Chapter 23

"Hey Steven, can you take Shirley to the medical office?" Patrick shot Steven a knowing look before walking off.

Shirley barely had time to process what was happening before Patrick vanished from sight.

Steven awkwardly maneuvered around the equipment stand and approached the fragile-looking Shirley, unsure of how to help.Despite being in his forties, he was still single, having devoted his youth to research. This dedication had made him the youngest board member at the Rivera Group, second only to Patrick.

Now, he crouched in front of Shirley, his back straight and his expression tense, unsure how to help her up.

"No need. I'm fine now!" Shirley started to get up but,seeing her colleagues watching, changed her mind. If they realized her foot wasn't hurt, it could be problematic, especially since Patrick hated being deceived. Plus, Steven, being a high-ranking executive, could be beneficial for her future.

So, Shirley pretended to lose her balance and fell to the side with a dramatic gasp. Steven quickly caught her.

Steven's heart raced. He had seen many workplace power plays, but experiencing one firsthand left him flustered. He took a deep breath to calm himself and suggested, "Ms. Wright, how about I carry you on my back?"

Reluctantly, Shirley climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms tightly

around his neck. The warmth and softness of her body made Steven's heart flutter.

"Mr. Harris, be careful," she said in a playful tone, making Steven even more uneasy.

"Got it,"' he replied, standing up cautiously and heading towards the medical office.

In the hallway, colleagues cast curious glances and whispered among themselves:

"What's Shirley's deal? Even Steven is flustered. You know, he never shows emotion."

"Watch what you say. Shirley's Mr. Harris's woman. You don't want to get fired,right?"

"I'm just jealous!"

Steven caught those comments and felt a bit uneasy, but he kept his cool on the outside. He walked steadily, making sure Shirley felt comfortable.

"Mr. Harris, don't listen to their nonsense. It's all Mr. Rivera's fault for treating me so well. We're not even that close yet," Shirley said,feigning shyness and nuzzling her face against Steven's back.

Steven felt a surge of heat and unconsciously tightened his grip on her.

Meanwhile, Emily hurried to the rehab center. After learning the

details, she calmed down, took a deep breath, and entered the reception room.

"Miss, these are your mother's visitation items. During inspection,we found a bottle containing gamma-hydroxybutyrate." the staff member said sternly.

"Gamma-hydroxybutyrate?" Emily asked, puzzled, examining the seemingly ordinary handmade juice bottle.

Seeing her confusion, the staff member explained patiently, "It's a central nervous system depressant, often used as an anesthetic or hallucinogen. It's colorless and tasteless, and can cause drowsiness,dizziness, or even unconsciousness, posing a serious risk."

Emily was horrified. If her mother had consumed the drink,the consequences would have been dire.

"Can I see the test report?" Emily asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Determined to gather evidence against Shirley, she knew she had to stay calm and focused.

"Of course," the staff member said, handing her the report. Emily read it carefully, her expression resolute.

"Thank you for catching this and handling it professionally. Is there any chance the bottle has fingerprints or other traceable evidence?"she asked.

The staff member thought for a moment before replying,′′I's possible,

but the bottle has been handled by many people, so the evidence might be compromised. We'll do our best."

Though disappointed, Emily didn't lose hope. "Can I get a copy of the test report?" she asked firmly.

Knowing that evidence was crucial to proving Shirley's involvement.she needed the report, even if it couldn't directly incriminate her.

The staff member nodded and quickly made a copy for her.

"I'd like to request the surveillance footage from today," Emily said decisively.

With her mother's safety at stake, she had to pursue every lead.

"Sorry, the footage has been sent to a third-party tech company.We're also eager to find the culprit, so please be patient," the staff member responded sincerely.

Emily had no choice but to wait. "Can I see my mom?" she asked,filled with longing.

Though the rehab center wasn't a mandatory facility, visitation rules were strict.

The staff member made a quick calI and soon returned, saying, "You can. I'll take you to the visiting room."

In the visiting room, Emily finally saw her mother. After months apart, Lisa looked frailer, with more gray hair. Emily's heart ached.

She had so much to say but couldn't find the words.

Lisa gently tucked Emily's loose hair behind her ear, full of guilt. "My dear Emily, you've lost weight again. It's my fault for not being able to take care of you and your brother."

Emily's eyes filled with tears as she thought about everything that had happened recently.

"Why are you crying? Did Patrick do something to you?" Lisa asked angrily.

Emily shook her head. She didn't know what Patrick had told her mother, but under her gentle concern, she felt even more wronged and couldn't speak.

"Don't worry. When I get out, I'll confront him! If he dares to hurt you, I'll fight him to the end."

"No... he didn't hurt me," Emily denied quickly, not wanting her mother to worry.

Lisa said, "That's good. As long as you two are okay, I'm relieved."

"Yeah," Emily replied softly, avoiding her mother's eyes.

"Are you sure nothing's wrong between you two?" Lisa asked,sensing something was off.

"No..." Emily mumbled.

"Alright, next time you visit, bring Patrick with you," Lisa said, her eyes full of hope. Emily could only nod.

Leaving the rehab center, Emily headed straight to her apartment in

the city. Downstairs. Marlon was waiting for her.