaden your horizons, and not always be confined to the small dance theaters of the past. Okay?"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2815-Claire wiped away a tear, looking as if she had returned to being the innocent girl from years ago.

Serena still hesitated. "But even if it's for publicity, you shouldn't have involved Mister Sherman, don't you think? I know you two had some ups and downs over the years, but if you truly want a resolution… Claire, you shouldn't use such means. He doesn't seem like the type to be pressured like this."

Claire nodded. "I know you're looking out for me, but only he and I know what's going on between us. Plus, you don't understand what kind of person he is.

Serena, next time, don't mention Sherman to me again. I know what I'm doing.

Oh, and get takeout for everyone later. I lost my temper just now, and it was my fault for not controlling myself."

Serena nodded with concern. "Don't worry. Everyone knows your temper, and they know you weren't really angry at them."

However, this behavior of criticizing and then rewarding would eventually cause dissatisfaction.

After Serena left, Claire immediately composed herself. "These useless people… They can't even handle something so simple!"

She looked frustrated, but her mind was still on Sherman. Moreover, she did not dare to contact him because she was afraid of exposing herself.

Sherman returned home according to his previous schedule, only to find a heavy atmosphere at home, with both his grandmother and grandfather looking stern.

"Grandpa, Grandma," he greeted. "Who upset you two this time? You know you're both in your golden years. Can't you control your temper?"

Once back home, Sherman finally let his guard down, leaning back on the sofa behind his grandparents, looking rather nonchalant. He behaved far differently from how he was usually at work. "Don't tell me you haven't seen the commotion online." His grandmother scoffed and turned her face away.

"Huh! I can't believe I have to find out from Suresh that my grandson has a girlfriend!" said his grandfather.

Though they were old, they were not out of touch. Why did Sherman not tell them he had a girlfriend? They only found out through the news!

Sherman stood up and scratched his head, unsure of how to explain the situation. He and Claire were not in that kind of relationship, and even if there was something, it was all in the past.

"Where's Mom and Dad?" Sherman changed the subject.

His grandmother was even more furious upon hearing this. "Look at you. You rarely come home, and now you don't even know where your own parents are!"

Sherman understood then; that day was his day of reckoning.

Polly Macfee, the cook, emerged from the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron. "Your parents are on a trip. They've been gone for a week now. Didn't they send you a message?"

Polly, where did my parents go?

"Um, got it, thanks. You can go

about your business." Sherman scratched his head awkwardly m 2. C realizing that his parents' message had likely been buried under work-related matters.

Grandma, didn't you tell me to come home for dinner? I thought you were going to arrange a blind date for me.

Sherman casually asked, and his E grandmother, looking at him like she wished he were more responsible, said, "Come sit here. I need to have a serious talk with you. What does that girl do?"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2816-Originally, Chelsea had been thinking of arranging blind dates for her grandson.

She knew young people then were mostly focused on their careers and lacked opportunities to meet new people. She wanted Sherman to meet more people, deepen their impressions of each other, and perhaps find someone he liked.

However, she quickly canceled the arrangement when she learned of the news.

It would be humiliating for the other families if they let their daughter go to the Parr family's house. Her grandson already had a partner, so what was the point of arranging blind dates?

Instead of walking around the sofa, Sherman flipped over it to sit next to his grandparents.

"Grandma, Grandpa, if you have anything to ask, go ahead. I promise to tell you everything."

Hearing this, his grandmother immediately turned to him and asked, "Tell me, do you have a girlfriend?"

Sherman shook his head seriously. "No, I don't. Claire is just a friend. The paparazzo accidentally took a photo of us, and everyone misunderstood our friendship."

"Oh my, you… You don't like that girl at all?" His grandmother followed up quickly. "If you don't like her, why are you protecting her?"

Sherman frowned instinctively. "She's my friend. Isn't it normal to protect a friend?"

His grandfather chimed in, "Yes, that's the mark of a gentleman."

His grandmother immediately turned to glare at his grandfather. "I'm talking to my grandson. Don't interrupt."

"The gossip magazines are saying all sorts of things about how you two met and started dating. Are they all made up?"

