Chapter 288


    Shane didn''t answer Rick''s question. Instead, he turned around at the corner of the corridor. Then


    bent over and grabbed Charlotte''s wrist, who thought she was hiding very well.


    She was dragged forward by him and couldn''t help but ask, "Shane, how do you know I''m here?"


    He walked straight toward her without any hesitation.


    Shane didn''t want to answer her dumb question.


    He led her outside. When they reached their car, he finally parted his lips and said, "Do you have a


    conclusion regarding what you''ve seen today?"


    "Yes," Charlotte replied. "Kendall has a great rtionship with Rnd and Caleb. However, I feel


    like the rtionship between her and Caleb is very superficial. Caleb seems to dislike her and Rick."


    "You''re partly correct. The one that Caleb hates is not Kendall, but Rick." Shane opened the car


    door and said, "Continue."


    Charlotte got into the car with him as she described the three things she noticed about the three


    members of the Stevens Family.


    Firstly, Rick was able to touch Kendall affectionately in public, meaning that Rnd and Caleb had


    approved him. However, Caleb didn''t seem to like him very much. That was enough to prove that


    the Stevens Family were dominant between their cooperation, while Rick was just a tool they used


    to make connections with Jane Corporation.


    Secondly, all the information showed that the Stevens Family was not aspetent as the Jane


    family. When Caleb wanted to marry Anne, he was directly rejected by the Jane Family. However,


    judging from the interaction between the three members of the Stevens Family and Rick, the weak


    one was obviously Rick.


    Thirdly, Rick had always been gentle and polite, but it didn''t mean that he didn''t have a temper.


    When he recognized her and Shane, Rick only followed Shane out of the hot spring pool and didn''t


    expose the two of them in public. This was actually not in line with his character.


    "Based on these three points, I think that it''s abnormal for Rick to ingratiate himself with the Stevens


    Family. It''s abnormal for him not to confront us too. Unless..."


    "He has other intentions." Shane hit the brake and stopped right in front of the red light.


    Charlotte nodded seriously. "I suspect that the Stevens Family is trying to do something to Jane


    Corporation by manipting Rick. But their n has been seen through by Rick. He wants to use


    himself as bait and confront the Stevens Family instead of being swallowed by the Stevens Family."


    "Not bad." Shane nodded.


    "But he doesn''t seem to have any intention of teaming up with us either. He probably thinks that it''s


    already enough for him to get help from us," Charlotte continued.


    This behavior still didn''t conform to Rick''s personality.


    Logically speaking, he should have found someone to cooperate with during times like this.


    The red light turned green. Shane stepped on the elerator and controlled the steering wheel in a


    rxed manner.


    His eyesnded on a spot on the road. It was clearly an asphalt road with white lines. But in his


    eyes, it was another person''s face.


    "Rick is in a very dangerous situation now. That''s why he''s not cooperating with us."


    "What?" Charlotte blinked her eyes in confusion.


    "Or rather, he thinks he''s in danger."


    "I don''t quite understand." "Firstly, he won''t burden you. Secondly, he thinks that I''ve already lost NC


    and don''t have an assistant anymore. Therefore, cooperating with us seems very risky."


    It finally dawned on Charlotte at that moment.


    In fact, even if it wasn''t Rick but her and Shane, they would have to open each other''s ount


    books and calcte the numbers in detail. Or else, no one would know their bottom line either. No,


    Shane might know hers, but she would never know Shane''s.


    Thinking about it, Charlotte sighed. "Then, should we help him or not?"


    "There''s no need and reason for us to cooperate with him. But there''s one person who does."


    Charlotte''s eyes lit up.


    Indeed.


    It was someone who had no need and reason for her and Shane to cooperate with as well.


    "I''ll talk to himter. But can you drop me off at Zoe''s neighborhood? Before handling the Stevens


    Family''s issue, I still have something very important to do," Charlotte said.


    "That''s fine too."


    Shane had heard about Zoe''s story.


    He didn''t care whether Charlotte''s decision was correct or not. He only knew that the recent flu was


    extremely serious.


