"Suffering through the workload is one thing." Samson sighed. "But being used of stealing data after all that effort? Who could tolerate that?"


    "But why hasn''t Mr. Hastings responded at all? Are they really just letting the morning questioning be the end of it?"


    "Who knows?" Samson''s voice carried a distinct note of unease. "But Serena''s not as simple as she looks. I recently dug up something pretty shocking online."


    Office gossip was always the most captivating. "What?"


    "She dated someone back in university. Do you know who?"


    "Who?"


    "The heir of ck Group-Julian ke."


    "What?"


    "ke Group? Isn''t thatpany on the decline?"


    The office instantly buzzed with discussion, punctuated by asional chuckles.


    This wasn''t the first time I had overheard people gossiping about me-my background, my past with Julian, my connection with Alex. No matter which aspect of my life peopletched onto, they always had plenty to say. I had long since built up an immunity to it.


    "You guys are being ridiculous!" Patricia suddenly stood up. "What does Serena''s personal life have to do with the stolen data?"


    "Patricia, are you dead set on clinging to her now?" Catherine sneered. "Do you really think she''s some kind of princess in the Hastings family?"


    Patricia was defending me, and now, she was being dragged into their gossip. I couldn''t just sit by and watch, so I stepped into the office.


    The moment


    t my gazended on


    Catherine, she quickly looked away. I let out a coldugh. "If you have the guts, say all of that to my face. But here you are, avoiding my eyes while talking so boldly behind my back. That just makes you a coward."


    Catherine looked indignant but didn''t respond. I turned to Samson instead.


    "Thanks for digging into my dating history. Since you''re so enthusiastic, let me


    return the favor with a bit of gossip for you."


    "What?" Samson put on a fearless front.


    "On the seventh of this month, we workedte to finalize the project. After Patricia and I left, you were the only one still in the office. Why don''t you check the surveince footage from that night? You might find something... unexpected."


    Samson''s face instantly turned pale. Patricia also seemed to suddenly recall something.


    "Y-You''re talking nonsense!" Samson pointed at me. "You''re ndering me!" "What did I say?" I shrugged. "I just suggested checking the surveince footage. How is that nder? Unless... you really did something that night."


    Patricia narrowed her eyes at him. "Yeah, Samson. I hadn''t even thought about it until now, but that night, you were the only one left in the office."


    "If you''re looking to frame someone, you''ll always find an excuse," Samson shot back, trying to sound confident, but his shifting gaze betrayed his unease. "Of course, you two are backing each other up. No surprise there."


    "I''ve already informed thepany," I said, returning to my desk and clearing away my belongings to make space. "They''ll be taking ourputers to the tech department for a full inspection. You two should get your things ready as well."


    Hearing this, Samson suddenlyposed himself. "Fine, take them. I''d rather let them check than have it seem like I have something to hide. I''m not about to take the fall for something I didn''t do."