C58 Everything Depended On Her

Chris remained silent for a long moment, clearly trying to process everything I had just revealed. The realization that he had unknowingly become the victim instead of me had shaken him more than either of us expected.

Finally, he looked up. "So... you can actually prove all of this?" "I can," I answered confidently. He let out a slow breath before saying something that surprised both Alicia and me. "Then I want Sarah to know the truth." I frowned. "The truth?" Chris nodded. "I don't want her to keep thinking I couldn't handle my alcohol." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "She probably thinks I drank too much and blacked out." Alicia immediately looked amused.

She stared at him with a teasing smile. "Brother..." "Why are you so concerned about what she thinks of you?" Chris blinked. "What?" She folded her arms. "Has Sarah caught your attention already?" Chris was instantly speechless. "No... that's not..."

He searched for the right words before finally saying, "She asked me what happened." "I told her I'd explain once I figured everything out." I remained quiet for a few seconds before asking the question that had been bothering me. "You know Sarah is Ben's younger sister."

Chris nodded. "So... do you really think it's wise to tell her?" He didn't answer immediately. I continued. "You also know Ben and I don't exactly see eye to eye." I smiled faintly, though there wasn't much humor behind it. "If things become complicated one day..." "...are you going to abandon me?"

The moment I finished speaking, Alicia burst into laughter. "You actually asked him that?" But only seconds later, her smile slowly faded. She looked at Chris seriously. "Actually..." "Mike has a point." She paused before asking the question neither of us wanted to hear. "What if someday you really have to choose sides?" "What if..." "...you fall in love with Sarah?" Chris froze.

Those words struck him harder than anyone realized. Because they were the exact same questions he had been asking himself ever since waking up in that hotel room. He silently thanked himself for never telling us everything that had happened that night.

If Mike and Alicia already thought this much over something so simple, they would definitely misunderstand everything if they knew Sarah had stayed with him until morning. He quickly forced a smile. "Come on, you two." "I only wanted to thank her." "And ask whether she'd accept some kind of repayment for helping me."

He shrugged. "Besides..." "...she doesn't even seem interested." Alicia's eyes widened immediately. "Oh?" "So you actually thought about whether she'd be interested?" She leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "Brother..." "Are you saying you're interested in her?"

Chris instantly realized he had said the wrong thing. Before he could defend himself, I joined in. "Don't worry, Brother." "If your heart really chooses Sarah..." "...we'll support you." I smiled before adding dramatically, "Although..." "...it'll be trouble after trouble." "Ben." "Kelvin." "Samantha." "All of them against the two of us." "We'll be completely defeated."

Alicia immediately pointed at herself. "The two of you?" "What about me?" "Am I invisible now?" I laughed softly. "No." "What I meant is..." "If they decide to target us..." "...our backgrounds aren't nearly as powerful as yours."

Both of them became quiet. "My parents work for this company." "If someone influential wanted revenge..." "They could make their jobs difficult." "They could even fire them." I sighed. "And what about us?" "We're only interns." "If Samantha keeps causing trouble..." "And Chris starts getting close to Director Wood's daughter..." "Do you honestly think they'll keep us here forever?"

Chris lowered his head. He understood exactly what I meant. I continued, "And if they somehow targeted your parents..." "What would you do?" "People like the Woods have connections everywhere."

Then I looked at Alicia. "But you're different." "Your family's background is much stronger." "No one would casually provoke the Minister of Police." "And besides..." "Your grandfather used to be an army commander."

The moment I mentioned her grandfather, Alicia's eyes widened. She stared at me in complete disbelief. "Mike..." "Were you investigating me?" I blinked. "What?" "How did you know about my grandfather?" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What else did you investigate?" "My past relationships?"

Before I could answer, Chris burst into laughter. "You once told us you were as pure as water." He grinned. "Are you saying you've actually dated before?" Alicia rolled her eyes. "Your IQ really is low." "I was only making an example." She crossed her arms. "And aren't you supposed to be Mr. Chambers, the business genius?"

Chris placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "You always bully me." I couldn't help laughing. "You two are impossible." Chris pretended to glare at Alicia. "You're always against me."

The atmosphere lightened once again. But I quickly brought the conversation back. "Alright." "Enough joking." "What I said earlier was serious." "We need to think carefully before doing anything." The smiles slowly disappeared. Chris nodded. "You're right."

He looked directly at me. "Brother..." "I'd never betray you." His voice sounded sincere. "And if..." "...if my heart ever really chooses Sarah..." "...you'll be the first person I'll tell." He smiled. "You once told me that if a storm came, we'd face it together." "So why do you look so afraid now?"

I looked down for a moment. "Because Ben is becoming more unpredictable." "Every day..." "...he becomes more ruthless." I looked back at Chris. "This time, even you became a victim." None of us spoke for several seconds. Meanwhile, Alicia had drifted into her own thoughts. Mike already knows my family background... Did he really investigate me? Why? Is he interested in me now? But... Isn't he already pursuing Laura. Could he possibly be thinking of making me his backup?

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. Finally, she shook those thoughts away. Forget it. I'll think about that after work. Returning to the conversation, she looked at Chris. "So..." "If you really plan on telling Sarah everything..." "What makes you think she'll believe you?" "After all..." "Ben is still her brother."

Chris suddenly smiled. A sly smile appeared on his face. "She probably won't." Alicia looked confused. "Unless..." "...she sees it herself." He turned toward me. "Mike." "You said you've already figured everything out." "If Sarah watches the footage with us..." "...do you think she'll understand what really happened?"

I looked at him strangely. At that moment, I finally realized something. Chris wasn't simply trying to thank Sarah anymore. He was trying to keep her involved. Whether he realized it himself or not... ...he wanted her to stay in his life. A strange feeling settled inside my heart.

If one day those two actually get together... Chris would become Ben's brother-in-law. That would also make Samantha call him brother-in-law. And me? I'd be left standing alone. Wouldn't that be another form of betrayal? Living together with my enemies...

The thought made me uncomfortable. But I chose not to voice it. Instead, I answered calmly. "Yes." "If she watches the footage herself..." "...she'll understand." Chris visibly relaxed. "That's enough." But Alicia immediately objected. "So she'll have to come to your house?"

She shook her head firmly. "Absolutely not." "Not over my dead body." I laughed. "What's wrong with her coming over?" She looked at me as if I were an idiot. "Everything is wrong." She sighed. "Our families already misunderstand enough." "If another girl starts visiting your house..." "Your parents will think she's your girlfriend too." Even Chris laughed.

After thinking for a while, Alicia nodded. "But..." "If she's coming to see evidence of what her brother actually did..." "Then that's different." She looked at both of us. "The real question is..." "Where are we going to show her?" "And what will Aunt Mary and Uncle Quinton say if they suddenly see Sarah?"

Chris immediately raised his hand. "Good point." "But one thing is certain." "My parents must never know." Alicia laughed. "First Mike hides Laura from his parents." "Now you're doing the same." She sighed dramatically. "What is wrong with men these days?"

After discussing it for several more minutes, we finally reached a decision. Chris would first ask Sarah whether she genuinely wanted to know the truth behind that night. If she agreed, we would meet at the same restaurant after work. I would bring my laptop and show her the security footage myself. Everything now depended on one person. Sarah Wood.

With our plan finally settled, the three of us exchanged determined glances before walking through the company's entrance, ready to begin another unpredictable day.