?Chapter 228:


    Marc had told her it was him. Over and over again. But his actions since then had proven otherwise.


    If it had really been him, he wouldn’t have treated her like that.


    So maybe… maybe it wasn’t Marc at all.


    That thought hit her like a wave.


    But if it wasn’t Marc—then who?


    Too much time had passed. That night had been a blur, and now it felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. Still, she had to know.


    She needed closure.


    The car came to a slow stop in front of the research institute. William turned to her, clearing his throat. She snapped out of her thoughts, unbuckled her seatbelt, and put her phone away.


    “Thanks for today.”


    He nodded, his gaze lingering. “I’ve got some things to handle. You go on in.”


    She gave a light nod and stepped out.


    Her red-d figure grew smaller and smaller in his rearview mirror. William didn’t drive off right away. He sat there quietly, watching the path she had taken. Then, he nced down at his phone beside him.


    He had never imagined the truth would be like this.


    Years of quiet investigation, countless dead ends, all led here—unraveled not by a nned strategy, but by Haley’s careless provocation.


    It was ironic how chaos often revealed what careful effort could not. William leaned back in his seat, a low chuckle slipping past his lips.


    His mind drifted back to that night at the hotel. The blurry image in his memory gradually sharpened… and merged with the Ste in red from today.


    So, it was her all along.


    The phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Ste groaned, burying her head deeper into the pillow. After tossing and turning for another minute, she finally gave up.


    Your storytelling begins at g α? ησ ν?? ??s,


    She sat up groggily and squinted at her phone. 7:15 a.m. She sighed. The research institute didn’t start work until nine, and she usually got up at eight.


    Whoever was calling had just stolen a precious hour of sleep from her. The number on the screen was unfamiliar. With a heavy sigh, she finally picked up.


    “Hello, who is this?”


    “Hello, this is the Skytein Police Station. Are you Ms. Sylvia Gilbert?”


    That woke her up instantly. “Yes, I am.”


    The Skytein Police Station was responsible for their jurisdiction.


    “You currently have a Ms. Haley Smith in custody. She’s been used of nder and defamation and is requesting to settle the matter privately. We’re calling to ask if you coulde down to the station to discuss terms.”


    Ste nearlyughed. Haley? Wanting to settle now? What a joke.


    “I’m busy today,” she said coldly. “You should have already received all the evidence. I’m not agreeing to a settlement, and I don’t n on resolving this privately. Please don’t call again.”


    .


    .


    .