Cindy's anger didn't make any difference. In the end, the document was still destroyed. All her efforts
were in vain. And she couldn't take back all she had done for him. Taking a deep breath, she waved at
Jacob. "Mr. Jacob, please let's take this matter seriously. I'm willing to receive my punishment."
With his eyes bulging out of their sockets, Kim countered regretfully, "No, Mr. Jacob. I was the one who
did it. This isn't Cindy's fault. It doesn't concern her at all. Please, don't punish her."
Kim's voice was loud but depressing. One could tell that he was filled with regrets. James replied
quickly, "Then you need to be honest with us. Say the truth!"
For a split second, Kim was dazed. Then he said, "What truth? There's nothing I haven't told you."
Seeing the reluctance written on Kim's face, Jacob said, "No, you didn't tell us everything. Is there
anything you skipped?"
Immediately, Cindy understood what Jacob meant. Looking at Kim, she asked, "Are you keeping
secrets from me?"
Ashamedly, Kim buried his head in his hands. Then, he squatted and sighed deeply. "No, I am not.
Don't push me anymore!"
With disgust, Cindy snarled at him, "Who pushed you? You are so shameless, Kim Shi! Who forced
you into this? Answer me! We are all in this dilemma because of you. You are the cause of all these.
Gosh! I was so stupid to have wanted to jump off a bridge because of a person like you!"
Upon hearing this, Kim stared at her in shock. He couldn't believe his ears. "Cindy, why are you treating
me like this? I can't reverse all that now. But why are you still castigating and mocking me? Assuming,
you had cared and supported me, do you think things would have turned out badly?"
Cindy opened her mouth in shock. Then, she stared speechlessly at Kim's sad eyes. Truly, she had
always wanted him to be as successful and capable as Jacob. However, she didn't realize that Kim as
just an ordinary person.
Looking at how he reacted to her outburst, it was unfair to compare Kim to Jacob. Both men were
entirely different. Still, Cindy couldn't believe her eyes. Previously, she had thought that he was capable
of doing anything just like Jacob. Apparently, she had mistaken his wide experience for boldness.
At that time, Kim had taken the huge risk just to please her. Cindy's constant nagging was becoming
too much to bear. Still, she remained oblivious that she was the reason why he landed himself into
trouble.
Jacob already knew what happened, but he decided not to speak. Facing Kim, he asked, "If you open
up to us, the matter can be easily solved. Why did you do that?"
Astonished, Kim looked up at Jacob and replied, "Mr. Jacob, there is nothing else. The file has been
destroyed beyond repair and Cindy is innocent. To make up for the losses of the company, I will forfeit
my house and shares. I..."
Suddenly, Cindy burst into tears. Burying her face into her slender hands, she wailed loudly. "Kim, why
didn't you act like this previously? We wouldn't be in this mess if you had been like this. Actually, you
know what? It's already too late for regrets now. It's impossible for us to turn back the hands of time."
Jacob's face darkened as he thought about what Cindy had just said. After a few seconds, he
bellowed, "Who on earth tore up the document?"
Thereafter, he glared at Cindy and James simultaneously. And lastly, he eyed Kim like a hungry
predator.
"It was me!" As he confessed, Kim's face turned crimson. He was obviously in severe pain. However,
he reasoned that if he didn't speak up, Cindy would take the blame for him.
"What is going on here? Didn't Cindy say that she was the one who destroyed it?" Jacob looked very
serious as he asked that question. He was giving Kim a dagger look.
"No, I did it. Cindy just said that to cover up for me. I am saying the truth. I am the real culprit. This is all
my fault! Mr. Jacob, please don't blame Cindy. She has served this company so well."
Again, Kim's eyes were filled with hot tears. Despite his status, he was almost crying.
Meanwhile, Cindy sat still on the sofa. She was staring blankly into the space before her. Cindy looked
as if she was unconscious of her environment. At that instance, Jacob deduced that there was more to
what they were telling him.
From the very beginning, Cindy was aware that what she was about to do was wrong. However, she
chose to do it anyways. Actually, Cindy had no choice. She was helplessly in love with Kim!
