Chapter 130

After escorting Lily home and ensuring she was sound asleep, Edmond returned to the hospital.

Alistair had been sitting with Lily's driver, chatting and smoking two cigarettes while waiting for Edmond.

"What do you want to ask? I can ask for you. Why did you come back?"

The initial plan was for Octavian to go to the police station first, followed by Edmond with Lily, while Alistair stayed behind to question Selena about today's events.

However, after giving Selena a piece of his mind without getting to the point, Edmond called, saying he would come back himself.

So, Alistair continued his chat with Lily's driver.

Edmond ignored Alistair's question, exiting the elevator and heading straight to Selena's room.

Selena had anticipated Edmond's return. When he had left in the afternoon, his glance, cold as ice, made it clear that he wouldn't let the matter rest without a satisfactory explanation.

Thus, she didn't hide anything.

"Meeting Lily last night was an accident. I invited her to lunch today because I wanted to see what kind of woman I lost to. I wanted to see the person you easily gave your marriage to."

Edmond stood three steps away from the bed. Selena looked at the distance between them and lowered her gaze.

"Don't worry, I didn't say much to her. If I had mentioned you, she wouldn't have been so calm. She doesn't know we know each other."

Edmond's cold eyes bore into her, and he asked, "Were you involved in today's incident?"

Selena was stunned, then gave a bitter smile, "Do you really think I'm that unscrupulous?"

She seemed agitated but admitted frankly.

"Yes, I can't let you go. But I wouldn't use such dirty methods. Those four men weren't arranged by me. I..."

"Zhang Zhen," Edmond interrupted her. "Was it Zhang Zhen?"

Selena paused, quickly turned her head away, "No."

Edmond noted her fleeting panic and understood, saying only, "This is the last time. Don't look for Lily again. If..."

"Edmond."

Selena interrupted, knowing what he was about to threaten.

"Let's end it here. You owe me nothing. You don't need to compensate me anymore. My brother's matter is settled. You don't need to care about me. I can walk my own path from now on."

After Edmond and Alistair left, Zhang Zhen emerged from the bathroom.

She knew Selena had made up her mind but still asked, "I don't understand. Why cut ties with him now?"

Selena replied, "Burn the boats and you have no choice but to succeed."

She had to fight for herself. If she succeeded, she'd be fortunate. If she failed, she'd let go.

Selena didn't want to discuss further and remembered something, asking Zhang Zhen, "Are you sure those four guys are reliable? They won't give you away?"

Zhang Zhen replied mysteriously, "Don't worry."

Alistair followed Edmond out of the hospital. In the elevator, he heard that Lily wouldn't pursue charges because of Selena and could imagine her aggrieved face.

"So, what now? Really not pursuing it?"

"Yeah."

Alistair was surprised at how agreeable Edmond was this time, but then heard him ask, "Isn't it strange that Zhang Zhen, whose base isn't in Jiangyu, could find people willing to go to prison for her in less than two days?"

Alistair, pondering the implication, was shocked, "You mean someone is backing her? Who would dare to help her bully Lily in Jiangyu?"

Edmond said, "Zhang Zhen has an old acquaintance in Jiangyu."

"Who?"

"Zoya."

Alistair's mouth hung open for a while before he understood, "You're not pursuing it because you want to use these people to get to Zoya?"

Edmond remained silent, feeling a strong intuition.

Perhaps this time, through those individuals, they could uncover the truth about Lily's past incident.

If Zoya was indeed involved, she wouldn't escape this time.

Edmond had been silent all afternoon, contemplating this matter.

Lily slept until 8 PM.

When she woke up and found Edmond gone, she went downstairs. Having missed lunch, she wasn't very hungry, so Aunt Fang cooked a bowl of porridge for her.

After eating, Lily returned to her bedroom and had just lain down when Aria's video call came through.

"My dear, you're finally awake! You can really sleep!"

Aria had spent the afternoon discussing contract details with Zhou Chengfan in Jingxiu.

They had agreed on the terms with Lily in the morning, and with Edmond's backing, everything went smoothly. Zhou Chengfan agreed to all their studio's terms.

Aria had finished at 5 PM and saw that Lily had called ten minutes earlier. When she called back, Lily said she was at the police station, having just finished giving a statement and was waiting for Edmond.

Aria was startled and asked what happened. Lily only mentioned having a fight with a drunk while having lunch with Selena and said she was exhausted and needed to sleep first.

Aria had waited until 8 PM.

After taking a shower and finding a message from Lily twenty minutes earlier saying she was up, she called immediately.

Lily, lying on the bed, recounted the afternoon's events in ten minutes, omitting only Selena and the man behind her.

Aria's face turned various shades as she listened, from anger to relief, cursing the drunk and then Zhang Zhen.

"That damn octopus! She caused the most trouble during filming and is still so annoying. How dare she scold you for half an hour? You should've ripped her mouth off!"

Lily always got angry mentioning Zhang Zhen.

"She's lucky. Twice she provoked me. The first time, I couldn't act out in front of your sister-in-law, and this time, I had to tolerate her because of Selena. She's very fortunate."

Mentioning Selena, Aria was curious about the secret Lily mentioned.

"Not even me? Did she tell you about her and that man? So whose birthday did she come back for? Is it someone from the Jiangyu elite? An outsider boyfriend?"

Lily maintained her principles, "A secret I've been told will stay with me unless the person allows me to share it. Not a word even in my grave."

Selena hadn't revealed the man's identity, but Lily had a guess.

Firstly, he must be someone in the elite circle to support Selena for so long.

Secondly, since Selena came to Jiangyu, the man must belong to the Jiangyu elite circle.

That narrowed it down considerably.

Among those with the capability to support Selena, who were close in age and recently married, there were only three.

Edmond, Alistair's cousin, and Zeng Shao's elder brother.

Edmond was definitely out. Jingxiu wasn't involved in entertainment, and Edmond was too responsible to do something so reckless.

The Qin family, similar to Alistair's, had many playboys and investments in entertainment. Alistair's cousin had a colorful history and a marriage of convenience, with many scandals, making him a 50% possibility.

Zeng Shao's elder brother wasn't a playboy but was a career-focused man, married to someone of equal status. It wasn't impossible he gave up Selena for family reasons, and the Zeng family had their own media company, making him the other 50% possibility.

Oh, and whose birthday fell during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday?

Only two: Edmond and Zeng Shao's elder brother.

So it must be Zeng Shao's elder brother.

A scumbag.

Aria didn't continue pressing. Lily was known for keeping secrets firmly.

Even when furious, she wouldn't utter a soft word or break a vow. Beat her to death, and she wouldn't spill a secret.

Although curiosity gnawed at her, Aria respected Lily's principles. But...

"You really don't like Selena anymore? I was chatting with my sister-in-law at noon, suggesting we collaborate with her again since you work so well together and her status complements your studio."