Chapter 148


    Chapter 148)


    Lia’s words were directed at Caroline. She was clearly saying that Caroline had no manners and didn’t


    deserve Kirk.


    Caroline smiled patiently. When she spoke, her tone was gentle, but it contained a chilling hint of


    pressure. “Mrs. Mendeley, we haven’t uncovered the truth yet, so you better not talk too much.


    Otherwise, it might backfire on you.‘


    Lia feared Kirk and Ivan, so she didn’t dare to act impudently. Still, she didn’t care about Caroline


    at all.


    Upon seeing Caroline still had the gall to refute, Lia’s expression darkened.


    She didn’t care about her status or seniority anymore. She retorted, “What do you mean by that?


    Avery’s concept draft is on your USB drive! I’ve met plenty of stubborn people, but I’ve never met


    someone as stubborn as you.”


    At this moment, Avery, who had been sobbing, said weakly, “Mom, that USB drive really isn’t hers.”


    “Avery, why are you still defending her at a time like this…”


    “Mom, that’s my USB drive.” Avery frowned, about to cry again. “I only found out that my USB


    drive was stolen after my concept drafts were leaked.”


    Lia said, “Why are you only telling us such an important thing now? That means that she stole


    your USB drive and gave the concept drafts to a rivalpany. It all makes sense now.”


    Caroline turned to Lia and said calmly, “I’ve only interacted with Ms. Mendeley a few times. This is


    one of them, and the other was in the restaurant’s private room earlier.


    “Let me ask you. If you’re saying I stole the USB drive, when would I have had the time to steal it?”


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    Lia was speechless. Ivan thought that this situation was outrageous as well.


    There was an eerie silence in the living room.


    Kirk was looking at Caroline with bright eyes. Right now, she was like a tough flower, proudly


    braving a storm. She didn’t back down in the face of adversity.


    Mom, Ivan.” Avery stood up, holding back her tears. “I really don’t want to investigate this further.


    I feel bad for wasting everyone’s time on a small issue like this.”


    If it were another time, Caroline would have apuded Avery for her strategic withdrawal She


    was about to speak when she heard Kirk’s maic voice behind her. “It’s better to get to the


    bottom of things.


    After that, Kirk stood up and walked to the balcony.


    Caroline didn’t know what he was going to do, but Avery did.


    Avery tilted her head down, her long hair concealing the smile on her lips.


    Thinking that Avery was heartbroken, Lia quickly patted her shoulder and tried tofort her.


    “Don’t be sad, Avery! With Kirk here, everything will be clearer. When that timees, the one


    who’s responsible will pay the price!” On that note, she couldn’t help but nce at Caroline with hatred.


    Caroline remained silent, not bothering to argue with her.


    Avery nodded with her back to her mother, secretly bubbling with joy. She wanted Kirk to investigate it.


    She wanted him to see what kind of person Caroline was.


    Soon, Kirk returned to the living room.


    “I just asked someone to get the restaurant’s surveince footage.”


    Kirk briefly nced at Avery before looking at Caroline again.


    “My wife has been with me all day. If she really did something, she could only have done it at the


    restaurant. We’ll know the truth after we get those surveince tapes.”


    Avery bit her lips in frustration. It was annoying to hear Kirk call Caroline his wife. Yet a faint smile


    yed on her lips at the thought of how those surveince tapes would expose Caroline for what she


    was.


    More than an hourter, Charles brought the surveince footage to their home.


    Caroline was quite surprised to see Charles. She asked, “You’re here in Flonza too?”


    Charles said with a smile, “I go wherever Mr. Kirk goes.”


    The corner of Caroline’s mouth twitched. It seemed like Morrison Corporation had terrific benefits.


    No wonder many people would kill to join theirpany.


    “Hand over the surveince footage,” Lia urged, unable to wait any longer.


    Charles looked over at Kirk


    Kirk raised his chin slightly, signaling for Charles to y the surveince footage.


    Following his boss‘ orders, Charles turned on the TV. Soon, footage of the restaurant that night


    appeared on the screen.


    The restaurant only installed surveince cameras in themon areas, not in private rooms.


    Nevertheless, Caroline and Avery had been sitting face–to–face in the private room. Hence, Caroline


    wouldn’t have had the chance to make a move there. So, there was no need to look into what


    happened in the private room.


    Charles fast–forwarded the footage, and soon everyone saw Caroline and Avery going to the bathroom


    together. Both of them had taken their bags with them.


    Just as the two were about to reach the bathroom entrance, Caroline pped Avery across the face.


    Upon seeing this, Lia red at Caroline and yelled, “So you were the one who pped Avery that day!


    I asked her about it, but she hid it from me, saying that she had fallen by ident. You’re too


    cruel!”


    There wasn’t any audio in the footage, so no one could hear what they were saying. All they could see


    was that Caroline had pped Avery across the face.


    Ivan couldn’t help but frown, asking, “What’s going on here, Caroline?”


    Caroline frowned. Avery was truly capable. She revealed the so–called truth calmly, without giving the


    impression that she had done it on purpose.


    At this moment, Kirk silently held her hand.


    Caroline looked over at him. He was smiling at her tenderly. She couldn’t see any hint of disgust in his


    eyes. Instead, she saw his admiration for her.


    Emboldened by Kirk’s support, she looked straight at Ivan and smiled.


    “Dad, it’s better to check whether I’ve stolen the sh drive for now. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to


    do if everyone kept making me the scapegoat.”


    Ivan frowned and nodded, saying to Charles, “Keep ying the video.”


    Charles pressed the y button The video was exactly the same as what had happened that night


    Caroline and Avery were talking, and Kirk arrived Then, Caroline and Kirk returned to the private room


    before leaving the restaurant. With that, the video came to an end.


    After a moment of silence, Ivan said, “The only ce Caroline could’ve done something is the


    bathroom But we all saw nothing suspicious in the footage, so it seems that Caroline wasn’t


    behind this. Instead, someone had framed her. Their goal is to destroy the rtionship between our


    families”


    Avery bit her lip, asking, “Charles, can you pass me the remote?”


    Charles handed the TV remote to Avery Avery fast–forwarded the footage to when they were in the


    bathroom. Then, she slowed the yback speed.


    Caroline narrowed her eyes, knowing Avery had a reason for doing this.


    She stared at the screen, and soon she found out why.