hapter 97
Chapter <b>97 </b>
The three of them walked into Lyle’s home.
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<b>43 </b>
<b>35 </b>vouchers
Xylia had expected someone like Lyle to be messy at home, but to her surprise<b>, </b>despite the small, run–down room, it was surprisingly clean.
Even the empty wine bottles Lyle had consumed were scattered carelessly on the only table in the living
room.
Xylia and the others casually grabbed three stic stools and sat down.
Lyle sat at the table, watching them. His gaze eventuallynded on Xylia. “Did you pay for my parents‘ medical bills?” Lyle asked.
Xylia nodded. “Yes.” After the school anniversary event, she had contacted a doctor she knew and paid for Nova’s parents‘ medical expenses. She also inquired about their conditions.
Two elderly people, one with uremia and the other with dementia, were in different departments of separate hospitals.
Only now did Xylia realize how difficult it must have been for Lyle, who was handling the medical bills for both of his parents, while also managing his own life.
That was why she had decided to cover the entire medical cost for Nova’s parents. Most of the prize money she had won at the conference had gone into that.
Lyle lowered his gaze, his voice almost a whisper. “Thank you.”
“I came to talk to you about something,” Xylia shifted the topic. “Five months ago, there was a serious car ident on Kurtin Road. The driver fled the scene. You were there, right?”
“No,” Lyle responded instantly, his denial sharp.
Xylia was still opening her mouth when Lyle’s quick response cut her off.
Maverick chimed in, “Why are you denying it so quickly? Ms. Schultz only mentioned five months ago. She didn’t even specify a date. How can you be so sure you weren’t there?”
Lyle’s face turned paler, his gaze now filled with fear. “I’ve never been involved in a car ident. I wasn’t there, no matter the day,” he replied.
Maverick fixed him with a piercing gaze, one that seemed to corner Lyle like a predator locking onto its prey.
“If we didn’t have leads, we wouldn’t be here. Ms. Schultz and your sister were high school ssmates. Since the police investigated this thoroughly back then, do you really think it was Ms. Schultz who hurt your sister?” Maverick added.
Lyle was reminded of his outburst at the school anniversary, and the buzz surrounding it still lingered online. He was taken back to the police station and given a warning, and since the school did not press charges, he was released shortly thereafter.
<b>12:09 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>15 </b>
43
35 vouchers
He had been struggling with his parents‘ medical fees when he learned that everything had been paid off. Immediately, Lyle thought of Xylia.
Now, with the truth being drawn out, he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, as if he was being reminded of his actions–of how he repaid kindness with betrayal. He stayed silent, his eyes darting nervously.
After a long pause, Joshua spoke. “Does anyone else know you were a witness that night?”
Lyle shook his head. Suddenly, he raised his head, meeting Joshua’s eyes, which were deep and intense.
“You admitted it,” Joshua said, his voice cold and unwavering.
Lyle felt a chill run down his spine as he stared into Joshua’s unyielding gaze.
“You caused a disturbance at the school anniversary because you were coerced. Let me guess–was it Tessa?” Joshua asked.
Lyle’s face grew even paler. He looked at Joshua, who seemed like an authoritative figure who saw right through everything, waiting for an honest answer.
Xylia, too, was watching him, although she already had a strong suspicion, she still wanted to hear the truth.
Lyle finally sighed deeply. “It was her. My parents were ill and in the hospital. Tessa paid part of their medical bills for me and asked me to make a scene at the school anniversary. I had no other choice.”
Tessa had promised to pay the remaining amount after he caused the disturbance, but after he was taken by the police, she changed her mind and refused to pay, even blocking him when he tried to contact her again.
“Since you know Tessa, you must also know who the real perpetrator of the car ident five months ago was, right?” Xylia asked.
Lyle lowered his head in silence for a long while before responding. “I saw it. I saw Tessa get out of the car, look at the person who died, then panic and run back to the car, driving away.”
“Would you be willing to testify on my behalf?” Xylia asked eagerly. This was herst chance.
Lyle fell silent again. He had run away that night to avoid trouble. The car involved in the hit–and–run had clearly been expensive, and he didn’t dare offend those with power and influence, fearing retaliation.
Furthermore<b>, </b>after interacting with Tessa, he thought that she was a ruthless woman whom he dared not offend lightly.
Lyle remained silent.
Joshua sneered. “You had the courage to cause a disturbance at the school celebration, but now youck the courage to reveal the truth?
“When Tessa paid a small portion of your parents‘ medical expenses, you were willing to do it. But when Xylia covered the entire medical bill and asked you to testify to prove her innocence, you refused. Is it because you think she <b>is </b>easier to bully?”
<b>12:09 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>15 </b>
…
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<b>43 </b>
35 vouchers
Joshua pointed at Xylia. Lyle was rendered speechless by Joshua’s words and stood frozen in ce. ‘If I’m willing to do bad things for Tessa for money, then why wouldn’t I do good things for Xylia for the same reason? This task is <b>so </b>simple,‘ Lyle thought.
Joshua’s patience was gradually wearing thin. Now that Lyle had been found, if Lyle kept being so tactless, Joshua would have to resort to more extreme measures.
Joshua was about to take Xylia away, nning to deal with Lylenter. Before he could act, Lyle spoke, “I brought a video camera that has a recording of the whole ident. I will show it to the police.”
Xylia looked up in surprise. “Are you truly willing to help me?”
“You’ve helped me, so I’m just returning the favor. Besides, you’re Nova’s friend,” Lyle said. He looked at Xylia, as if he were seeing Nova.
Xylia smiled in relief. “Then wait until the end of the month, and I’ll take you to the police to testify.”
“Why the end of the month?” Lyle asked, puzzled.
Xylia shook her head without giving an exnation. Her grandmother’s death anniversary fell at the end of the month. During that time, she didn’t want anything to interfere with her preparations.
She considered it the final way to repay her grandmother’s kindness. She wanted every member of the Schultz family to present flowers to her grandmother, including Tessa.
Xylia offered no exnation, and Lyle did not inquire further. Instead, he agreed.
Just before she left, Xylia’s eyes fell on a family portrait hanging on the living room wall. Nova’s face was in the photo, still a high school student with a hesitant smile.
This was likely taken at the time when Nova’s family had forced her to drop out of school. At that time, Nova felt like her life had no hope.
Suddenly, Xylia spoke up. “Nova told me once, when she was in high school, that you were the best to her in the family.”
AD
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