Chapter 557: Wheels Are in Motion
Hearing Susan's angry outburst from the ladies' room, Manuel paused. He remained calm, approaching the door. He wasn't particularly bothered by Susan's harsh words; he'd heard far worse. He saw Susan leaving, having vented her anger and deemed arguing with Martina futile. Spotting Manuel, she knew he'd overheard. Annoyed and uncomfortable, she was about to speak when Martina called out, "Dear Manuel, are you here to check on me?"
The scene felt incredibly distasteful. Susan, gnawing on her lip, hurried past Manuel, but feeling she’d overreacted, tried to explain, only to find Martina throwing herself into Manuel's arms. They clung together, Martina rubbing against him, and then… she kissed him.
Susan whirled around. The sight shocked her. A seemingly unassuming man like Manuel, kissing Martina publicly—it was bizarre. Hurriedly leaving, she missed what followed. Manuel, however, had subtly avoided Martina's kiss, using the moment to discreetly take her phone and slip it into his pocket.
"I thought you'd play along to make it look real," Martina said sarcastically.
Manuel simply released her. "Come on. I'll drive you home."
"Now?"
"Mm."
Taking her hand, he left the restaurant. Martina, engrossed in Manuel, forgot her phone. In the elevator, they encountered Henry and Susan.
"Blindsided again," Martina smirked coldly.
Susan, glaring, felt annoyed by their reappearance despite her earlier departure. Couldn't they have lingered a little longer? she thought irritably.
"Will you drive me home, Manuel?" Martina asked sweetly.
"Yeah."
"I'm alone tonight," Martina explained. "Sarah had a minor accident. She's in the hospital; my mother and Charles are with her."
Manuel remained silent.
"You love mocha, right?" Martina continued. "I learned to make it in college. I'll make you one later at my place."
"Okay," Manuel replied.
Susan's stomach churned. The elevator's mirrored walls made it worse; she saw Martina, hand in hand with Manuel, practically clinging to his arm. Susan rolled her eyes, silently judging Martina's behavior.
Martina noticed Susan's expression—nothing escaped the mirrored walls—and reveled in her discomfort. The elevator doors opened, and they exited separately.
Manuel drove Martina home. At Sawyer Manor, he parked but didn't get out.
"Aren't you coming up?" Martina asked.
"I guess not."
"Jeez! Manuel, you're so realistic!"
He didn't correct her.
"Never mind. You'll be charmed by me one day!" Martina snapped, exiting the car.
Manuel watched her go, then sped away, returning to the restaurant. He quickly retrieved Martina's phone, connected it to his laptop and phone, and worked furiously. Soon, he called Theodore: "Send someone to retrieve the phone in my car."
"Done?"
"Yeah."
"Sold your charms?" Theodore teased.
Manuel hung up. A moment later, someone collected the phone. Twenty minutes passed before Theodore called: "Martina just returned to the restaurant for her phone. She has it."
"Okay."
Manuel called Hannah: "It's done."
"Already?"
"Yep. I've installed a locator and monitoring system. I can track her location and monitor her calls."
"You're a genius!" Hannah exclaimed, admitting she'd been unaware of his skills until reading overseas news about his success as a software tycoon after his breakup with Susan.
Manuel, slightly embarrassed, said, "I'm just okay. Oscar's the real genius."
"Oh?" Hannah was surprised. "He can do this too?"
"Nope." Manuel said vaguely, "You'll know later."
Hannah frowned; he always used that excuse.
"I gotta run. Bye."
"Okay."
Hannah hung up. The plan was in motion. All that remained was to let Charles dig his own grave.
…
On Monday, the second hearing in Oscar's case commenced. Hannah and Theodore arrived early to avoid the press. The case, now involving the Balderston family, drew considerable attention. Hannah, seated in the audience, saw Melvin, the public prosecutor, looking serious and ruthless. She then saw Oscar being escorted into court.