?Chapter 1332:


    Johnson was confused. “What do you mean?”


    “It’s just a hunch, so don’t bombard me with questions yet.” Belinda dodged further exnation, intentionally keeping her theory under wraps.


    Johnson didn’t push her.


    After the meal, Lucas dropped Belinda off at the hospital before heading back to the office to tackle more work.


    In the parking lot of Irondeer University, Catherine had finished her sses and was preparing to drive home.


    As she neared her car, a middle-aged man suddenly rushed over. “Miss Bates! Miss Bates!” He nted himself directly in her path, stopping her.


    “Who are you?” Catherine’s brow furrowed as she eyed him.


    The man said with a serious expression, “My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. Miss Bates, I’m Niko’s father, Timothy. I’vee to plead for your forgiveness.”


    At the mention of Niko, Catherine’s face darkened instantly.


    Her expression turned icy as she snapped, “I don’t want to talk to you.” She tried to walk past him.


    “Miss Bates!” Lamont quickly reached out to block her again.


    Catherine’s brows knit tightly, her re sharp with exasperation.


    “What do you want?”


    Lamont looked like a mess, his anxiety having taken its toll on him.


    He looked at Catherine, his voice trembling with desperation as he said, “Miss Bates, I mean no harm. Could you please just hear me out? I know my son messed up. That’s on him, and on me for failing to raise him better. But… could you please let him off just this once, considering he’s already paid a price for his actions?”


    His voice broke, tears pooling in his eyes. “My son has been taken away by your brother for days. Isn’t that enough, Miss Bates? Yes, he wanted to hurt you before, but in the end, you weren’t harmed, right? Isn’t what you’re doing a bit too cruel?”


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    He hade to Catherine because he had been out of options.


    His son still wasn’t home, and Holley hadn’t given him any updates. Every time he asked, she dismissed him, telling him to wait without offering anything concrete. But he couldn’t wait forever.


    The thought of his son still suffering, possibly enduring abuse, was tearing him apart.


    That was why he hade to Catherine today, hoping she might show somepassion and let his son off.


    But Catherine’s lips twisted into a chilling smile at his words. “I walked away unharmed because I was smarter than your son. But what if I hadn’t been? What if his n had seeded?”


    After a pause, she continued, “When your son was making his n, did he ever consider the havoc he would wreak on my life?”


    Her gaze grew even frostier as she fixed her eyes on him. “So tell me—why should I give a damn about Niko now? He dug his own grave. You really think a few words and some groveling will make what he did go away? Give me a break.” Her tone oozed with mockery.


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