Chapter144 Learning the Truth
Miranda took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger and disgust in her chest.
She'd worn a deep sapphire blue shirt that day. Even covered in mine dust, the original color would still be visible.
If Harrison had really saved her and carried her to the hospital, how could he possibly not remember what color her clothes were?
Unless the person who saved her wasn't Harrison at all.
Miranda abruptly stood, the chair scraping loudly across the floor.
"I suddenly don't feel well. I'm leaving. You can eat this meal yourself."
With that, she strode out of the private room without looking back.
Harrison watched, completely confused about this sudden turn of events.
After a stunned second, he quickly stood and chased after her.
"Miranda!"
He'd just reached the door when he watched helplessly as that familiar car pulled onto the road, leaving a trail of exhaust.
Harrison stood at the curb, watching the direction the car disappeared, his fingers unconsciously clenching and turning white.
...
In the car.
Miranda's hands on the steering wheel kept trembling.
She didn't go home but drove straight to her company building.
Entering her office, she immediately opened her computer and quickly searched for information about the foreign hospital where she'd stayed.
Soon, she contacted the doctor who'd been in charge of her care.
The video call connected.
"Miranda? Are you feeling better?" The doctor seemed surprised.
"I'm fine, thank you."
Miranda had no time for pleasantries and asked directly, "I have a favor to ask. I lost some very valuable personal items the day I was hospitalized. They might have been left with whoever brought me to the hospital. I'd like to see the hospital lobby and emergency corridor surveillance footage from that day to confirm who brought me in."
The doctor seemed conflicted. "This... hospital regulations don't allow surveillance to be shared freely."
"I know this puts you in a difficult position."
Miranda's tone was sincere. "If you can help me get that surveillance footage, I'll personally donate a batch of the latest medical equipment to your hospital, plus a thank-you fee for you. I only want to recover my belongings. I won't use it for any other purpose."
Hearing about medical equipment, the doctor hesitated for a few seconds before finally relenting.
"Alright, I'll check with the director. Please wait."
The waiting process felt especially long.
Miranda sat before the computer, hands clasped against her forehead, breathing rapidly.
Ten minutes later.
An encrypted video file came through.
Miranda's trembling hand clicked it open.
The screen showed the hospital emergency lobby.
Time passed second by second.
She dragged the progress bar bit by bit.
Finally...
At 9:43 PM.
The hospital doors burst open.
A tall, upright figure rushed in.
Even though the footage was somewhat blurry, Miranda recognized that figure instantly.
Clifton wore a black tactical T-shirt, covered in mud, even showing blood seeping from his arm.
But he steadily carried an unconscious woman in his arms.
It was her.
The man's steps were rapid yet exceptionally steady, rushing straight to the emergency desk.
Through the screen, Miranda seemed to feel his panic and urgency at that moment.
It was Clifton! It really was him!
When she'd been buried in that pitch-black rubble waiting hopelessly to die, he'd recklessly dug her out.
He'd carried her to the hospital.
Her heart felt as if someone had cruelly crushed it, sourness overwhelming her completely.
She dragged the progress bar back and replayed it.
Once, twice, over a dozen times.
Miranda's eyes stayed fixed on that figure—blurry yet upright and familiar.
After a long while, her heart gradually calmed.
But still...
Miranda's brow furrowed slightly, her mind flashing to how Harrison had looked when she'd seen him that day.
That day Harrison had appeared at the hospital with his pant legs and cuffs covered in dust. The soil type and color did indeed look like he'd been to the mine.
If he hadn't saved her, what was he doing there?
Miranda's fingers tapped unconsciously on the keyboard.
Perhaps he had gone there, maybe even arrived after Clifton rescued her, but he hadn't denied being her "savior." He'd even gone along with her misunderstanding.
In that moment, the last trace of gratitude and hesitation Miranda felt toward Harrison completely vanished.
She wouldn't overthink what she couldn't figure out.
She only knew the person who'd rescued her from the mine was Clifton.
That was enough.
Miranda picked up her phone and opened her chat with Harrison.
Harrison's last message still asked why she'd suddenly left.
Without hesitation, her fingers flew across the screen.
[Harrison, I know the person who saved me at the mine that day wasn't you. Since we're divorced, there's no point in telling such clumsy lies. I don't want to dwell on the past. That so-called "month agreement" is now void. Don't contact me again. Let's part on good terms.]
Send.
Watching that message go through, Miranda didn't pause. She directly deleted his contact.
After finishing all this, Miranda placed her phone on the desk and leaned back in her chair, exhaling a long breath.
Relief.
That heavy burden that had weighed on her heart—the mistaken belief that she owed Harrison her life—shattered completely in that instant.
She turned to look out the window. The noon sunlight was somewhat glaring but felt warm on her skin.
Clifton.
That name rolled around on her tongue, bringing a hint of sweetness, immediately followed by dense sourness.
So he'd quietly done so much.
Then these past two days, his abnormal behavior, his irritability, those inexplicable dinner invitations—could they have been because he knew she'd been having meals with Harrison?
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
Miranda sat up. Regardless of what Clifton thought, she needed to make things clear.
Whitmore Group, CEO's office.
Before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, Harrison held a cup of cold coffee, somewhat irritably watching the traffic below.
Miranda's sudden departure at lunch—he still couldn't figure out what had gone wrong.
Just then, the phone on his desk vibrated.
Harrison went to pick it up.
It was from Miranda!
Harrison unlocked the screen full of anticipation. However, when those cold words came into view, the smile on his face instantly froze.
[I know the person who saved me at the mine that day wasn't you...]
She... she knew everything?
Harrison's fingers went ice cold. His heart skipped in panic, a huge sense of dread instantly overwhelming him.
He frantically typed, trying to explain.
However, when he pressed send.
The screen displayed a glaring red exclamation mark.
[Message sent but rejected by recipient.]