All Chapters of FRAMED (THE PAYBACK): Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

to your seniority as a banker; otherwise, I would have given you a taste of your own medicine as well,” Anna retorted. Upon hearing this, Ethan seized her arm tightly, his frustration mounting as he shouted, “Oh, just try me and see! I dare you!” “Ethan, let go; you are hurting me!” Anna screamed. Ethan then released her arm, pushed her aside, and walked away. Anna swiftly went to report Ethan to the bank manager. “Sir, I experienced a minor issue with one of our cleaners, Angela, and for some reason, Ethan confronted me,” Anna reported. “Is that so? What transpired that led to your altercation with Angela this morning?” the bank manager inquired. “Well, she accidentally spilled dirt on me and failed to apologise,” Anna explained. “Indeed, and what action did you take when you realised she would not apologise?” the bank manager questioned. “I yelled at her,” Anna admitted. “And while you were yelling at her, did she respond in any way?” the bank manager probed. “Not at all,

about the source of his happiness. “I have been observing you for some time and felt compelled to ask what the secret is,” Steven requested. “What secret?” Ethan asked quickly. “The secret to your happiness,” Steven replied. Ethan felt compelled to fabricate a response, aware that Steven disapproved of Angela and their relationship. “Oh, that? It is nothing; I am simply feeling grateful for life,” Ethan lied. “By the way, it has been a month since I last saw your girlfriend Angela after that incident; has she stopped working?” Steven asked. “Haha, she has resigned and is now employed elsewhere,” Ethan laughed and replied. “Alright, I see you are on your computer this afternoon,” Steven remarked. “Yes, I am. Would you like to assist me?” Ethan inquired. “That would be wonderful,” Steven responded enthusiastically. Steven aided him for the third time, and although his eyes remained on Ethan, he had grown accustomed to Steven’s assistance, which alleviated his stress. Wheneve

such an idea? You know me far too well to make such assumptions," Angela replied. "Well, all I am saying is that you have changed. Ever since you began dating Ethan, you have become different and less accessible. What do you expect me to think? Have you forgotten the saying, 'how you dress is how you are addressed'? You have changed, so I momentarily overlooked the fact that I know you so well," Cynthia explained. "Hmm, well, I cannot move in with a man who is not yet my husband. Moreover, it does not sound appealing, and Ethan would not permit me to move in with him; he prefers that I visit for two or three days and then leave. He has previously stated that he would not deny me my independence by keeping me confined in his home without marriage," Angela clarified. "You made a statement that piqued my interest, and I would like to pose a question," Cynthia said. "Very well, I am listening," Angela encouraged. "You mentioned that he prefers you to stay for two or three days a

thus he would help retrieve the inhaler. Indeed, Steven's plan was succeeding, as Ethan hurried to his office, leaving him alone. As soon as Ethan departed, Steven swiftly rose and hacked into Ethan's computer before returning to his original position, feigning a near-fainting state. When Ethan returned, he handed Steven the inhaler, which Steven pretended to inhale. "What took you so long? I nearly lost consciousness," Steven remarked. "I could not locate the inhaler in your bag, so I had to search your office and eventually found it in your desk," Ethan explained. Upon entering his office that morning, Steven had deliberately removed the inhaler from his bag and placed it inside his desk. He had misled Ethan by telling him it was in his bag, as part of his plan to delay Ethan slightly, knowing that he would not return without the inhaler. His satisfaction lay in the fact that he had successfully hacked into Ethan's computer. "Oh, perhaps I inadvertently left it at home; however

his office to retrieve his inhaler," Ethan assured her. "That is indeed peculiar. Why did he not carry his inhaler with him when he came to your office?" Angela interrogated further. "Well, I believe it was because I had been looking for him this morning and sent him a text message instructing him to report to my office upon arrival. It seems he may have forgotten his inhaler at home," Ethan explained, though he was interrupted by Angela. "I do not understand; how can you say he forgot his inhaler at home when you just mentioned you went to his office to get it for him?" Angela queried, her confusion evident. "Indeed, I did say that. He requested that I check his bag for the inhaler, but unfortunately, it was not there. I had to search his office and eventually found it in his desk. When I inquired as to why it was in his desk rather than in his bag, he informed me that he had forgotten it at home; the inhaler I retrieved from his desk is the one he uses at work," Ethan responded.