When Leah stumbled in front of Selina, she grasped Selina's arm with her manicured nails, squeezing tightly.
"You've finally succeeded in manipulating Hudson into giving you half of his assets? Haven't you? Where did you hide them?!" she demanded, her voice rising.
Selina widened her eyes in utter disbelief at the sudden accusations. Assets? She couldn't remember her father giving her some of his assets yet.
Selina winced at the biting pain shooting through her arm. "I don't know anything about them, Madam Leah." She glanced toward Clarissa, expecting her to stand up for her, given their once good relationship.
But her sister only looked at her with a slightly feigned pity.
"You're just an ungrateful child full of lies, and you can't deceive me. If I hadn't checked Hudson's legal team, you and your accomplices would have stolen everything!" Leah spat, frustration mixed with fear evident in her voice as she struggled to trace the money.
Most of Hudson's liquid assets were in public equities, tech companies, and properties—legitimate holdings with high liquidity, transferred through multiple accounts. The final destination was concealed; anonymity was built into the system with no leaks. It was expertly orchestrated.
Who took it?
Could it be…?
"I don't know how the assets disappeared. And if I'm guilty, I won't be here." Selina said, hoping they'd believe her.
Clarissa crossed her arms under her bust, glaring at Selina. "Because you want to play the victim card, knowing you can't escape us no matter where you run. Return the money if you don't want to regret it. Tell us where you kept it." She finally spoke up, her voice dripping with bitterness.
"Are you serious, Clarissa? He's my father. Our father. I would never harm him for such a selfish reason. He'd willingly give me anything if I asked," Selina shot back, her head spinning in confusion.
That truth burned deeper than Leah could accept, and in her fury, she slapped Selina across the cheek as a warning.
Slap!
The impact echoed through the room, drawing onlookers from the hallway.
"How dare you boast about something you stole?! You're just a good-for-nothing, illegitimate child!" Leah spat.
Selina clenched her jaw, those harsh words ringing in her head. She lifted her trembling hand to her stinging cheek, now bright red, with tears prickling in the corners of her eyes all over again.
But she couldn't bring herself to cry in front of Leah or anyone from the Everett family anymore, to look weak.
"This must be resolved in custody. I've contacted the authorities. Let's see how you manage to run with four million." Leah declared. It was the critical step she took the moment she discovered the assets were gone, an hour after receiving a call from the hospital.
The words echoed coldly in Selina's mind, the distant wail of sirens sending chills down her spine. It wasn't the fear of being captured that gripped her, but the agony of feeling powerless and always seen as the scapegoat—while the real culprit might be somewhere, perhaps relaxing peacefully.
But she wouldn't suffer this way. No. She wouldn't.
Suddenly, Selina saw three police officers entering. They approached her quickly.
"We've received your report. Please show us the suspect," one officer said, professional and direct.
Leah pointed at Selina. "There she is. Arrest her!"
The officers exchanged a look before the lead one stepped forward. "Mrs Everett, we'll need evidence—documents, records, or a statement from Mr Hudson himself. Do you have any?"
Leah faltered, her lips parting, then closing again. "My husband is still undergoing surgery, but she has always been lurking around him—who else could it be? Isn't the disappearance of assets enough?"
"That's suspicion, not proof," the officer said flatly, then turned to Selina. "Where were you during Mr Hudson's attack?"
Selina froze. She wished she could tell the truth and end this—but the weight of it would crush both her father and Zane. The truth gnawed inside her, knowing she couldn't reveal it to the authorities yet, even though they were the ones who could help to stop Zane.
The officer's eyes narrowed at her hesitation. "You don't have to be afraid," he said, his tone clipped but steady. "If someone threatened you, you can say it now."
Selina's fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as she steadied herself. "I went to deliver at the KS hotel. I haven't met with my father for the past few days."
The officer turned back to Leah and Clarissa. "Without evidence or a lead, we can't make an arrest. We'll file your report and review it. Once the victim wakes, we'll pursue the case further."
