Chapter 198


    Chapter 198


    Herman was getting all up in Anastasia’s grill, could she not detect his drift?


    Anastasia deliberately turned her face away, nearly cracking up. “Not quite there yet. I’ll let you know


    when I’ve figured it out.”


    “Well, then I’ll take matters into my own hands…”


    As Herman leaned in for a smooch, Anastasia dodged, giggling. “No can do, no can do.”


    They were fooling around when someone knocked on the door.


    The cops were back. Upon seeing the officer, Anastasia immediately turned serious. “Officer, have you


    figured out who’s out to get me?”


    The cop nced at Herman and said, “After our investigation, we’ve nailed down the perp.”


    “Who?” Anastasia pressed.


    The officer replied, “It was Hailey from AL Jewery’s design department. She confessed to the crime,


    mainly driven by jealousy.”


    “How could it be her?” Anastasia was stunned. Hailey had been with the design department for five


    years, a seasoned employee. She was always low-key and by-the-book, not the type to draw attention


    to herself.


    Herman questioned, “Okay, so we have the motive, but what about the timing? During your initial


    investigation, you questioned everyone in the department, none were at the scene of the crime when it


    happened.”


    “Hailey admitted that she knew Anastasia was headed to Cloud Mountain, so she had her boyfriend


    Max, who works at the Cloud Mountain Resort, tamper with things. Both Max and Hailey have now


    been arrested and confessed to their crimes.”


    Another officer added, “We’ve checked their statements, and they’re telling the truth. Hailey was just


    acting out of jealousy because Anastasia got promoted to head designer, and she couldn’t stomach it.”


    With the case unfolding this way, Anastasia felt a pang of sorrow. She never expected this twist


    Herman looked over Hailey and Max’s testimonies, which matched up perfectly with the facts of


    Anastasia’s ident.


    With motives, timing, and substantial evidence, it was a wrap.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    But Herman was still frowning. Even though everything seemed to check out, something didn’t sit right


    with him. Not wanting to worry Anastasia, Herman kept his misgivings to himself.


    With the culprit of Anastasia’s ident was found, Selena was immediately off the hook. When she


    was released, she looked pale and all her usual arrogance had vanished. She had originally intended


    to harm Anastasia in the parking lot, but she didn’t get the chance.


    When she heard about Anastasia’s ident, she was secretly pleased. Now that the truth was out,


    Selena was still a bit shaken. She had asked the police and was told that due to the severity of the


    case, Hailey, who framed Anastasia, could face at least twenty years in prison. Thinking about it,


    Selena was even more shaken. Had she gone through with her n, she’d be the one behind bars


    now.


    The news about Hailey orchestrating the ident quickly spread throughout AL Jewery’s design


    department.


    Lauren visited Anastasia in the hospital, fuming. “It’s always the quiet ones. Look at Hailey, she always


    kept to herself at work, but harbored such malice. To stoop so low just because of your promotion.”


    Anastasia said, “After Selena left thepany, Hailey was the most senior and most likely to be


    promoted to head designer. Maybe that didn’t sit well with her.”


    “But that’s no excuse to hurt others. It only ends up hurting herself,” Lauren said. “If she were really


    capable, she’d have been promoted already. Her design skills and poprity are just so-so, she


    wouldn’t have been next in line.”


    “How’s thepany doing?” Anastasia asked.


    “Everything’s under control with Christine there. Besides, who would dare kick up a fuss at this critical


    time? Victor’s been in a bad moodtely, and if anyone tried to stir things up, I’m afraid he’d crack down


    hard.”


    Anastasia was curious. “Why is Mr. Victor in a bad mood?”


    “Isn’t it because… Lauren almost let it slip but switched gears at thest moment. “Maybe his personal


    life isn’t going so well. He’s already in his thirties and still single, which might be making him a bit


    restless.”


    The truth was, Anastasia’s ident had dragged Victor into this, and Herman had vented part of his


    anger on him.


    Victor was in a tight spot. If Anastasia didn’t wake up, given Herman’s cold demeanor, Victor might’ve


    ended up being the scapegoat.


    Lauren’s words made Anastasiaugh. She was about to respond when she noticed two people


    standing at the door. She immediately signaled Lauren to be quiet.


    Lauren didn’t catch on and asked nkly, “Anastasia, what’s wrong with your eyes? Oh, right, while


    you were unconscious, Victor was really upset, and so was Herman. He had this keep out’ look on his


    face. I think he might be having some personal issues too. Watch


    Anastasia’s face turned beet red. Sheughed awkwardly and called out loudly, “Hello, Mr. Victor.”