In the soft glow of the room, L''s already fair skin appeared even more translucent.


    The ringing of a phone disrupted the silence, but L acted as if she didn''t hear it.


    Her gaze rested on the Magnolia tree outside the window. It was almost as if she was looking at paradise instead of a lone tree.


    Dorian''s throat tightened. "L, I... I need to take this call. I''ll be right back."


    He waited, but even after the ringing stopped, she didn''t respond.


    Then, the phone rang again. His chest tightened with worry. He knew Zara had to be in some sort of trouble. Otherwise, she wouldn''t call twice in a row.


    Dorian gritted his teeth, took his eyes off L, and turned to leave.


    Just as his hand touched the doorknob, L''s calm voice came from behind. "Dorian, don''te back."


    He froze and ran his tongue over his dry lips. His voice was painfully hoarse as he said, "L, don''t say that. I''ll be back as soon as I''m done."


    With that, he quickly left the room.


    Dorian hurried out and turned down the long corridor. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure passing through another hallway.


    A man in a suit walked briskly by, his long strides quick and purposeful. It was only a fleeting nce, but just about enough.


    Dorian frowned. He barely caught the man''s profile, which looked a lot like Noah''s. But was Noah really that tall? Could someone in their twenties still be growing? More importantly, how did his presence be so powerful?


    Dorian suddenly felt extremely uneasy.


    Noah''s hurried pace made it clear he had heard about L''s injury and was rushing to see her.


    How pathetic could he be, always thinking about another man''s woman? The more Dorian thought about it, the more bothered he became. He considered stopping Noah.


    As soon as the call connected, Zara''s rare outburst of sobbing came from the other end of the line, forcing him to shift his attention. He was irritated, his tone missing its usual gentleness as he asked, "What''s wrong? Is Mrs. Foster giving you trouble?"


    Zara didn''t care about his tone at the moment. She spoke frantically. "The trending post! Dorian, please help me. They''re saying I pushed Teddy on purpose. Everyone''s cursing me. What should I do now?"


    "Zara, calm down. Hasn''t yourpany asked the PR department to take down the trending post?"


    "The post went viral too fast. Thepany can''t take it down. They said someone might be behind this. Dorian, what do I do? My career is just starting. I can''t afford this kind of negative press."


    She kept crying, sounding pitiful. "I swear I didn''t push Teddy on purpose. I tripped! I''m not lying."


    Dorian rubbed his brow, exhausted. "Don''t worry, I''ll figure something out. This isn''t a big deal. It won''t affect your career much."


    "Dorian, thepany said someone''s pushing the agenda from behind the scenes. Do you think it''s Ms. Hart trying to get rid of me, both for Teddy and so she can stay by your side?" Zara asked, her voice choked and cautious, hoping to lead him to resenting L.


    Even though she was upset, she hadn''t forgotten to stir tension between them. If this could make Dorian resent L again, then perhaps her current predicament was worth it.


    There was sudden silence on the other end of the line.


    Dorian''s throat felt even tighter now than it had when he was speaking to L earlier. If only L had done this to get rid of Zara and stay by his side, that would have been fine to him.


    At least it would mean she still cared.


    But this time, Dorian knew it wasn''t L. She didn''t have the time or resources to go up against apany like Zara''s.


    He lowered his gaze and opened his phone, reading, #ZaraHayesPushedTeddyAndersonOnPurpose.


    The trending news was right at the top. He didn''t dare read further as he hesitated for a second, then quickly exited the page.


    "Zara, when I spent a week with you over Christmas, did you ever take a call for me?"


    Dorian''s raspy voice traveled through the line, causing Zara to momentarily forget


    to cry. "I... I don''t remember. I don''t think so."


    Dorian clenched his fist, then slowly loosened it again.


    Who was the one lying?