Chapter: 209

Phoebe looked at her in disbelief. "You can't be serious. With your condition, leaving the hospital is out of the question."

“I'm not as fragile as you think, and staying here is only making me more depressed. Please, help me with the discharge paperwork."

Kaitlin's persistence wore Phoebe down, and she reluctantly helped arrange for an early discharge.

By the time Alan heard the news, Kaitlin had already settled into Phoebe's apartment.

As Phoebe tucked her in, she chided her gently, “You're grown up now; you can't keep being this stubborn. At the hospital, they could have attended to you right away if something went wrong..."

Kaitlin shot her a look, and Phoebe quickly backpedaled. “I don't want to curse it!"

“Stop, Phoebe. What I need from you now is to dig up everything you can on Ashley's recent activities, and I mean everything."

Phoebe's face grew serious. "Do you think Ashley's involved in this?"

Kaitlin nodded. "But I need concrete proof."

With Alan protecting Ashley, Kaitlin resolved to take matters into her own hands.

Though Kaitlin was grateful for Alan's previous rescue, his recent actions had left her feeling betrayed.

She knew she couldn't depend on him.

Ashley had overstepped too many times, and Kaitlin's patience had worn thin.

Back at the company, Alan encountered a visibly shaken Ashley.

“Alan, Owen threatened me again yesterday," she stammered. “He said if I don't pay him a large sum, he'll destroy me."

Ashley then played a recording of her conversation with Owen, which she had discreetly made during their initial collaboration.

Back then, Ashley explained to Owen that they needed to practice to ensure their performance was credible, insisting he be as harsh as he could.

Owen, unsuspecting, threw himself into the role with enthusiasm.

“Alan, I'm terrified. The money he asked is too much, and I... I just can't afford it." With her eyes brimming with vulnerability, Ashley looked up.

Alan's feelings were a mix of emotions. "When did he come to you yesterday?"

Ashley sniffled, paused to think, then responded, "It was yesterday morning, right when I got to the office. He cornered me outside. He's hooked on gambling and must have run through his cash, so he turned to me. Owen's driven by greed. If he decides to retaliate, I won't stand a chance. I'm genuinely frightened. What should I do?"

A thoughtful look crossed Alan's face.

Owen, now broke, had moved from threatening Ashley to targeting Kaitlin.

Unbeknownst to Owen, Alan's men were covertly guarding Kaitlin, ultimately leading to his apprehension.