"I was only nning to rest for a little while," Shirley exined tearfully. "I have a flight to catch for a fashion showter tonight. My friend came looking for me when I didn''te down at the agreed-upon time. She heard me scream from the hallway and broke down the door, thinking I was in trouble."


    Ste nodded slowly. "Neville said he had juste in to change his shirt when the door was broken down. We can check the hallway security footage. If he was only in the room for a few minutes, that should be enough to prove his innocence. Do you agree, Miss Vance?"


    Shirley wiped a tear from her eye. "I agree."


    "Good," Ste said. "Then let''s have someone pull the footage."


    Five minutester, the banquet manager returned, looking flustered. "Mr. Vance, my apologies, but the security cameras... they were damaged yesterday, so... there''s no footage to retrieve."


    "What the hell? Damaged yesterday?" Zane eximed. "Why weren''t they reced? Did you not know I was hosting a party here tonight?"


    "We did order new ones, sir," the manager stammered, wiping sweat from his brow. "But the technician who installed them didn''t set them up correctly, and the recording function wasn''t enabled..."


    The manager rambled on, but the bottom line was clear: there was no footage. No proof.


    Shirley insisted Neville had assaulted her, while Neville maintained he was


    framed. With her reputation on the line, Shirley couldn''t just let it go. If this wasn''t resolved, she would be shamed in her social circle and her marriage prospects ruined.


    The situation was at a stalemate. Zane was a key supporter of Ste''s, with strong ties to many neutral parties in thepany. If this wasn''t handled delicately, she could lose his backing, and her position at The Williams Group would be jeopardized. The person behind this trap was vicious. They were forcing Neville''s hand.


    After a few moments of tense silence, Neville finally spoke. "Since Miss Vance is certain it was me, I am willing to take responsibility, for now. I will spend the next few months searching for evidence to clear my name. If I can prove my innocence, our arrangement will be void. If I cannot, I will do right by you."


    "There has to be a time limit, doesn''t there?" Shirley pressed. "What if you drag this out for years and then just cast me aside? That would be toying with my emotions."


    Neville considered for a moment. "Three months. How does that sound, Miss Vance?"


    Three months wasn''t long, but it wasn''t short either. A shorter period would be a p in the face to the Vance family, implying he couldn''t wait to be rid of her. Any longer, and Shirley might develop real feelings for him,plicating things further. Zane looked at Neville with a mixture of admiration and conflict. He was willing to go this far for Ste.<fn0f4d> This update is avable on Find_Novel(.</fn0f4d>


    Shirley thought for a moment before agreeing. "Fine. I agree."


    And just like that, the drama was put on hold.


    Outside the banquet hall, Neville turned to Ste. "I''m sorry, Star. I was careless and fell into their trap. I almostpromised your rtionship with Zane."


    "This isn''t your fault," Ste said, her voice filled with guilt. "I''m the one who should be sorry. You got dragged into this because of me."


    "Don''t me yourself, Star," Neville replied. "I agreed to be your fake boyfriend. I knew there would be risks."


    Hearing their exchange, Foreman, who had been standing nearby, paused atmost imperceptibly. A sh of sheer ecstasy shot through him. So, their rtionship was a sham. He had thought they were actually together. Awave of regrets washed over him. He had resorted to such a drastic measure because he believed they were a real couple.


    It was a brilliant n, designed to kill three birds with one stone. If Neville refused to take responsibility, Ste would see his true colors. If he agreed he and Ste would be forced apart. Even if they stayed together, the unresolved usation would fester between them. He hadn''t considered however, that if Neville had refused, Ste might have lost Zane''s support. Thankfully, Neville had conceded, making the n a near-perfect sess.


    Now, Neville would be busy trying to prove his innocence, entangled with Shirley, and likely too embarrassed to show his face around Ste fo while. And Shirley was no pushover; she wouldn''t let this opportunity slip through her fingers. Neville was effectively out of the picture.


    Which meant...


    Foreman''s gaze shifted to Joshua. It was his turn next.


    As if sensing his stare, Joshua turned to meet his eyes, his own gaze as deep


    and dark as a starless sea. "Mr. Richards, is there something you wanted to say to me?"