"All right. Let's discuss it later. Now, I need you to tell me why you want to take this file. If you do not
say the truth, then I would have to hand this case to the police,"
Jacob said calmly, but he was very serious with his threat.
"I have told you everything that I know. You can involve the police in the investigation. I did it alone. No
one else was involved in this." Kim had already made up his mind. However, he didn't know he would
feel so uncomfortable about it.
"Kim, you are hiding something! What is it? Well, I am not trying to threaten you. I just want to know the
reason behind all this. Things would end up well for everyone if you tell us the truth. But if you refuse,
then I have nothing more to say."
After Jacob finished speaking, he exhaled. Just then, he sighted the wound on Kim's hand.
"What happened to your hand?" Frowning, Jacob grabbed Kim's hand and stretched it out.
"I'm fine. It was just a minor accident." In a split second, Kim glanced at Cindy awkwardly. But, she
didn't move an inch.
Perhaps she was so sad and disappointed in him.
Jacob frowned more. His patience was almost running out. At the same time, James walked up to them
and looked at Kim's hand, but he didn't utter a word.
"Well, I am going to ask you one last question. And you had better be honest with me! Did someone
force you to take the file?" Jacob asked sternly. He was already fed up with all the answers Kim was
giving him. Since there was no point beating around the bush, he decided to get straight to the point.
Hearing that question, Kim began to shiver. Looking at Jacob, he paused for some seconds. Finally, he
said, "Mr. Jacob, how could anyone force me? What are you thinking?"
"Then, there is something else you haven't told us. What did you expect to gain from taking that file?
Explain yourself. I want to understand you. This is your last chance!"
Jacob stamped his foot on the ground. Then he glanced at James.
Surprisingly, throughout the whole conversation, James had remained quiet. This was very unusual.
However, this was the least of Jacob's worries. He had to solve this mystery.
Confused, he felt that he was missing an important clue that could solve the puzzle.
His instincts told him that he was yet to discover some tangible secrets. Time passed by, but they were
still stuck in one place. There was no progress!
Although Kim appeared timid, he was very stubborn. No matter how hard Jacob tried, he just couldn't
get the truth out. Kim always had a way of escaping his questions.
"Since you don't want to open up, we have no other choice but to hand it over to the police. But I'm
afraid that Cindy would be implicated. You said that you did it alone. However, the police might not
believe you. Most likely, they would look for accomplices. Otherwise, why did Cindy attempt suicide in
the first place?"
Jacob declared ruthlessly. In a fit of panic, Kim looked at Jacob with his eyes wide open. Then he
screamed, "I said Cindy has nothing to do with this! Just hand me over to the police. I did it all by
myself! I have wronged Cindy. I can't even give her a good life."
Suddenly, Cindy rose up from the sofa. Hot tears were falling down her pale cheeks like raindrops.
"Assuming you said this earlier, things might have ended differently. But now, nothing can be done to
salvage the situation. Everything is now irreversible, Kim!"
Jacob stared at Kim and then looked around. From what was happening, he could tell that Kim was
also in love with Cindy. However, his love was no longer the same.
"Cindy, do you really have no idea about this? If you know something, you have to confess now.
Perhaps it would help save Kim from this situation. If you don't, it will totally destroy him!"
Jacob narrowed his eyes and stared at Cindy intensely. He was trying so hard to read her facial
expression. Unfortunately, he couldn't find anything.
Jacob sighed and stepped backwards. Staring devilishly at Kim, he dipped his hand into his pocket and
brought out his phone.
"You don't have any other option. If you will not confess, then we have to call the police," Jacob
declared as he dialed 110. At that moment, Kim's face turned white with fear.
"I have told you that I am the culprit. Cindy is not involved in this! She knows nothing!" Kim looked very
nervous. The veins on his forehead were protruding and his hands were shaking terribly.
"Then tell me, who is behind you? Who are you working for?" Jacob squinted his eyes and noticed that
Kim's expression changed.
Jacob knew his instincts were right. If he wasn't so sure, he wouldn't have asked the question.
Trembling, Kim shook his head. "I... There is no one controlling me. I did everything alone."
Kim gulped the saliva in his mouth and stared at Jacob in horror.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda