Why was this woman acting all cocky, he wondered. Even if it was true that there were some issues with the codes, why was she so smug about it?

�Looks like the so-called legendary hacker turned out to be mediocre,� he said finally. �You�re just wasting my time.�

He glanced at his watch and made for the exit.

Everyone in the IT Department was disappointed in Haze as well. It appeared that legends and icons. really only existed in the realm of imagination. As soon as they came in contact with reality, their whole. facade would crumble.

�Wait!� Haze shouted suddenly. He had finally returned to the real world. �I�ve found the source of the problem.�

Stefan raised his brows and motioned for him to keep talking.

�The only reason it went wrong was because the target had decoded the logic of my codes and launched. a targeted systematic counterattack, replacing the result retrieved by the program with a picture of myself.�

Seeing how the others in the room were confused by his words, he explained, �In other words, Phoenix, the person we�ve been searching for, is in this room, because only the people in this room have seen my coding composition.�

�Which means,� Haze continued, �that anyone who left this room while the program was running is a prime suspect!�

Everyone in the room exchanged looks with each other.

�But apart from Mrs. Hunt, everyone else stayed here the whole time� No one else left the room!

Despite suddenly becoming the target of everyone�s critical gazes, Renee remained perfectly calm.

�Wait,� she chuckled, �surely you guys aren�t suspecting me of being Phoenix, are you?�

�I�d just gone out to the restroom for a few minutes,� she said incredulously, �and in that time, I somehow Jurned into a famous genius hacker! What a magical turn of events! Perhaps I should celebrate it with fireworks!�

�I think it�s all just a coincidence,� Elijah chimed in quickly. �Based on my understanding of Mrs. Hunt�s character, her shrewdness and practicality are more suited for a housewife. Her proficiency with computers are limited to watching movies and videos online. She doesn�t even play any video games� If someone like her is a genius hacker, then I must be the president of this country!�

Although his words were unflattering at Renee�s expense, he had only said that to help get her out of trouble, and it worked well. Everyone thought that Elijah�s words made a lot of sense.

�That�s right,� said Renee with a smile, the picture of innocence. �Everyone knows how much I love Stefan. If I really was Phoenix, I would�ve done everything I could to help him. There�s no way that I would ever sabotage him!

�Is that so?� Stefan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up. His pointed gaze was fixed on the woman as he sneered, �I think you�ve sabotaged me quite a few times before.�

Renee laughed awkwardly. �What a hateful man,� she thought bitterly. How could he just pull the rug out from under her feet like that?

Stefan slowly stepped towards Renee and reached out to grip her chin, lifting her head to his. His gaze was searching, meticulously dissecting every emotion on her face. JrNovels.com