Marriage Resumption (Valeria and Hackett)

Keith successfully caught Cheryl's attention with this sentence. He then looked up and asked, "What secret are you referring

to?"

Being a lawyer, Keith's greatest asset was his gift of gab. He had intended to employ psychological strategies to extract the information he needed, but Cheryl's attentiveness proved to be greater than he had anticipated.

"Ms. Yeats, do you have any insight into why Valeria is so confident that she can unearth evidence to exonerate herself?"

Cheryl was momentarily taken aback, before a sneer formed on her face. "You're resorting to the lawyer's trickery to deceive me. It's utterly impossible for her to discover any evidence because she is not innocent! The surveillance footage had captured it all!" The ward was enveloped in silence, so pin-drop that they could hear the sound of each other's breathing.

A gentle smile crept up on Keith's face. "Ms. Yeats, I possess some confidential information, which is why I've sought you out here."This is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Unable to discern the man's intentions, Cheryl resolved not to reveal anything about herself. She let out a disdainful, cold snort. "Everyone knows you and Valeria are close colleagues. It's clear that you're trying to shield her reputation and, ultimately, the reputation of your law office. I won't entertain any of your claims. Leave."

Keith mused, "Ms. Yeats is so vigilant."

A soft smile played on his lips as he spoke with deliberate calmness, "In truth, our objectives align. I don't like seeing Hackett and Valeria being together either. That's precisely why I've come to discuss potential countermeasures with you." Cheryl remained silent, intently observing the man sitting across from her. She couldn't discern whether or not he was being honest.

Keith noticed that his words were starting to have an effect on Cheryl. So he carried on, "I came here today because I'm aware of the evidence that Valeria claims to possess, evidence that exposes your lies. If and when such evidence is brought to light, you won't be able to live peacefully in the country. And Hackett will never trust you again.".

Cheryl began to feel increasingly uneasy as the man's words bore down on her. He didn't sound like he was lying.

Despite her growing unease, Cheryl maintained her façade of composure. "Why should I fear anything? I haven't told a single lie. Everything was captured clearly on the surveillance footage!"

Sensing the mounting panic within the woman, Keith put on a subtle smile. "So, are you willing to take a gamble? Valeria plans to show us the evidence she possesses tomorrow night. Once the situation spirals out of control, you'll not only lose Hackett but everything else as well. You'll be left with nothing but the scar on your face. Are you brave enough to take that risk?"

A strong wave of guilt washed over Cheryl, but she remained stubborn in her response. "Why wouldn't I dare? She disfigured my face. Why should I fear her? Is she going to prove that I hurt my own face?"

"Exactly!"

Cheryl's heart skipped a beat, and she stared at the man before her, feeling a sense of bewilderment. What exactly did he mean by his words?

Keith explained, "Now, you may not be aware of it, but lawyers tend to carry recording equipment and pinhole cameras with us as part of our professional equipment. On the day that Valeria came to meet with you, she had just been at a crime scene and had her pinhole cameras with her. So....

As she stared blankly at the man before her, Cheryl's eyes widened and her fingers clenched the blanket.

ti B.

She thought to herself. "Does that Valeria clandestinely record everything that happened that night?"

Dismay washed over Cheryl as she processed the gravity of the situation. The implications of the footage being uploaded to the internet, of her being exposed and subsequently ruined, were almost too much to bear. "If that happens, I'll be completely ruined. I won't have any hope of continuing to live in this country. And as for Hackett... he'll never talk to me again."

Sensing the rising panic in Cheryl's eyes, Keith vaguely guessed the truth.

"So she recorded everything that happened that night? Nice, I'd like to see what she can provide. I have nothing to fear as I am not the liar!"

Despite her growing confusion and agitation, Cheryl remained steadfast in her denial.

Keith pulled out his business card and slid it across the table. "Valeria intends to unveil the evidence tomorrow night. However, we still have an opportunity to rectify the situation before then. Take your time to contemplate it, and don't hesitate to reach out to me. Frankly speaking, the only way we can nullify the evidence in Valeria's possession is by working together."

"I'm really curious. Don't you like Valeria? Why don't you want her to prove her innocence?" Cheryl couldn't figure out this man's thoughts.

Keith's demeanor turned extremely serious as he stated, "I am stopping her from proving her innocence because I don't want her to stick with Hackett again. By thwarting her reputation, I can ensure sole guardianship over her. No one will vie for her affections and she shall solely be mine."

With that, he turned around and left the ward.

As Cheryl gazed at the man's retreating figure, a cold shiver ran down her spine. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Keith's intentions were twisted. He was willing to go to any lengths to possess Valeria, even if it meant destroying her in the process. She picked up the business card beside her and clenched her teeth.

To be honest, an unsettling feeling crept over her. The thought of Valeria unveiling the evidence the following night made her downright anxious. She couldn't help but worry that it would mark her ultimate downfall, leaving her with nothing but a face marred by scars. Outside the hospital.

Keith turned to look at the words "the inpatient department" displayed behind him and let out a contented smile.

Assuming everything went smoothly, Cheryl was expected to contact him before the morning of the following day, as she seemed to have fallen for what he had told her.

Just then, her cell phone started ringing. A glance at the caller ID revealed it was Sherri.

As a matter of fact, he had been messing with Sherri for quite some time now. It was about time he made a firm decision in his heart.

When he answered the call, he was greeted by Sherri's sweet voice. "Keith, would you finally agree to have dinner with me tonight? You've turned me down countless times already."

"Sherri, I have said no to you time and again. Can't you see what that means? I am not interested in reconciling with you. Please don't waste your time chasing after me. I'm sorry," Keith firmly replied.

And with that, he ended the call without giving Sherri a chance to reply.

Keith had made his mind up to seize this opportunity to bring Valeria down completely, as he knew that Hackett would

B.

never let go of her. Coincidentally, he didn't want to either.

66

Valeria found herself restless and unable to leave her residence as the feared encountering hostile people on her way to the law office.

In truth, Valeria was anticipating how Keith would address the station From her perspective, there was truly nothing more she could do.

Tonight seemed destined to be a sleepless one, Valeria found herself tossing and turning in bed with no respite, while Hackett, far away at the manor, shared the same realeunett

The man chain-smoked, one cigarette after another, his mind consumed by Valeria's merciless words echoing in his head. "Unless you kneel before me

Except for kneeling, he could do anything.

Valeria had made such an unreasonable request and placed him in a difficult position on purpose.

It was pitch-black in the bedroom.

Leaning against the armchair, a cigarette held between his lips, Hackett gazed out the window at the somber moonlight, his

filled with a sense of desolation.

eyes

Amidst his forlorn thoughts, he couldn't help but let out a sorrowful chuckle.

He was fully aware that he had brought this upon himself.

Giving up on Valeria was simply out of the question for him at this point. However, he also found it exceedingly challenging to disregard Cheryl. After all, Abbot had died so tragically because of him.

The man retrieved his phone and conducted an exhaustive search across the internet for Valeria's surveillance video. Upon discovering that there were no existing clips, he felt a sense of relief. It seemed that all the relevant information had been wiped out.