Chapter 238: "Why are you so rattled, Lindy? If the video can be recovered, it'll clear Ms. Clarke's name, won't it?" Rex's secretary stirred the pot.
Lindy swallowed her anger. "The Stevens family business is none of your concern!" The tension was palpable; tempers flared. Keanu's fury erupted.
"Enough! Both of you, stop this nonsense! We need answers today. Once the video is restored, the truth will come to light!"
Lindy could barely stand. She silently prayed her face wouldn't be recognizable in the footage.
Soon, Sherman returned with the evidence. The tech team swiftly restored the footage and sent it to Kellan.
"The video is here," Kellan announced. Knowing Allison wished to spare her father the ordeal, he offered a lifeline. "Although the woman's face is too blurry to identify, it's clear from her height and build that she isn't Ms. Clarke."
Allison frowned, her intuition confirmed. Lindy was careful, too meticulous to slip up so easily. Yet, this was a blessing; her father wouldn't be blindsided.
Turning to Colton, Allison's voice sharpened. "Mr. Stevens, I'm curious who sent you this chopped-up footage, and how could you be so dimwitted as to fall for it? How dare you!" Colton was speechless.
The restored video showed a masked woman, hidden behind sunglasses, in a private moment with Deandre. Her face was shielded, but her stature didn't match Allison's. The video had been sent to Colton by Melany.
Pale, Melany stammered, "Colton, I don't know what happened. The video was from Deandre himself. I didn't realize it had been tampered with…" Shock overwhelmed her. The evidence she'd gathered was fake, and the woman's face remained unrecognizable.
Relief flooded Lindy. Her eyes drifted to Melany with a sneer. "You foolish girl! Throwing accusations at Allison without proof—are you begging for trouble?" Lindy's demeanor soured. She regretted letting Colton divorce Allison. Allison had always been reliable, prioritizing family needs. Melany, by contrast, seemed to stir up chaos constantly.
Determined, Lindy reached for Allison's hand. "Allison, we were wrong. Colton's just been misled. He has a good heart, just immature. Deep down, he still cares for you…"
Kellan chuckled. "So, Mr. Stevens, who almost tore Ms. Clarke's reputation to shreds, is merely a boy with a temper? How utterly enviable!" Lindy bristled, embarrassed.
Allison, unfazed, subtly stepped closer to Kellan. "I appreciate the apology, Lindy, but we're divorced. Let's not confuse things. As for the slander, I suggest you clear it up at the press conference tomorrow. If not, a lawyer's letter or this video hitting the public eye will only make things worse."
Allison had initially feared the footage might expose Lindy, knowing the truth would devastate her father. But Lindy had skillfully covered her tracks. This debacle was Melany and Colton's handiwork, plain as day.
Seeing Allison with Kellan, Colton's face darkened. "Even if you weren't involved with Deandre, Allison, I won't believe you're innocent. I'll uncover that woman's identity and how she's connected to you!" Lindy was nearly driven to madness by her son's stubbornness.
Just as Lindy was about to scold him, Rex's secretary, who had been analyzing the video, pointed to the car seat. "Pause it at 15 seconds," she directed. "When the door opens, you can see a bracelet on the seat. It looks awfully familiar… much like the one Mrs. Stevens is wearing right now."
The secretary wasn't easily dismissed. With a knowing look at Rex, she said, "Mr. Stevens, if I remember correctly, that agate bracelet was a wedding gift from you to Mrs. Stevens. Unique, one-of-a-kind." She zoomed in. The agate bracelet gleamed, identical to Lindy's.
Colton blinked, stunned. "This… this can't be. It's impossible!"