"Enough!" Alex mmed his hand on the table, cutting the man off. "Stop ying dumb! That recording was clearly released to smear Serena!"


    The portly man turned pale with fright and stammered, "M-Mr. Hastings, please calm down... We really..."


    Alex rose to his feet, towering over him. "You have one day. Find out where this recording came from and who''s behind it. If you can''t, deal with the consequences yourself."


    Just then, Alex''s assistant barged in, looking all flustered. The tense silence between them was broken.


    "Mr. Hastings, I found something! The person who leaked the audio—" He hesitated, his gaze shifting between Alex and the portly man. "It''s the same person who first spread the rumors back then."


    Alex''s expression darkened as he stood abruptly. "Who?"


    The assistant hesitated, ncing at him and then at the other man before finally taking the plunge. "It''s... Elena."


    Alex froze. Elena? How could it be her?


    "Are you sure?" he asked again.


    Startled by his reaction, the assistant swallowed nervously. "I-I double-checked. The IP address and registered ount details all trace back to Ms. Harper."


    The room was deathly silent, with only Alex''s heavy breathing echoing in the air. Sensing the shift in atmosphere, the portly man took the opportunity to slip away, leaving Alex and his assistant alone.


    "Get out." Alex finally sighed.


    Relieved, the assistant quickly exited the room.


    At the airport, Lucas switched off airne mode as he stepped off the ne. The familiar wave of hot, humid air hit him, a stark reminder that he was back in this city.


    His driver was already waiting at the exit. Upon seeing Lucas, he hurried over and took his luggage.


    It wasn''t until he got into the car that he finally checked his phone.


    Instantly, a bold headline caught his eye-"The True Colors of the


    Wealthy Socialite! Mrs. Ashfor.ne


    Sentor ims Daughter-in-Law''s Infidelity Drove Her Son to His Death!"


    Lucas'' heart sank. Nicole? Wasn''t that Serena''s mother?


    "Take me to the hospital where Serena''s mother is staying," he ordered hesitantly.


    I had been trying to convince Mom


    to go for a walk. Ever since Grandma''s outburst, she had shut


    herself in the ward, barely eating or


    drinking. It broke my heart to see her like this.


    "Serena, do you think I really made a mistake?" Mom''s voice was low and choked with emotion.


    I was about tofort her when a


    sudden knock on the door


    interrupted us. I walked over and opened it only to freeze in shock. It


    was Lucas. Why was he here?A


    Wasn''t he supposed to be oma business trip abroad?


    He looked exhausted, his jawline shadowed with stubble.


    "Serena..." His voice was hoarse. "I... I just got back and wanted to visit you."


    His gaze flickered. He was clearly hiding something from me.


    I nced at Mom behind me and then back at him.


    Lucas'' eyes lingered on Mom briefly before quickly shifting away.


    Realizing this wasn''t the right ce for a conversation, I turned to Mom. "Mom, I''ll


    step out for a bit. I won''t be long."


    She nodded gently. "Just don''t stay out toote."