when she left he went crazy (Hope and Christopher)

Chapter 163: Who Leaked the Video

I couldn't hear a thing from where I was, But Kimberly enunciated slowly, allowing me to read her lips.

Before I had a chance to look away, a figure swiftly darted past me-Larry.

Moments later, the living room echoed with the unmistakable crash of something being thrown, followed by muffled arguments. Snatches of conversation floated back to me: my name, Christopher's name, and something about breaking news online.

Larry's voice rose above the fray, "She's spoiled and willful, and you indulge her nonsense? If she keeps kneeling in the heavy snow, and if word gets out, people will....."

The snow suddenly stopped.

I felt a shadow cast over me and looked up to find a pure black umbrella shielding me. Standing with it was Jerry, his deep brown eyes impassive.

Expressionless, Jerry extended the umbrella toward me. "Can you hold it?"

I rubbed ПY partially namh hands. "I can hold it-"

Before I could finish, he pressed the umbrella handle into my grip.

With surprising swiftness, Jerry, clad in a black leather jacket, bent down, half-knelt, and determined as he carried me away.

d gently

atly lifted me to my feet. His steps were brisk and

Larry and Skylar chased after us,

Skylar spoke first, "Jerry, weren't you going to Maple Valley to see Mrs. Hammer? How come...

Jerry didn't break stride. Instead of worrying about me, think about how to clean up Kimberly Harris's mess!"

Skylar was choked with anger. "So you're taking her away without even informing me or your uncle?"

Jerry's smile was a faint, dismissive curve. I've never been in the habit of informing anyone about my actions,"

The driver astutely exited the car and held the back door open by the time we reached the vehicle. Jerry carefully placed me inside, but as he was closing the door, Skylar grabbed its edge. "Wait. I have a question for Ms. Royston."

The temperature inside the car was comfortable, a stark contrast to the biting cold outside.

I paused for a moment, meeting her gaze coldly. "I'm not interested in answering your question."

Since the outcome would be the same no matter how I treated them, I decided to follow my instincts.

Skylar clung to Larry, her voice sharp. "It's her doing! She looked so honest when designing the dress for Kimberly, while using dirty tricks behind the

She turned to Jerry. "Terry, no matter what you say today, you can't take her away!"

"Skylar," Jerry's voice was calm, "I've shown you respect, hence why your hand remains unbroken." His eyes flicked to her hand on the door, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips. "But my patience has limits, 3, 2-*

Just before Jerry slammed the door, Skylar yanked her hand back. Furious, she clung to Larry. "Call Mr. Hammer! I want to see if he'll tolerate ferry's insolence!"

Larry said, "Alright, alright! If you don't let them go now, do you want to bring disgrace to the family..."

Larry, too, was losing his patience, but his voice was cut off as Jerry entered the car from the other side and shut the door.

The black Mulsanne slowly drove out of the villa area. Jerry glanced at my knees, his frown deepening. "Hope Royston, you certainly have a knack for ending up in these pitiful situations."

I lowered my eyes and sald

nothing

Chapter 163 Who Leaked the Video

Jerry threw a towel he had just taken from the trunk into my lap. "Are your knees okay?"

I nodded, "They'll be fine."

I picked up the towel and wiped my hair. Once my cold body had completely warmed up, I looked at Ferry, "Did something happen online?"

Jerry shot back, "Wasn't it your doing?"

"What?" I puzzledly asked.

Jerry looked at me for a moment, raising an eyebrow. "Alright, I overestimated you"

He then pulled out his phone from his pocket and handed it to me. "See for yourself"

I looked at him. "Password?"

Jerry replied, "Your birthday."

I instinctively paused.

Jerry raised an eyebrow." "Don't get any ideas; you and she share the same birthday,"

"Okay, next time make that clearer, I said, feeling slightly embarrassed that I hadn't figured it out immediately.

After unlocking the phone, I quickly found the matter Skylar had mentioned. Kimberly was described as a homewrecker, using despicable means to force the original wife to divorce, and even kidnapping her today.

Someone had also released a video from the underground parking lot, capturing the moment Kimberly's associates abducted me-a video that should have been erased by the Harris family,

Online discussions were tearing Kimberly apart, and Christopher wasn't spared either.

[Oh my God, it turns out having a powerful family really lets you do whatever you want.]

Ms. Harris, the most ruthless mistress in history! She really knows how to abuse her power

[So when they announced their engagement, Christopher Valence hadn't even divorced. Feel sorry for his ex]

My image of Christopher Valence is shattered. Wasn't he supposed to be devoted to his wife? This is just blatant cheating!]

[Exactly, and here I thought their breakup was clean.j

[Wait, have you considered that maybe Christopher Valence didn't want this? I have a friend who has some contact with their circle, and I heard that during the kidnapping, Kimberly Harris also staged her own kidnapping to force Christopher Valence's hand, using his wife's life as leverage.)

[Who knows? It looks like one's cheating and the other's tearing a family apart.] acy. With the

I don't buy this. Wealthy families operate on a different plane. There are layers of hidden truths. The Harris family has a century of legacy. recent death in the Valence family, and now this scandal? Christopher Valence has to juggle a lot of responsibilities I

I handed the phone back to Jerry, feeling disoriented. Whoever leaked this information was acutely aware of all the intricacies.

It wasn't me. Kimberly wouldn't have either.

So, who did?

As I mulled over possibilities, Jerry spoke offhandedly, "Your ex is quite the devotee, isn't he? He's dragging himself through the mud to make the Harris family release you."

I blinked, still processing. "What?"

"Today, there were only two ways to save you," Jerry explained, lifting two fingers and ticking them off. 'First, someone like me could storm in and pull you out of their grip. Christopher Valence couldn't do that; he's got too much at stake."

Second, leverage something else to pressure the Harris family to release you. Public opinion, for instance. Even if they wanted to eliminate you today. they wouldn't dare, and might even have to let you live comfortably for a while."

At that, I paused, gripping the towel so tightly my knuckles whitened. Suppressing a persistent doubt, I fixed my gaze on Jerry and asked pointedly, "Then why did you come to save me today? And why are you so patient in analyzing all this for me?"

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