That evening, I unexpectedly ran into Lucas when I went downstairs.


    "I haven''t seen you since that day at the mall when Mr. Hastings took you away." Lucas looked at me eagerly. "Serena, he didn''t do anything to you, did he?"


    I shook my head. "No, he just scolded me a little. That''s all."


    Lucas nodded. "That''s good."


    I stirred my drink, hesitating on whether to speak.


    I knew I shouldn''t doubt Lucas, but at the same time, I couldn''t ignore the logic in Alex''s words.


    "Serena, is there something you want to say?" Lucas seemed to pick up on my hesitation and asked directly.


    "Yeah." I bit my lip out of habit. "Luke, did Mr. Schneider assign you to this


    project? I heard he gave you the position of vice president, so why would you still personally oversee a project like this?"


    His hand movements paused slightly. "Did Mr. Hastings tell you that?"


    I shook my head quickly. "No, I just checked Schneider Group''s website and happened to see your title there."


    He looked at me and suddenly smiled. "Serena, you''re really sharp. Nothing gets past you."


    I was momentarily stunned, unsure what he meant.


    "I... technically didn''t have to handle this project myself. It''s just... It was the first contract I personally signed. And since you were the lead on your side, I volunteered to oversee it."


    "Why?" I looked at him in surprise.


    "Because....." Lucas lowered his eyes. "Serena, you''re the most important... friend to me."


    Before he said the word "friend," my heart tightened. But once I heard it, I felt an inexplicable sense of relief.


    "But why haven''t you been working on this projecttely?" His tone returned to normal.


    I let out a slow breath. "I''ve been handling a new project proposal, but it''s done now."


    He nodded. "Drink up. I''ll take you home after."


    ...


    The next morning, as soon as I


    arrived at the office, I sensed something was off. The entire floor was empty with no one in


    sight-except for Scarlett, who was pacing anxiously inside.


    "Scarlett?" I asked in a surprised tone. "Aren''t you busy with the Schneider Group


    coboration? What brings you here?"


    "Serena, Mr. Hastings called for a meeting." Her expression was grave.


    "I came here specifically to find you," she continued with a gloomy


    expression. "Serena, thepones


    found an email sent out from your ount... with the leaked data."


    For a moment, my mind went nk, but I quickly snapped back to my senses.


    They were trying to frame me. And they even did a thorough job of it.


    Inside the meeting room, Patricia looked anxious as if she had a lot to say but couldn''t because of


    setting. Samson, on the ot


    hand,


    was practically gloating.


    Oliver nced at me with slight concern but not much. Alex remained focused on


    his documents as if this had nothing to do with him.


    Several unfamiliar colleagues sat there,pletely indifferent.


    "Everyone''s here. Let''s begin." Oliver cleared his throat.