Neither of them was sure. After all, gossip magazines would say anything to stir up hype.

However, amid the truth and lies, there were indeed some things that happened between them in the past. That was how Sherman knew there must be some involvement from Claire's team. Otherwise, how would outsiders know about their past?

"They're not att made up. But for now, we're simply friends. Grandma, you don't need to worry. I have plenty of foptions if I want to date. someone!" Sherman started massaging his grandmother's shoulders.

"I know that, but you're so focused on work, so I can't do anything apart from nagging you!"

His grandfather also sighed.

"Sherman, you need to take this seriously. Your grandmother and I aren't getting any younger. How many good years do we have left?

We just want to see you settle down as soon as possible . You've never given us any trouble since you were young, but we just want to see you happy "Of course, we're not rushing you. After all, when it all comes down to it, finding a soulmate is all about fate, right?"

The two elderly people seemed resigned to death, but Sherman gradually fell silent.

Despite their relatively good health, they would never have forever.

Sherman began to feel a sense of urgency. He did not want them to keep worrying like this. In fact , he would not mind marrying someone if she was a suitable candidate.

It would be best to bring her back and put his grandparents' minds at ease.

That way, even if he did notwant to date, as long as he could reassure his grandparents, that would be enough.

With these thoughts in mind, Sherman decided to find a 'girlfriend'.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2817-"Sir, Ma'am, Mister Sherman, dinner is ready."

Polly brought out the last dish from the kitchen. The aroma wafted through the air from afar.

"It smells so good. Nothing beats the food you cook, Polly," said Sherman as he helped his grandmother to the dining table. That night, it would only be the three of them-Sherman and his grandparents- dining.

"Come back more often, then. I'll cook delicious meals for you every day," said Polly as she served soup to their bowls.

"Yes. If you want to eat Polly's food, come back more often. She loses motivation to cook when you're not home," added Chelsea.

Polly smiled. "Your grandparents have smaller appetites now, and more so your mother. Only your father eats more. You, Mister Sherman, tend to eat the most."

"The more you eat, the more accomplished Polly feels," Roger chimed in. "Mm, the soup today is really flavorful! Sherman, remind me to have Polly prepare a container for you to take home. You can heat it for breakfast tomorrow morning."

Polly frowned slightly. "I can cook another batch if Mister Sherman wants to drink it. This soup won't taste as good tomorrow morning."

"No need to trouble yourself. I'll come back home myself if I want more of the soup," Sherman replied.

Sherman took a night off at home to clear his mind, and the next day, when he returned to the office, he finally managed to put the matter behind him. He decided to find a woman to fake a marriage with, at least to reassure his family.

Both his grandparents were getting older, and he did not want them to worry about his marriage all the time.

He did not necessarily have to know this woman well, but she must come from a background that would be acceptable to his parents. Most importantly, there could be no emotional entanglement between them, and they should be able to separate cleanly when the time would come.

The first set of criteria was easy to meet, but he could not guarantee the latter.

Just as his lawyer had said, online rumors were abundant. After Sherman had repeatedly taken down the photos of him and Claire holding hands, no one dared to openly post them again.

This matter remained like a thorn in I.n his heart. He did not know what to ask Claire when he would face her again. 'Is it necessary to inquire whether she was involved in this matter? Isn't the obvious answer enough?' Even though he knew the answer, he did not want to believe it. He did not want to accept that the woman he once loved could turn out to be this manipulative.

'So that was why she invited me to the movie that day. She wanted to pave the way for her dance career in this country,' thought Sherman.

He dared not recall how many words she spoke during their time together were lies.

Rita was just as dejected. Since her unpleasant parting with Sherman that day, she had not contacted him again. She did not know if she should take the initiative to ask him when they would investigate Esmond again. Perhaps he was tired of her hesitation.

However, there was an even more important matter to address.

Rita returned home once again. She happened to meet Karen, who was getting ready to go out, at the stairs.

Karen was dressed gorgeously, but what she did not realize was that wealthy wives these days did not wear jewelry all over their bodies like she didn't was as if she was afraid that others would not know she was rich Only someone who was new to wealth would embellish themselves so extravagantly.

