A few dayster, another case involving Jasper Corporation went to trial.

    That morning, Sean had flown to Stanley City to attend an important international business summit. The earliest he return to Jersey City would be the following afternoon, so he had no way of sitting in on Charlotte’s trial.

    Charlotte was highly capable and had prepared thoroughly. By the time she walked out of the courthouse, she carrie with quiet confidence, her mood clear and buoyant.

    She checked the time–half past eleven. Sean was probably busy right now.

    She missed him. She wanted to call, to hear his voice. But she resisted the urge. She didn’t want to disturb his work.

    Today she had taken the Porsche Panamera, the most low–key and inexpensive car in the garage. It was still a luxury car, but at least it didn’t look so over the top.

    As usual, Petra was driving.

    The stretch of road leading to theirw firm was notorious for heavy traffic, and at midday rush hour it was even worse. Cars were crawling along at a snail’s pace.

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, an elderly man copsed right in front of Charlotte’s car.

    Running him over had been impossible, but she had no choice except to get out and check.

    Just as she reached for the door handle, a thought crossed her mind. She looked up at Petra. “Is the dashcam on?”

    “It’s on.”

    Charlotte considered for a moment. “Petra,e with me. Bring your phone and record everything.”

    “Got it.”

    Charlotte got out to see what had happened.

    The man’s hair was white, and he looked to be in his seventies or eighties. His body was thin to the point of frailty, his face sallow and drawn.

    His eyes were closed, his face contorted in pain, and low groans escaped his lips. He looked genuinely unwell, not like someone faking an ident.

    Charlotte didn’t dare move him for fear of causing further harm. Instead, she called 911b. /b

    The ambnce arrived quickly and rushed him to the hospital. Charlotte and Petra went along.

    After emergency treatment, the man pulled through. The doctor exined that he had suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage. Luckily, they had gotten him to the hospital in time. A dy of even a few minutes could have been fatal.

    Soon, the man’s family arrived–a middle–aged couple, both around fifty, and a man in his twenties. The middle–aged man was clearly the patient’s son.

    At first, the son seemed polite enough. “Thank you for bringing my father to the hospital. Miss, could we talk somewhere belse/bb? /bIt’s crowded and noisy here.”

    Curious about his true intentions, Charlotte agreed. “All right.”

    The man’s wife and son followed silently bas /bthe group walked out of the hospital bto /ba more open area.

    Charlotte nced around discreetly. There were no security cameras. She switched on bher /bphone’s recording function.

    Once bthey /bwere boutside/bb, /bthe man’s polite bmask /bbslipped/b. bFaced /bbwith /bthe woman who bhad /bjust helped save his bfather’s /bblife/bb, /bbhe /bbdidn’t /bboffer /bthanks. Insteadb, /bbhe /bbgave /bher a strange blook/b, bhis /btone bequally /bstrange.

    He lifted his chin slightly, his expression cold, arrogant, and edged with disdain. “So, you’re the one who brought my father to the hospital?”

    “Yes,” Charlotte replied.

    Her brows furrowed. From his attitude, she could already guess where this was going.

    And she was right. His next words were, “You’re the one who pushed him, aren’t you?”

    Charlotte’s expression turned subtly wry, as if to say, I knew it.

    A glint of mockery shed in her eyes. She gave a cool smile and shook her head. “No. Your father fell on his own. No one pushed him.”