Chapter 130 Father Awakens

Chapter 130 Father Awakens

But soon, Grace shook her head.

How could it be her?

All this time, she'd gotten along well with everyone at the institute. She'd never made enemies with anyone.

What method could Charles have possibly used to bribe someone from the institute to stab her in the back?

Grace was still in a daze when she parted ways with Caroline.

When Caroline mentioned that the woman was very tall, Carol had immediately come to Grace's mind.

She was the first female friend Grace had made after arriving at the Lumaria Institute.

The first time they'd met, Grace had been impressed by her height.

She'd even joked with Michael about it, saying all the beautiful women in Lumaria were tall.

"It can't be her," Grace murmured to herself.

She'd watched that surveillance footage too—many times, in fact.

Logically speaking, if the person who'd been turned really was Carol, she should have recognized her immediately.

After all, they'd spent so much time together. There was no reason she wouldn't recognize her good friend's silhouette.

But now, Grace felt uncertain.

She couldn't help wondering—if it turned out the mole really was Carol, what would she do?

Thinking back, ever since the incident, Carol had been constantly by her side, comforting her. Grace had never noticed anything unusual.

But now, if someone told her it was all fake—that the so-called comfort was actually covert surveillance—Grace would truly fall apart.

She returned to the institute in a daze.

Michael was waiting for her. Seeing her expression, he was startled. He quickly set aside what he was doing and went to find Grace, closing the door behind him.

"What's wrong with you?"

He looked concerned. "Didn't you go meet with Caroline? Did the negotiation fall through?"

"It went through," Grace said without looking up, her voice muffled.

"Then why do you look so awful?"

Grace fell silent again, as if she'd lost her soul.

"Grace, what happened? Don't scare me."

Michael quickly poured her a glass of water.

Grace slowly looked up. "I think I just discovered something terrible. I don't know what to do."

"What terrible thing? Don't panic. Tell me first, and we'll figure it out together. Maybe things aren't as bad as you think."

"No, they're exactly that bad."

Grace shook her head vigorously. "I never imagined something like this could happen to me. I've been stabbed in the back by my best friend. Michael, what should I do? Could this be fake? It has to be fake, right? Where's that surveillance footage? Get it for me—I want to watch it again."

"Grace, what are you talking about?"

Michael didn't understand, but he'd caught that phrase about being stabbed in the back by her best friend.

Grace's best friend—that could only be Carol.

Michael froze. "Are you saying the person who sold you out is Carol?"

"I don't know."

Grace turned her head away. "I don't have proof, but that's what Caroline told me. I don't know if I should believe her. I'm confused myself."

Grace clutched her chest, finding it hard to believe.

Since the incident, aside from Michael and her mentor, Carol had been the one who'd comforted her most often, even bringing her meals.

Sometimes she'd take Grace out to clear her head, just to help her feel better.

But now, if someone told her that the person who'd truly betrayed her was Carol, Grace simply couldn't accept it.

Michael's lips moved.

He wanted to tell Grace that Caroline had never gotten along with her. The two had once fought bitterly over a man, becoming sworn enemies. Her words couldn't be trusted.

But thinking of Caroline's recent changes, Michael couldn't bring himself to say it.

If the person really was Carol, it was indeed hard to believe.

But what if it was true? Then they'd be one step closer to solving the case.

"Wait, where's Carol?"

Grace stood up. "Can you call her over? I want to see her."

Michael had already sent over the footage, but Grace didn't dare look at it.

Michael was silent for a long time. "Are you sure you want to see her?"

The question made Grace pause.

But after a few seconds, she slowly and solemnly nodded.

Although this was hard to accept, no matter who it was, anyone who stabbed her in the back was unforgivable.

Even if that person was the first friend she'd made in Lumaria.

Today she would get to the bottom of this.

"Alright, I'll go get her."

Michael agreed and handed Grace his phone.

Grace sat back down, her expression grave.

When she'd discovered that Charles's planted mole was a woman, Grace had suspected almost everyone at the institute—everyone except Carol.

She was such a sunny, cheerful person, like a vibrant sunflower. How could she do something like this?

What had Grace ever done to wrong her?

The wait felt especially torturous. Grace couldn't sit still.

But in the end, she didn't wait for Carol. Michael returned alone.

"Where is she?"

"She's not at the institute."

Michael said, "I just saw the director. He said Carol didn't come in today—apparently there's some family matter."

"A family matter?" Grace laughed coldly. "Don't tell me she caught wind of this and ran away first?"

"That's possible."

Michael's brow furrowed.

"We should still tell the police about this. We're in Lumaria—even if the local police are unreliable, we'll ultimately need them to solve the case."

Grace was about to speak when her phone rang.

She opened it—it was the hospital calling.

"Ms. Harrison, your father has woken up."

"My father's awake?"

Grace cried out, then was overwhelmed by a surge of joy.

She gripped her phone tightly, confirming with the doctor on the other end again and again.

"My father's really awake? Really? Can you let him say something to me?"

"Ms. Harrison, although your father has regained consciousness, his bodily functions are still very weak. He can't speak yet. Would you like to come to the hospital?"

"Of course." Grace nodded quickly. After hanging up, she grabbed Michael's arm.

"Michael, did you hear that? My father's awake—he's finally awake!"

"I heard."

Michael was also happy.

The office was quiet, and Grace's voice had been so loud.

Never mind standing right in front of her—even someone standing outside the door could have heard clearly.

"Let's go—we need to get to the hospital right away."

Grace instantly forgot about Carol.

Now, her mind was filled entirely with her awakened father.