?Chapter 148:


    Fred was unaware of the past animosities between the trio, stretching back over three years. Yet, when he overheard Belinda and Kristopher’s conversation, he couldn’t suppress augh.


    “So her boyfriend turns into a vegetable after the crash, and she flees the country without a backward nce? Sounds like she’s just dodging the fallout, doesn’t it? I mean, there’s no justifying that, right?”


    He finished, throwing a nce at Kristopher’s somber expression, and shed a mischievous smile. “Just weighing in on the gossip, no offense meant, sir.”


    “Kristopher…”


    Cathy, tears brimming in her eyes, grasped Kristopher’s hand and nestled closer to him. “Please, don’t take it to heart. What they say doesn’t affect me. As long as you truly understand what I’m facing.” Her voice trembled, barely a whisper.


    Kristopher’s expression darkened as he remembered the medical charts he’d reviewed earlier that confirmed Cathy was battling advanced stomach cancer. He had even questioned the doctor about the severity of the pain it could induce. The doctor’s description was haunting: “The pain can escte to where no painkiller can suppress it.”


    Reflecting on Cathy’s suffering filled him with sorrow. She had saved his life five years earlier; now, stricken with this cruel disease, she faced immense pain while he stood by, feeling utterly helpless.


    Kristopher lifted his eyes, fixing Belinda with an icy stare. “I’ve got the online news covered. There’s no need for you to go after Cathy. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”


    Belinda scoffed. When had she ever gone after Cathy? It was clearly Cathy who hade after her!


    “Kristopher, I appreciate your faith in me, and that you’ve got my back,” Cathy murmured, her voice tinged with gratitude as she clung to his sturdy waist. “If not for you… I’d be facing baseless usations…”


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    Belinda rolled her eyes once more.


    “Belinda, the photos.”


    Fred’s voice cut through the tension, his tone low.


    Snapping out of her thoughts, Belinda responded with a dismissive sniff. “If you insist on keeping our marriage certificate off the inte and don’t want me to share what happened three years ago with the public, I can live with that. But…”


    She lifted her gaze to Kristopher as she spoke. “Mr. Cox, I hope you can agree to three conditions. If you do, I promise never to bring up our marriage or the events of three years ago in public.”


    Kristopher’s eyes narrowed. “Go on.”<fn59a1> This text is hosted at F?nd-Novel</fn59a1>


    Belinda’s face broke into a smug, triumphant smile, prompting a sudden suspicion in him that he was being yed.


    Once Kristopher nodded in agreement, Belinda’s demeanor turned cheerful.


    “First, you need to keep the promises you made. Erase the photos and backups from your phone, and the bet we ced at the racetrackst time — transfer the money to me. Second, I need you to clear all the negative press about me online to prevent any further impact on my reputation. And finally…”


    Her eyes locked onto Kristopher and Cathy with an intense gaze. “We need to visit the courthouse within three days and finalize our divorce.”


    Initially, Belinda had hoped Kristopher would be the one to suggest they divorce. However, witnessing his closeness with Cathy made her increasingly resentful of their marriage with each passing day. Thus, sheid out her terms inly. She wanted to divorce him within three days.


    The prolonged connection was not only emotionally taxing but physically draining as well, particrly with her battlingte-stage cancer.


    “Fine!”


    Before Kristopher could respond, Cathy interjected with palpable excitement, “It’s settled then!”


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