    Moreover, Peter and Zoe were the indispensable forces of thepany''s intelligence sector.


    Whether it was a public or private affair, there was no major w in Charlotte''s management.


    Avery''s home.


    Zoe nestled on the sofa, working on her tablet. An endless stream of messages was overflowing her


    email. She always had to deal with issues one after another.


    When she was done with her work, she got up and took out a box of ice cream from the fridge. She


    was nning to regte her blood sugar level when she received a message from Charlotte.


    "Is it about work again?" Zoe opened the message helplessly.


    After reading the first two lines, she waspletely stunned.


    Peter heard herining but didn''t see her move. So he walked closer to her to remind her,


    "Your ice cream is melting."


    "Peter, Lottie has helped me settle the problem with the house, and Mr. Fuller promised her that he


    would help me renovate the house and that he would pay for everything." Zoe handed the phone to


    Peter. Her eyes were slightly red.


    She knew that both Charlotte and Shane were quite busy, so she didn''t expect things to be settled


    in such a short time.


    However, she couldn''t believe that Charlotte had really settled the matter just a few days after it


    came up.


    Peter didn''t expect it to be so fast either. He took Zoe''s phone and muttered, "How can it be? Before


    this, Ms. Emerson even asked me to investigate the winders from the extortion case. She said they


    still need to n everything in detail. It''s estimated that everything will only bepleted by next


    month. But it has only been ten days since this month started..."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Peter was right.


    At first, Charlotte just wanted to go and have a look at the neighborhood. She wanted to know how


    Zoe''s parents were doing. Who knew that Shane would directly help her to solve the problem?


    From recording audio and collecting evidence to paying money, the process was shockingly fast.


    "Maybe it''s because Mr. Fuller was beside her." Zoe was able to guess the truth shortly afterward.


    "Well, that''s true." Peter smiled and returned the phone to her. "What about you? When do you n


    to move back? s, I''m so pitiful. I have to eat instant noodles alone again."


    "Although I really want to go back, it''s hard to say. First off, Lottie and Mr. Fuller said that they would


    help me renovate my house. With their personalities, it''s useless for me to refuse. What''s more, the


    flu has been going on like crazy these days. Lottie mentioned in her texts that she doesn''t really


    want me to go back to the office." Zoe sighed.


    She really missed living alone.


    She only had to make one serving per meal. And if she wanted to, she could just be naked at home.


    But now, she had to be very careful around the house.


    Peter''s eyes lit up when he heard that. "Flu season generallysts around 2 to 4 months, and the


    renovation would also need at least a month. That is to say, we can stay together for at least one


    more month."


    "Unfortunately, it''s just like how you described." Zoe shrugged her shoulders.


    "I''m very happy about that."


    "Although I''m not really that happy, living here has actually increased my productivity."


    Zoe, who didn''t need to deal with family disputes, became calmer and calmer. Just like in the past,


    she was still the goddess in his heart.


    Peter approached her and handed her the ice cream. "Perhaps you''ll feel happy being with me in


    the future. You won''t be used to it without me."


    "I''m sorry. I can always get used to it if I lose someone."


    "That''s very cold- blooded of you." Peter directly leaned on her shoulder and said, "You keep saying


    that I''m your younger brother. But are you acting like the elder sister yourself?"


    "Have you ever regarded me as your elder sister? Have you ever even treated me like your elder


    sister?" She felt helpless.


    "When have I not?!"


    "All you do is either order me to do something for you or hit me. Aren''t you ashamed to call me your


    elder sister?"


    "I''ve never hit you! I only gave you a few pats."


    "You have the face to tell me that?"


    The two of them bickered endlessly. Fortunately, Zoe was eating ice cream, so it was actually just


    Peter who was leading the conversation. It didn''t take long before it stopped.


    Peter slowly slid down andy directly on her thigh.


    He leaned slightly closer and pressed his head


    against her belly.


    In shock, Zoe reached out and pushed him away.


    "Get out of my way."