"Leo..." I rushed back to the garden and inquired Leo about Steven''s whereabouts. But I didn''t know


    signnguage, so I could only gesture.


    Leo appeared to have noticed my nervousness, so he pointed at the backyard. I took a deep breath,


    turned around, and dashed towards the backyard.


    The backyard was vast and empty, yet Steven was still nowhere to be found. I had expected to find


    him in the basement, at that secret base, yet it was also empty.


    When I came out, I discovered Steven in the corner. He curled up next to the dog cage, cradling


    Stevie in his arms.


    He appeared to be talking to Stevie, murmuring, "Stevie, she doesn''t want me anymore..."


    I approached him step by step until I was standing right in front of him. "So dirty."


    Steven did not raise his head and continued to hold Stevie tightly, his voice trembling with choked


    sobs. "You don''t want me anymore..."


    I attempted to speak, yet no words escaped my lips.


    "Steve, I''m exhausted," I whispered.


    Steven nced up at me with guilt in his eyes. "I''m sorry."


    He seemed to be good at apologizing.


    "Why are you apologizing to me?"


    "I should not imprison you, should not hurt you, or tie you up," he replied softly.


    "Did you really imprison me, hurt me, and tie me up?" I asked him, frowning.


    He nced down and nodded in agreement. I fell silent, unsure of the extent to which his words


    held truth and which were mere lies.


    He stood up and followed me. "Stephie, I''m afraid you''ll leave me. I''m sorry..."


    "If you don''t tell me the truth, I will leave you even faster. Let''s watch the surveince footage and


    find out who went to see the murderer whomitted suicide by jumping off the building," I


    whispered as I wearily made my way to the basement.


    Steven followed me closely, reaching out his hand and firmly gripping my wrist. "You go and take


    some rest. I''ll search for it. Once I''ve found it, I will make a copy and show it to you."


    I stopped. It would be good too.


    "Steve, there are many issues we need to solve." I nced at him, yearning for him to abandon his


    concealed self-interest.


    Steven said nothing, and I turned and left.


    Steven replied softly, "Everyone has their own secrets and things they want to protect. Stephie, I''m


    sorry."


    My eyes were bloodshot, and I gazed back at him. "Are the things you protect more important than


    me?"


    Steven clenched his fists. "Stephie, the one I protect is you."


    I averted my gaze, refusing to entertain his nonsense. Upon returning to the room, Iy on the bed


    tiredly and closed my eyes.


    "Stephie is the murderer… Stephie is the murderer..."


    I couldn''t understand why, but Carol''s words continued to echo in my mind. "Stephie is the


    murderer."


    I opened my eyes irritably and stared at the ceiling, breathing rapidly. What on earth had I


    forgotten?


    "Stephany Larson! Stephany! Come out!" I heard someone loudly call my name from outside the


    house. I instantly recognized the voice. It was Yasmin''s.


    "Stephany! What on earth did you say to Michael? He took his own life... you must be content! It


    brings you joy to see him dead, doesn''t it?" Yasmin waspletely losing her mind outside the


    house.


    I frowned, then got up and walked to the window to see Yasmin still crying.


    "Michaelmitted suicide. It''s your fault! You are the murderer!"


    Michaelmitted suicide... Suddenly, I remembered that I told Michael to go to hell when I got out


    of the car. Would he reallymit suicide?Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.