The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 617

Everyone's speculations were rooted in Zoey's sudden, dramatic shift in behavior and her unhinged attack on me in the staff canteen the other day.

But I never imagined the rumor mill would spin the story quite like this.

The rumors weren't exactly the truth, but they were incredibly close.

Zelda and Zoey had indeed manipulated Sierra into the kidnapping. Sierra seeking revenge against Ferris was also true, and Zoey being the ultimate victim of the ordeal was entirely factual.

Except, it seemed no one knew there was another victim involved in the kidnapping: me.

In this version of the story, my existence had been completely erased. It was as if no one had any idea that I had been dragged into the mess, tied up for hours in that freezing, damp, rotting warehouse alongside the actual targets.

But for me, this wasn't a bad thing at all.

In fact, it was a blessing.

By leaving me out of the narrative, it spared me from becoming the subject of morbid office gossip.

After all, I was a woman. If I had been captured by the kidnappers at the same time as Zoey, and she had suffered such a horrific ordeal, how could anyone believe I had miraculously walked away unscathed?

Gossip was a terrifying weapon. Even if I swore up and down that I hadn't been assaulted, they probably wouldn't believe me.

This rumor protecting my identity was the best possible outcome.

"This version of events is quite nice. The outcome is nice, too. I'm fairly satisfied." Sitting beside me, Caspian murmured softly. He turned to look at me and asked quietly, "Are you satisfied, Selena?"

"So the real story is a bit different from what we thought. But honestly, this is way better. At least you won't get dragged through the mud, Selena," Amber muttered from my left. "I just wonder who leaked the story. They spun it perfectly."