Hannah Hargrave lay disheveled in the passenger seat, her eyes closed, still savoring the lingering aftertaste of the moment.

Harry Zachary lay on top of her, his breathing just as heavy.

With a fierce bite to his lower lip, he asked, "Am I better than Director Croft?"

...

Receiving no response, he pressed again, "Did it make you feel good?"

Hannah murmured a sound, unclear if it was a reply or a soft moan.

A smile curved at Harry Zachary’s lips; he was very satisfied with Hannah Hargrave’s performance today. At least she didn’t call out Nicholas Croft’s name again.

Neither of them rushed to tidy up their clothes, one lay in the passenger seat, the other leaned in the driver’s seat trying to calm down.

A car passed by, the windows flashing, and Harry Zachary patted Hannah Hargrave’s exposed rear, "Get up, let’s talk business."

"Go ahead," Hannah didn’t move, still lying with her eyes closed in the passenger seat.

Harry Zachary zipped up his pants, lit a cigarette, and as he exhaled smoke, he said, "The task you assigned has been completed; his family won’t suspect a thing."

"The acceptance letter was delivered?" Hannah asked, her voice hoarse post-activity.

"Yeah," Harry replied, blowing smoke forward, and when he turned his face, he saw Hannah still lying in the passenger seat, unwilling to get up, a wicked smirk forming as he took another drag of the cigarette and leaned over again.

Hannah willingly opened her mouth, turned around, lily arms entwining Harry’s neck, her body restlessly twisting, and soon, the idle Maserati began to shake once more...

...

Before bed that night, Nicholas Croft wetted a towel to wipe the body of the sleeping woman in the hospital bed, a frequent task in recent days.

Earlier, he received a message from Assistant Tang, a set of photos and videos of Hannah Hargrave’s secret meeting with a man.

Nicholas wasn’t interested in Hannah’s rendezvous with another man; what concerned him most was whether the car accident was connected to her.

After wiping Sophie Foster, Nicholas lifted the light cover and lay on the bed, turning to face Sophie, draping an arm over her, kissing her forehead, "Lara, good night," then closed his eyes.

In the holding cell, this was Assistant Tang’s third visit.

Sitting across from Zhou Qiang, the two separated by a table.

"Mr. Zhou, if you reveal the mastermind behind this, our director promises to reward you with a substantial amount of money, enough for you and your wife and daughter to live comfortably for the rest of your lives."

"Assistant Tang, how many times do I have to say it, no one instructed me; I drank too much," Zhou Qiang helplessly emphasized, hands together as he pleaded with Assistant Tang. "Really, I beg you, please don’t push me any further."

"No one instructed you?" Assistant Tang questioned expressionlessly, and before Zhou could answer, he continued, "Quite the coincidence, isn’t it? You hit someone and injured them, and then a university in the United States sends an acceptance letter. Though your daughter is excellent, she isn’t exceptional enough to be admitted unconditionally, is she?"

"Well... how would I know, I’m not from their school, who knows what their admission standards are,"

Zhou Qiang said, slightly troubled, but the flash of panic in his eyes didn’t escape Assistant Tang’s notice. His lips moved slightly as he snorted coldly, continuing, "Mr. Zhou, don’t blame me if I don’t warn you. If you confess now, we’ll not only reward you handsomely, but we also won’t pursue responsibility against you. However, if our director discovers the truth later..."

Watching Zhou Qiang’s evident panic, Assistant Tang paused, issuing a chilling laugh, "By then, you’ll be an accomplice to premeditated murder!"

"It’s not as serious as you say," Zhou Qiang looked at Assistant Tang with guilt, "I was just drunk driving, how does it involve premeditated murder,"

Assistant Tang let out a cold laugh, "Alright, since that’s what you think, there’s nothing more I can do," he said, about to leave. Before rising, he gave Zhou Qiang a meaningful look and said, "But think carefully, once our director gets to the bottom of this, your situation will be more than just detention."

Watching Assistant Tang’s departing silhouette, Zhou Qiang nervously wiped away sweat.

That person said, as long as he refuses to confess, they wouldn’t find evidence...

With the early morning hours in the country coinciding with midday in the United States, Assistant Tang called Nicholas Croft.

"Director, I paid another visit today..."

"What did he say?" Nicholas Croft stood by the window, eyeing the passing vehicles, his handsome face taut.

"He still refuses to admit anything," Assistant Tang spoke truthfully, then added before Nicholas could respond, "But I’m certain that it’s just as you suspected!"

"Why do you say that?" Nicholas Croft’s tone remained steady, and Assistant Tang reported his thoughts earnestly, "A person’s eyes don’t lie. When talking to me, Zhou Qiang’s eyes were full of evident panic, as if desperately trying to conceal something,"

"I see, no rush, we’ll discuss more when I return." Nicholas Croft ended the call, holding his phone, his gaze narrowed as he looked out the window.

Returning to the bedside, he made another call. Once connected, Nicholas abruptly instructed, "Find a way to get close-up footage, I’ll double the reward!"

Putting away his phone, Nicholas sat by the bedside again, watching the sleeping woman, his large hand gently covering hers.

"Lara, rest assured, I won’t let the person who caused our baby’s death get away with it, I won’t let Hannah Hargrave go!"

In the hospital bed, the sleeping Sophie Foster’s brow furrowed at the mention of Hannah Hargrave’s name.

After lunch, the doctor came in for routine rounds, and Nicholas Croft rose from his chair, "Doctor, how much longer before my wife wakes up?"

The last time a psychologist was brought in, they said Lara was immersed in a world of happiness she’d created, unwilling to wake unless given a significant shock; otherwise, she might sleep forever...

Nicholas Croft couldn’t accept this; Lara was so young, barely into her twenties, with a whole life ahead. He wouldn’t allow her to lie in bed for a lifetime.

The doctor looked at the woman in the hospital bed, her lips slightly curved, as if she was having a pleasant dream.

"Mr. Croft, did your wife have any reactions today?"

"When I was talking to her earlier, she frowned unhappily." Nicholas reported honestly. Ever since the doctor advised strong stimulation to awaken Sophie, he had been vigilant about her expressions during conversations.

"What did you say?" The doctor turned to Nicholas, his expression serious.

Nicholas’s eyes shifted to his sleeping wife, speaking slowly, "I mentioned someone she dislikes, so she frowned in displeasure. I’ll be more careful in the future and ensure she doesn’t hear that name again."

"Mr. Croft! Continue, mention it to your wife more often!"

...

Perplexed by the doctor’s words, Nicholas lifted his gaze without understanding.