Karen was putting on a half-inch pearl earring when Rita approached her aggressively, blocking her way.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2818-Karen forced a smile. "Rita? What are you doing? You rarely come back, so why not go to the study and see your father? I have an appointment, so I can't stay."

"Karen, I don't want to waste your time either, but how do you plan to explain your relationship with Esmond?"

Karen's hand loosened as soon as she heard that man's name, and the pearl earring rolled down the stairs. She clenched her fists.

"Why should I need to explain? I don't know what you're talking about. I swear, you're getting more troublesome as you get older. Move aside now. I can't be late for lunch with my friends." The more Karen tried to weasel her way out, the more resolutely Rita stayed to block her.

"You can drop your act. You and that man have a history. Don't think I don't know what you've said to him; you know it too. You must be surprised to see me standing here safe and sound, right? I wonder if Dac knows about you two?"

Karen stopped trying to get past her. "You're all grown up now, so you should know what to say and what not to say. These groundless words will only add to his troubles if you tell your father. We've been married for so many years, and although there have been some misunderstandings between us, you should know how I treat him, right?

"I've been taking care of him since your mother passed away. That should at least count for something! If I were you, I'd never tell your dad about hearsay like this. In fact, as his daughter, you should cherish him even more than I do now that his health isn't as good as before."

Rita gradually fell silent. Karen's words struck a chord deep within her heart. Over the past years, no matter what happened, it was always between them. She had net never told her father what Karen did to her, partly because of his declining health.

'If Esmond really was Karen's former husband and has now returned… Or, if the two of them had maintained a relationship all these years, then…' Rita could not imagine what would happen if her father found out. It would be a fatal blow for him. At least to him, he had always believed that Karen genuinely loved him.

"You're quite the schemer, aren't you? On one hand, you're constantly involved with another man, and on the other hand, you're clinging to my father. Karen, are you trying to have your cake and eat it too?"

Karen's face flushed, her chest heaving rapidly. "Stop insulting me!

I've never been involved with that Q.m man! You should investigate things thoroughly before speaking. I've already been labeled as a wicked stepmother, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be labeled as an adultress!

You're a woman too, so can't you see things from my perspective?"

Rita could not believe her ears. 'Is she really saying that? How could she say such things? If she had truly considered my perspective, I wouldn't be questioning her like this now!'

Especially considering that day, when Esmond had wanted to harm her and nearly cost Sherman his life too.

Karen truly did pull the strings all along. She had never intended to take Rita's life, but she had no qualms if She ended up dead either.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2819-"I've never seen anyone more shameless than you, Karen. I'm warning you: if I ever find out you have any contact with Esmond again, I'll tell Dad." Rita warned her before leaving the house.

After watching Rita leave, Karen collapsed onto the railing to steady herself.

'This has to change!' she thought.

Rita had already uncovered her past with Esmond. While she had kept it from Vince so far, what if she was in a bad mood one day? She would tell everything to him. Rita absolutely could not stay!

'Or maybe I could let her stay but ensure that she'll never gain her father's trust again!' she thought.

Karen's gaze turned cold. "Sweet, sweet Riya…you brought this upon yourself."

Even if she let Rita live, she had a thousand ways to make her wish she was dead.

"Hey, did you get the medicine I asked you to find last time? Have it delivered to me this afternoon. I'll need it soon… Don't ask so many questions. Knowing too much isn't good for you." Karen hung up the phone, then composed herself and returned to her noble demeanor as Missus Russell for the gathering.

Rita had not expected Karen to plot against her like this. If she could turn back time, she would never have so easily believed the words of the so-called informant, which ultimately led to her and Sherman falling into a deadlock.

Later, when Rita found herself alone in her room, she started crying quietly. She was willing to pay any price to turn back time, or at least make Sherman not dislike her so much.

[Rita, come to the Golden Sand Hotel lobby. I have very important information to give you.] One of Rita's informants finally contacted her after half a month.

