Chapter 1048



Kylee, however, reacted with defiance, crossing her arms over her chest. “I only wanted revenge! What’s wrong with that? The real villain here is Belinda!”

Lyle studied her intently before responding, his voice measured yet firm. “You’re accusing Belinda of orchestrating your abduction and assault. But take a step back and think rationally—if she were truly behind it, why would she allow the kidnappers to know her last name?”

His tone sharpened as he continued, “Have you forgotten my profession? I’m a police officer. I know how these things work. This entire situation screams of a setup. Someone wants to frame Belinda. Kylee, you need to think about this carefully.”

Mitchell, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. “Don’t let your hatred for Belinda blind you to the bigger picture. If you allow your emotions to cloud your judgment, you risk losing sight of the real enemy. Is that what you want? To be manipulated by the real culprit while the truth slips through your fingers?”

Carola, Lyle, and Mitchell were all on the same page—none of them believed Belinda was responsible for Kylee’s ordeal.

Kylee’s expression flickered with uncertainty as she bit her lip. She didn’t say anything.

Carola took the opportunity to interject. “My people have been investigating. We managed to track down the two men who kidnapped you, but both of them died last month in separate ‘accidents.'”

At those words, Kylee’s anger flared again. “That proves it! Belinda must have silenced them to cover her tracks!”

Lyle’s brows furrowed in thought. He processed the information carefully before countering her claim. “Or… consider this: What if the true mastermind had them eliminated to ensure Belinda took the fall?”

He let his words sink in before continuing. “Think about it, Kylee. The person behind this benefits from fueling the conflict between you and Belinda. They want you at each other’s throats while they gain something from the matter. Is there someone out there who harbors resentment toward both you and Belinda?”

Kylee fell into silence, biting her lip as her thoughts churned. For the first time, doubt seeped into her expression, shaking her conviction.

She believed Mitchell was right—letting her hatred consume her could mean overlooking the true culprit.

Was there someone out there who hated both Belinda and her?

Kylee forced herself to think harder, her mind racing.

And then—it hit her. A face surfaced in her mind…

Kylee thought of Verena immediately.

She knew exactly how much Verena hated Belinda.

Verena longed for Belinda to vanish.

As for Verena’s attitude toward her…

Even though they were allies for now, she hadn’t forgotten how they had teamed up in the first place.

She held leverage over Verena, who later hired someone to steal her phone to erase the evidence.

In the end, it was only because she had a backup that Verena was forced to relent.

And not long after that… She was abducted, subjected to explicit photography, and assaulted.

Now that Kylee was reflecting on it, Verena’s involvement in the matter seemed highly likely.

Kylee’s eyes widened in realization.

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