Chapter 12 Framed

• Crystal signaled for the assistant who had followed her in to leave.
• She looked at Kaala Vennum. "Just get to the point."
• "Ms. Granger, I'll be direct. I belong to a special organization investigating your husband. I'm not sure if you know he just got out of prison, but while he was there, he joined a dangerous medical sect."
• "The sect is called the Venomous Sect. They're known for poisoning people to control them. Your mother was poisoned, and you were forced to marry Dave as a result."
• Kaala handed Crystal a card with a phone number on it.
• "Ms. Granger, I know you might not believe me easily, but you can test Dave. Ask him about the Venomous Sect and your mother's poisoning. These are things no ordinary person would know."
• "You and your family are in danger. If you need our help, call this number."
• With that, Kaala quickly left. Crystal gripped the chair tightly, her body trembling involuntarily.
• If it were only the fact that Dave had been to prison, she might have been able to tolerate it. But poisoning her mother? That was beyond unacceptable!
• ...
• "Honey, do you know who the new chairman of Dayrale Group is? It's…" Jessie said while sitting in her car, talking to Lionel on the phone.
• "It's Terry Quinn from the Quinns. I just heard about it too, and I'm trying to get acquainted with him," Lionel replied. "The Quinns aren't from Granville, but they're certainly on par with the Grangers."
• "Wait, honey, are you sure?" Jessie was confused. Isn't it supposed to be Dave? How could it now be Terry Quinn?
• "Of course I'm sure. A friend of mine works at Dayrale Group. Patrick just sent an email to everyone announcing it. Terry Quinn is Patrick's nephew. It turns out Dayrale Group has always been part of the Quinns' empire."
• Lionel's tone was confident, and Jessie felt a wave of joy.
• That lying fraud, Dave, has been exposed so quickly!
• I knew it! There is no way a criminal like him could become the chairman of Dayrale Group!
• "By the way, have you seen Crystal?"
• "No, but I met Mrs. Granger. She was furious when she found out Dave was a criminal."
• As Jessie spoke, she received a message on her phone and got even more excited. "Honey, I've got to go. Mrs. Granger wants to meet me to discuss how to get rid of Dave!"
• She hung up, sent a quick reply, and rushed to the Granger Residence.
• ...
• 5:00 p.m.
• Dave walked into the Granger Residence.
• "Mr. Dave, you're here. Mrs. Granger is resting in her room. She's not feeling well. Please go help her," a servant informed him.
• Hearing this, Dave didn't think much of it and headed directly to Mrs. Granger's room.
• Half an hour earlier, he had been right outside Granger Group, about to meet Crystal, when his mother-in-law, Violet, called. She mentioned that his ex, Jessie, had caused a scene at the house and asked him to come deal with it.
• "Mom, did Jessie leave?" Dave asked as he stepped into the room, only to find Violet alone.
• "Shut up! Don't call me 'Mom.' Who do you think you are? Let me tell you, I won't let my daughter marry a criminal like you!"
• "Someone like you isn't worthy of my Crystal!" Violet shouted furiously, her tone filled with disdain.
• "If you know what's good for you, you'll get lost immediately and leave our family alone!"
• "You pathetic excuse for a human being; don't even think about climbing your way into our family…"
• Smack!
• The loud sound of a slap echoed through the room.
• Violet had slapped herself hard across the face.
• At the same time, Dave heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see Crystal standing at the door, looking at him with disbelief in her eyes.