Chapter 376 Is Forgiveness Still Possible?
<Chapter>Chapter 376 Is Forgiveness Still Possible? </Chapter>
Gabriel watched the surveillance footage of Diana leaving the hospital room and entering the elevator. The moment she stepped into the lift, she slumped against the wall in relief. Moments later, her eyes filled with wariness as she snapped back to her normal, poised demeanor. Gabriel was almost sure—something was haunting Diana's conscience.
It's possible that Diana didn't directly reveal Teresa's whereabouts to Brian, but the way she steered the conversation towards Teresa in the alum group chat and then seemingly inadvertently exposed where Teresa was undoubtedly intentional.
There were more than thirty people in Teresa's alum group, and any of them, excluding Teresa herself, could have leaked her location to Brian.
Or perhaps Brian was lurking in that group chat all along, ready to pounce on the information the moment it was shared.
To investigate each of the thirty-plus members, plus Brian, who was now dead, wasn't going to be easy.
Nevertheless, if Diana had a guilty conscience and intentionally leaked Teresa's location, she must've been in direct or indirect contact with Brian before.
After all, Diana and Teresa had both studied abroad in Jena. It was a certainty that she knew Brian.
"After checking the surveillance footage, Gabriel commanded sternly, "Look into whether Diana has had any contact with Brian or anyone from his circle since she returned from Jena, especially in the past two months after Brian was crippled."
Now, he was convinced in his mind that Diana had deliberately leaked Teresa's whereabouts to Brian, but he didn't have concrete proof.
He needed to find evidence.
However, he had yet to anticipate Diana's cunning to run so deep. She had benefited from her many years of friendship with Teresa, and now, to commit malicious acts so seamlessly.
What was her motive for harming Teresa?
In a flash of insight, Gabriel recalled the incident of Diana's miscarriage.
Deep down, Gabriel knew it was as clear as day. Liam had been dismissive of everyone because he'd never let go of Teresa. Otherwise, he wouldn't have slept with Diana—a close friend of Teresa's—and then Lauren, who bore a slight resemblance to Teresa.
Diana was always close to Liam, sharing his bed and getting pregnant with his child. With her sharp wits, how could she have failed to notice that Teresa was always in Liam's heart?
Thus, Diana's actions were motivated by Liam.
Women, it seems, will go to any lengths for a man, and betrayal between friends is far from an exception.
As this thought crossed his mind, Gabriel's hand, which had been hanging casually by his side, slowly curled into a tight fist, veins throbbing visibly on the back.
It's easy to guard against strangers but so much harder to watch the ones close to you.
Diana had wronged Teresa once, and there was no telling if she'd do it again. Now, Gabriel was determined not to let Diana get anywhere near Teresa.
He snatched up Teresa's cellphone, took screenshots of her recent group chat messages with college friends from WeChat, and sent them to his phone. Then, he sent these messages, along with the security footage from the elevator, to Liam.
Sharp as Liam was, Gabriel was confident he'd understand.
...
At the other end of the phone, Liam had just reached the venue when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket.
Pulling it out, he saw the messages from Gabriel. Suspecting they were about Teresa, he immediately opened them.
Liam's handsome brow furrowed instantly as he stopped in his tracks upon viewing the content Gabriel had sent.
"What's wrong, Liam?" Diana, trailing a few steps behind him, noticed his sudden halt and furrowed concentration. She stepped forward with concern and asked.
Liam put away his phone, giving her a dark, mysterious glance, and then, without a word, continued toward the venue with long strides.
Diana shivered under his gaze, unable to decipher its meaning. After a moment of stunned silence, she quickly caught up.
The event went on for nearly two hours.
Throughout, Liam seemed off, and as soon as it was over, he left immediately.
Once he was in his car, his expression grew even darker, a cold aura emanating from him like never before. Diana, sitting beside him, could feel the shift in his mood—it was decidedly off.
"Liam..." Diana started, intending to ask what was wrong.
But remembering her place, she quickly shut her mouth.
"What is it? Speak!" Liam snapped, making her jump in alarm.
Diana was stupefied, staring at Liam.
His face was as dark as an impending stormy sky, and the anger in his eyes, like two fierce flames, was no longer concealed.
"What's happened, Liam?" After a moment's shock, Diana regained her composure and asked.
Liam's lips curved into a sneer as he wordlessly pulled out his phone. He deftly tapped the screen, pulled up Gabriel's surveillance video, and tossed it to Diana with a low growl, "Take a look for yourself."
His actions were unceremoniously rough; the phone thudded against Diana's chest, eliciting a soft "thump."
Pain flashed across Diana's face; her brows furrowed, and something within her seemed to plummet.
Yet, she dared not utter a word. Instead, she quickly picked up Liam's phone and started watching.
As the footage on the screen unfolded, her brain felt like a bomb had hit it.
How could this happen?
Gabriel had actually sent the elevator surveillance footage to Liam.
Realizing that Liam's fury was because he knew she'd... Something flickered in the depths of Diana's eyes, but she could no longer hide her panic.
But then she thought, what could this video prove by itself?
Thus, she regained her composure swiftly. Looking up at Liam, her face betrayed no sign of distress as she inquired calmly, "Liam, what exactly are you trying to show me here?"
"Teresa was kidnapped last night. You didn't leak her whereabouts, did you?!" Liam's gaze bore into her, heavy with accusation and anger.
"I might have accidentally shared that we were dining with Teresa at XX club last night in our class group chat. If that's what you're referring to, then I have nothing to defend," Diana responded with unsettling calmness.
"And what about your reaction in the elevator after leaving Teresa's hospital room?" Liam pressed on, his expression darkening further.
Diana returned with a wry smile and countered, "Liam, are you basing your conclusions on that video? Do you really think that's enough to accuse me of leaking Teresa's whereabouts to Brian?"
— Brian.
The name twisted Liam's handsome brows into a fierce knot.
Even he didn't know that Brian—the person who had kidnapped and tortured Teresa—was involved. How could Diana possibly be aware?
But Liam was aware that Brian, Gabriel's sworn enemy since childhood and son of his cousin Christine, had ties to this mess.
"Who's Brian?" Liam feigned ignorance, questioning her.
"Diana." Realizing she had misspoken, a flash of panic raced across her eyes, yet she swiftly recomposed herself, "Brian was someone Teresa and I met back in Madison during our college years. He was studying there too, and he was always pursuing Teresa."
