bhapter /bb317 /b

    bEngaging /bin illicit transactions was a criminal offense, and the cops were sure to look into it.

    Once they started digging, it was only a matter of time before they uncovered who had gone to the hotel with Jamar. Without liking

    a finger, Skr could clear her name with solid proof and ensure Jamar got what he deserved. It was a smart n.

    Her assistant looked at Skr with admiration.

    Skr nodded. “Well? What are you waiting for? Get to it.”

    The assistant bowed her head in embarrassment. “I’ll go right now.”

    The police were efficient–they epted the case and immediately set out to obtain the hotel’s surveince footage.

    Strangely enough, the crucial footage fromst night had mysteriously gone missing.

    It would take some time for the technicians to try and recover it.

    Skr was not in any hurry; she decided to let things simmer for a while.

    She wanted to see what other tricks Jamar would try to pull during this time.

    For now, Skr was content to let Jamar bask in his moment of glory–because the higher he climbed, the harder the fall would be once the truth came out.

    Neither of the parties involved had made any public statements, and the situation only continued to gain traction, drawing more and more attention.

    Volker saw the news. He immediately forwarded the article to the group chat and tagged Yosef.

    Volker typed: [Yosef, your wife left you for someone else!]

    Yosef was still in a meeting and had not seen the news online or Volker’s text, so he did not reply.

    Getting no response, Volker’s imagination ran wild. He started to chat with Cecil and Leyton instead.

    Yosef texted: [Cecil, Leyton, I still haven’t received a reply from Yosef. Do you think he’s so heartbroken he doesn’t even have the energy to answer me?]

    Cecil: [No idea.]

    Leyton: [Quit talking nonsense. If Yosef sees this andes for you, I’m not stepping in.]

    Volker refused to back down.

    Volker: [His wife has another guy. You really think he’s got time to deal with me?]

    Cecil: [You just can’t help stirring things up, can you?]

    Leyton: [If you want to dig your own grave, don’t drag us down with you.]

    Volker snorted and sent another text. [Wow, abandoned by my own people!]

    Yosef typedb: /bb[/bWhat are you guys talking about?)

    The chat was so active that Yosef, justing out of a meeting, could only catch up with the most recent messages in the groun

    [Yosefb, /bthere you are. Have you seen the news? Word is your wife’s got a kept man and it’s trending everywhere |

    Yosef looked at the message in confusion, before he texted: [What do you mean?)

    Xx

    Volker immediately sent a bunch of rted articles into the chat. (Yosef, just see for yourself.)

    Yosef took his time reading through everything Volker had sent.

    ‘The man in the photos is the same guy who had blocked and provoked me outside the office that day, Yosef thought.

    Yosef: [There’s no way Skr would ever be into someone like him.]

    Volker: [Yosef, there are photos as proof. You still don’t believe it?]

    Yosef: [I trust Skr.]

    Although Yosef kept telling himself it was all lies–that there was no way Skr would like someone like that–another voice inside him whispered that maybe this person had some special quality that caught her attention.

    Just thinking of that possibility made his chest tighten with jealousy.

    Two conflicting thoughts tugged relentlessly at his mind, leaving him deeply unsettled and increasingly restless.

    After work, Yosef dragged the other three out for drinks.

    Volker tsked, shaking his head in disappointment. “Seriously, Yosef? Is that all you’ve got–drowning your sorrows alone instead of just asking Skr what’s really going on?”

    “Shut up,” Yosef retorted coldly and downed his drink.

    The other three exchanged nces, finding Yosef’s rare loss of control rather surprising.

    bAD /b