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 rival company. 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?”

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 applauded Avery for her strategic withdrawal She was about to speak when she heard Kirk’s magnetic 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 to comfort her.

“Don’t be sad, Avery! With Kirk here, everything will become clearer. When that time comes, the one who’s responsible will pay the price!” On that note, she couldn’t help but glance 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 surveillance footage.”

Kirk briefly glanced 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 surveillance tapes.”

Avery bit her lips in frustration. It was annoying to hear Kirk call Caroline his wife. Yet a faint smile played on her lips at the thought of how those surveillance tapes would expose Caroline for what she was.

More than an hour later, Charles brought the surveillance 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 their company.

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

Charles looked over at Kirk Kirk raised his chin slightly, signaling for Charles to play the surveillance 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 surveillance cameras in the common 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 slapped Avery across the face.

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

I asked her about it, but she hid it from me, saying that she had fallen by accident. 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 slapped 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 flash 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 playing the video.”

Charles pressed the play 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 place 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 relationship 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 playback speed.

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

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