CHAPTER 251: CHAPTER 251

At that moment, upon hearing what Cora just said, Robert’s lips pressed together into a firm line.

However he remained silent for a few seconds on the phone, and then, with a slow nod even though Cora couldn’t see him, he said in a quiet but pointed tone, "Alright then. I’ve heard you clearly. So, that means... I can do whatever I want with this man, right?"

His voice carried a heavy note, half confirmation, half warning.

Cora, who had moved toward her window during the call, absentmindedly staring at the street below, nodded instinctively, even though the line was only audio. "Yes," she said plainly, "I don’t know him. I don’t recognize the description. And I honestly don’t think it has anything to do with me. Whoever he is, if he’s trying to use my name or cause you trouble, you have every right to act."

"Good," Robert replied quickly, his tone sharper now, confident. "That’s exactly why I called. I didn’t want to do anything rash before confirming with you. But now that I have your word... I’ll proceed with what I had in mind."

The line went quiet for a second.

"Alright then," Cora murmured, more to herself than to him.

At that moment without wasting anymore time Robert hung up.

The silence in her apartment after the call was deafening. Cora stood still, the phone still pressed against her ear for a few seconds longer, as if she was hoping maybe Robert would call her back and say it was all just a misunderstanding.

But he didn’t.

And that was when it happened that quiet voice in her heart. That nagging feeling she couldn’t shake. The only person who even remotely matched the description Robert gave... was Oliver.

She didn’t want to admit it.

Oliver was soft. Gentle. The kind of person who cried at sad movies and apologized to strangers for accidentally bumping into them. He wasn’t built for threats or intimidation, and he certainly wasn’t the type to walk into someone’s office to issue a warning face-to-face. Especially not to a man like Robert.

And besides, Oliver didn’t even know Robert personally.

And Robert he hadn’t done anything to Oliver either.

So, there was no reason for Oliver to get involved. None at all.

Cora shook her head. "No," she whispered aloud, "it can’t be Oliver."

Still... something didn’t sit right, what if?

What if it was? Her mind kept circling back, no matter how much she tried to dismiss the thought. And deep down, she knew that the only way to truly clear this unease was to hear Oliver’s voice directly.

Without wasting another minute, she grabbed her phone again and tapped on Oliver’s name.

As the phone began to ring, her heart beat just a little faster. She wasn’t sure what she was going to ask... or how she was going to phrase it.

But she needed to know.

At that moment, the moment Oliver saw Cora’s name flash across his phone screen, his face lit up. A slow smile crept across his lips, and he leaned back on his couch, raising his brows playfully like a teenager catching a surprise call from a crush. He quickly answered, his voice laced with warm teasing.

"Wow... Is today a special day or what? Miss Cora finally found time for little ol’ me?" he said, laughing softly.

Cora burst into laughter the second she heard his tone. That laugh the one she only gave when she was genuinely amused. "Stop messing around, Oliver," she chuckled. "Maybe I did miss you a little... just a little." She stretched the words out, playful yet honest. "But seriously, I owe you big time. I haven’t even had the chance to thank you properly. I’ve been so caught up with everything."

Oliver tilted his head, even though she couldn’t see him. His smile softened. "Cora, come on. You don’t owe me anything. You were going through a lot, and I wasn’t keeping score. I helped you because I wanted to. That’s what friends do."

But Cora wasn’t having it. "No, I’m serious," she said with more weight in her voice now. "I want to take you out no excuses this time. Just you and me. Maybe a whole day or two. I need a break, and honestly, I miss our random talks. You deserve more than just a quick thank-you text. I want to actually spend time with you."

Oliver’s smile grew deeper. He leaned forward slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching like he was trying to hold back how touched he really felt. "You’re not just saying this because you’re feeling guilty, right?"

"Nope," she said firmly. "I’ve already decided. You don’t get to argue."

He laughed again. "Alright then, I won’t argue. I’ll even let you pay for lunch. Or dinner. Or both."

"Deal," she replied with a wide grin he could hear through the phone.

There was a small pause. Neither of them wanted to end the call just yet, but the comfort in their silence spoke louder than words.

"That’s the perfect thing," Cora said at last, her voice softer now. "And that’s the best thing to do."

At that moment, Oliver smiled gently on the phone and nodded like she could see him. "No problem," he said in a calm voice. "I’ll be expecting it."

But right before she could end the call, Cora’s voice became a little slower, a little unsure.

"Oliver..." she said softly.

He paused. "Yeah?"

"There’s... actually something I wanted to ask you," she said. "It’s really serious. I don’t even know how to say it... It sounds crazy, I know. And I’ve already told myself it can’t be true, because I know you... I know you can’t do something like that. But I still want to ask, just to be sure. So I can know how to stay calm and defend you if they try to accuse you wrongly."

Oliver could hear her voice drop a little. She sounded like she was caught between worry and confusion.

"Cora," he said, his voice warm. "Just ask me. Whatever it is, say it. I already know something is bothering you. I could hear it in your voice the moment you called."

Deep down in Oliver’s heart, he had a small guess what this was about. Something in him told him it had to do with Robert. And if that was it, then he was already ready to face it. He wasn’t going to hide.

Cora took a small breath on the phone. Then she finally said it.

"Someone called me not long ago," she began. "They said someone came to their office to threaten them. The way they described the person... it sounded like you. The description fits you perfectly. But I told myself, no. That can’t be Oliver. You can’t do something like that."

Oliver didn’t say anything yet. He just listened as Cora’s voice turned more certain.

"I even rushed to defend you," she continued. "I told the person no that there’s no way it was you. I know you. You won’t do that. But... I still wanted to ask you myself. Because if people are out there using your name, I need to know. I need to know the truth from you."