The chauffeur promptly exited the vehicle, retreating to a spot some twenty yards away for privacy.


    Nestled in a secluded area surrounded by verdant hills and lush trees, where no car dared to traverse


    its private roads, the Richardson Manor with its century-old history stood proudly. Inside the car,


    Maddox and Curtis, their conversation encapsted within the vehicle''s confined space.


    Maddox was the picture of calm, his voice betraying no emotion, "You''ve got quite the reach these


    days, stretching all the way into my affairs."


    Curtis, with a cool gaze, shot back, "You''re the master of deception, leaving no trace behind."


    "What a son I''ve raised," Maddoxmented, "doubting me now."


    "If you wish to avoid suspicion, that''s possible." Curtis went straight to the point, "What really happened


    to Leanne''s family that led to their kidnapping?"


    Ever since Leanne inquired about her father at Vector Vista, Maddox had anticipated a day when this


    conversation would arise.


    The sudden return of Hanley to the country had indeed stirred the calm seas.


    "Why dig into it?"


    "If things were fine, I wouldn''t be here, wasting my days plotting against you," Curtis retorted, "I need


    the truth."


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Maddox didn''t attempt to deceive him with lies. After all, Curtis was too sharp for that. Yet, he wasn''t


    about to unveil the whole truth either.


    "Drop it," Maddox said, "Curtis, some things are better off not knowing for your own good."


    "Just focus on getting along with Anne. Your mother mentioned you two are nning a honeymoon by


    the end of the month. You''ve been neglecting her these past years. Take this opportunity to treat her to


    a rxing getaway."


    Curtis felt his heart sink, as though it were being caged.


    "So, you admit it''s connected to you all."


    Hisughter wasden with irony, "How generous for you to adopt Leanne from the orphanage. It is a


    form of atonement, after all. If you''re truly looking to atone, your sincerity iscking. She lost her


    parents and became an orphan at such a young age, subjected to bullying. Yourpensation is


    hardly adequate."


    Maddox remained silent for a long while, offering neither defense nor denial, only advising, "Treat her


    well."


    "I''d love to, but did you ever give me a chance?"


    Curtis felt choked by the thick air of sarcasm and sorrow within the car, finding it hard to breathe. He


    opened the door, stepped out, and mmed it shut behind him.


    Her parents died tragically and Leanne suffered in loneliness for years. What right did he have to


    expect Leanne to forgive and stay by his side? The gloomy sky seemed oppressively low, the rain had


    stopped, yet it felt like more storms were brewing behind the dark clouds.


    "Fancy some chocte bars?" Amy leaned in, catching a glimpse of the unfinished resignation letter on


    Leanne''sputer screen, almost dropping the jerky from her mouth.


    "Are you quitting? Come on. It won''t be the same without you here!"


    Leanne replied, "It''s far from dull as it is, with reporters swarming us every day."


    Amy frowned, "Is it because Ruben made you the scapegoat? You''ve got that recording. He wouldn''t


    dare."


    "This environment is no good to stick around," Leanne''s mood had been low these past few days, her


    voice faint, "Everyone''s professional ethic is soiled."


    Amy understood her meaning.


    Sighing, she lost her appetite for the jerky, "I feel the same, especially with Ruben, the bad apple in our


    department. It''ll never get better. Maybe we should go to Mr. Marshall and have him fight for our


    cause!"


    "Mr. Marshall has always been at odds with Ruben. He''s a lot more upright."