All Chapters of FRAMED (THE PAYBACK): Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

that revealing the true reason behind his inquiry might raise suspicions, so he nodded and stated, "Never mind. I was merely asking because I miss you and aspire to emulate you in every aspect. I have already adopted the practices I am aware of, leading me to wonder if there was more I needed to do to resemble you." Ethan, moved by Steven's fabricated narrative, expressed sympathy, "Oh, Steven, I understand you are facing considerable challenges at work, but you must be gentle with yourself. My promotions were purely a result of divine grace; remember to take care of your health and approach your work with caution." Ultimately, Steven overlooked the fact that he had previously lied to Ethan about being asthmatic and was surprised when Ethan mentioned his health conditions. He questioned, "What health conditions are you referring to?" Ethan, amused, scrutinised Steven closely, astonished by the question he had posed. "I do not comprehend; did you forget that you are asthmatic?" At

“Indeed, you did,” Harper replied. Upon seeing Ethan, Angela stood up, and Harper expressed his gratitude. “I wish to thank you for your patience; I assure you that such delays will not happen again.” “Oh, it was no trouble at all,” Angela responded. “Ethan, thank you for your time as well,” Harper expressed his appreciation. “No need to mention it,” Ethan replied. They then departed, and Angela promptly returned to her workplace. Upon arriving home, Ethan informed Alfie that he had met Harper, the individual who came to his aid. He further explained that Harper is the sole proprietor of the cyber café they had visited and expressed that Harper wished to befriend him, which amused Alfie. It took Ethan a week to visit Harper again, but upon arrival, he found that Harper was not present. He approached one of the employees, named Emily, to inquire about his whereabouts. “Good afternoon, I am seeking your boss, Harper. Do you know if he is available?” Ethan asked. “Good afternoon

and I regret to inform you that your information has been compromised; your laptop has been hacked, which is why you have been unable to access it since last night.” “Oh my God, you mean my laptop has been hacked?” Grayson responded, visibly distressed. “Yes, sir,” Harper confirmed. At that moment, Grayson’s heart raced, knowing he had important documents stored on the laptop, and he asked, “But who would perpetrate such a dreadful act against me?” “Honestly, I have no idea, but it could be someone to whom you have disclosed your information,” Harper speculated. “However, I have not shared my details with anyone; my information is confidential due to the sensitive documents on my laptop,” Grayson asserted. “Please remain calm, sir,” Harper advised. “How can I remain calm when you have just informed me that my laptop has been hacked?” Grayson retorted. Harper was left momentarily speechless. “Very well, what should I do now?” Grayson queried. “Your issue is being addressed,”

"Do you trust him?" Harper asked. "I cannot say definitively, but he is a good and caring person," Ethan replied. "How well do you know this Steven?" Harper inquired further. "Not very well, although he seems to be quite close to me," Ethan admitted. Alfie interjected with a thought, "What if Steven is the one responsible for this?" "That is absurd; Steven would not do such a thing to me. While we may have been rivals in the past, we are now good friends who support one another," Ethan asserted. "Do not jump to conclusions just yet. The individual who committed this act is someone close to you and has had access to your computer. Thus, it could be anyone," Harper advised. After twenty minutes of silence, Ethan contemplated the possibility of Steven being the culprit, but he remained uncertain, as Angela also had access to his computer, though he believed she would not do anything of that nature. Ultimately, he chose not to disclose Angela's access to his computer. "I have cons

"Yes," Ethan confirmed. "Well, the Steven I know was never asthmatic," Charlotte replied. Ethan was taken aback. "How certain are you of that?" Ethan asked. "Well, during our time in school, we all underwent tests to determine any existing health conditions, and he had none. However, if you doubt my word, you may inquire with his parents," Charlotte replied. Ethan struggled to comprehend the information. "Do you know where his parents reside?" Ethan asked eagerly. "Yes," Charlotte said, providing Ethan with Steven's parents' address. "I appreciate your assistance," Ethan expressed his gratitude. "You are welcome," Charlotte replied. "One last request: I would like this conversation to remain confidential. I do not wish for Steven to be informed about it," Ethan pleaded. "Do not worry; you have nothing to fear. Steven and I are not particularly close friends, and I do not possess his contact information or know where he lives. Thus, this conversation is secure with me," Char