She replied immediately and excitedly, [Is it about the developer? Have you found any direct evidence? What time should we meet?] The informant on the other end was cautious. [This afternoon. I'll let you know the exact time later. It's best if you wait for me in the lobby.] Rita held her phone and ecstatically reread the simple, brief message. She wanted so much to tell Sherman that there was progress in the case, but she was not sure if he would want to hear about it.

In the end, the joy of sharing won.

[I'm meeting my informant at the Golden Sand Hotel this afternoon. There might be a breakthrough in the case. I believe Esmond will be apprehended soon!

Look forward to my good news.] However, the message seemed to disappear into the void as Sherman did not respond. Rita felt a bit disheartened, but she did not give up. She decided to wait until she had concrete evidence before

approaching Sherman again. She wanted to explain to him face to face why she had spoken the way she did last time.

As Rita sat in the hotel lobby, reviewing her notes, a masked man suddenly sat down across from her .

She instinctively said, "Excuse me, sir, I'm expecting someone."

"I'm here for you, Rita," the man replied.

It took her a moment to realize. "You're Old Sims. What's the information you said you found?"

Old Sims looked around the surroundings cautiously. He wanted to make sure it was safe for him to speak.

Rita also became nervous. She looked behind and surveyed them C surroundings before saying, "There's no one else here. I've already checked."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2820-Old Sims seemed to relax a bit. He picked up the other cup of water Rita prepared and took a sip. Rita also subconsciously took a sip.

"The specific clues are left in Room A414. You have to go check it out yourself. I don't have much time to waste with you here," said Old Sims after finishing the water.

He was about to leave when Rita grabbed his wrist anxiously.

"You haven't told me what kind of clue it is yet. Can it help bring down Esmond?"

she asked.

He pulled his hand away and patted Rita's arm, saying, "Young lady, don't be so hasty in your actions. It's still early,"

Rita sighed with a frown as she watched him quickly disappear into the crowd.

Old Sims was an odd character, but since she had not met him offline before, she chalked it down to it being his personality.

Fortunately, the clues were still left in the hotel, so this meeting was not entirely fruitless. Rita obtained the hotel key card from the front desk. As she ascended the floor in the elevator, she started to feel a bit dizzy. She shook her head.

At the same time, her phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw Sherman's name displayed prominently. Though slightly surprised, she brought the phone closer to her face, blinked slowly, and then swiped to answer.

"Rita? What informant are you talking about? Where did you find this informant?" Sherman's voice came through the phone.

Rita's consciousness started to slip even more. She felt like the inside of the elevator was spinning. She had not had a chance to answer Sherman when the elevator arrived at the floor she needed with a ding.

"It's my informant. When I find the evidence, I'll send Esmond to prison and get revenge for both of us. Sherman, please don't be angry. Don't ignore me. Do you know how sad I am when you ignore me…"' Rita's voice fluctuated, and Sherman sensed something was off. She had never spoken to him like this even when her emotions were running high.

"What's wrong with you? Are you drunk?"

"Who you calling drunk? I don't even like drinking! Stop accusing me. After I get the clue, will you still ignore me? Hehehe…"

Sherman suddenly stood up from his seat, certain that something was seriously wrong with Rita.

'She's now at Golden Sand Hotel,' he thought, and various negative thoughts flooded his mind.

"Do you even know where you are? Stay put, don't move, I'm coming over right away," said Sherman.

"Four-one-one, four-one-two…" Rita struggled to count the door numbers. Each count left her leaning against the wall for a moment. Her mind was becoming more chaotic, and her eyes were struggling to stay open. "Ugh, I'm so tired.

Sherman, I really want to sleep."

Rita's voice grew fainter, prompting Sherman to shout into the phone, "No sleeping! If you sleep now, I'll never talk to you again!"

Sherman's words briefly brought Rita back to consciousness.

'Hey, why are you yelling at me like that? You've hurt my ears! I don't C want to sleep I'm just a little tired. My avidence is still in that room. Once I get it, I'll … I'll … "

Suddenly, Rita's tone became excited. "Huh? The room's door is open Wait, who are you?"

There was a scream from Rita, and the next moment, the call was disconnected.

Sherman immediately broke out in a cold sweat.