"But officers, you can't leave the matter like that without taking her for questioning." Clarissa pressed bitterly.
"I've asked her what's necessary. Any other investigation relies on the victim's cooperation. I'll assign a team to watch over his safety here." The officer said, trying to sound logical.
Leah scoffed, struggling to contain her frustration. "We should wait? What if this girl runs away with everything and is never seen? How will you take responsibility?"
The senior officer stared at Selina, holding back his words. The officers withdrew, and the hushed murmurs swelled into a storm.
Phones stayed raised, recording, as Selina stood stiff and burning, humiliation wrapping her like a cloak. She hadn't been cuffed, but the cameras had already branded her—accused by her own family.
Her quiet, burning glare seared through Leah and Clarissa, sharp with disappointment, fury threatening to spill.
Without hesitation, Selina walked out of the hospital with her hands clenched into fists.
She wanted to pour out her emotions to someone.
...
While gnawing on his dinner quietly, Zane held an iPad, skimming through the heated comments beneath the article regarding EMT's stock plummeting. Selina was being dragged into the mud as well.
For what he did to Hudson, he would have loved to do it repeatedly if not something unwanted within him stopped him.
As for the anniversary, it meant nothing to him, and he didn't mind staying cold towards Selina. He refused to be manipulated after everything that had happened.
Just then, he heard footsteps approaching briskly into his suite towards him.
"How's it going?" Zane asked Damien, who had just entered. He twirled his fork through the pasta, calmly.
"I've admitted Hudson to the hospital as you requested. Selina was almost arrested," Damien reported, noticing the calculated calm behind his boss's expression. He paused, his tone deepening. "If the Everetts push harder when things start to crumble for them, I worry she might be forced to tell the truth."
Zane brought a bite to his mouth, chewing slowly while he calculated the situation; his assistant was right, especially about Leah, who was unwavering, protective, and fierce in guarding the family's assets.
If not for a certain, he wanted to take more than he had earlier.
"What should I do then?" he muttered lazily.
Damien frowned. "We can't let a single threat near you. What do you want me to do, boss?"
"Selina isn't that impulsive. Her love for her father will keep her cautious," he said firmly.
"So, about the assets?" Zane asked.
"It's done," Damien replied evenly. Hudson's assets had been sent through secured accounts. On paper, a routine consolidation. No one will suspect."
"Good. Donate the rest to any charity event."
"Understood, sir," Damien nodded, handing over a folder. "So far, I've gathered the information you requested. It's exactly as he claimed that day."
Zane took the folders, flipping one open and scanning the stark, promising figures staring back. He knew what effort it took him to get this from Hudson.
And giving in was simple because of Selina, his precious daughter.
He closed the folder with a flick, tossing it casually beside the other.
"Proceed with the next plan."
"Understood, sir."
He reached for a glass of water, sipping slowly. He settled the cup back down, savoring the delicious taste of her cooking, and couldn't deny how much he craved it.
He grasped his fork again and turned to dismiss Damien when the landline in his suite rang sharply.
Damien glanced at his boss. "Who's calling? Do you have a visitor?" he asked, suspecting it could be from the reception.
"Check it out."
Damien nodded and rushed to the phone, the sharp ring piercing the quiet. He lifted the handset.
Before he could speak, a voice came through. "Master Zane!"
"This is Damien speaking," Damien replied, recognizing the housekeeper's voice. "What's the matter?"
"I called home, Ms Selina hasn't returned."
"I thought you were with her," Damien muttered, turning to face Zane.
"I was at the park, but I didn't know when she left my side. I...I think Ms Selina is missing. I can't find her," Eloise's voice cracked with fear. "Can you deliver this to Master Zane? He should help find her."
"I will,"
The call ended.
Damien placed the landline on its stand.
"Something's wrong. Ms Selina hasn't returned. She's missing too."
Slicing through his steak, Zane said nonchalantly, "She's not a child. She'll find her way home."
Damien shifted uneasily, sensing his boss's indifference towards his madam.
Damien couldn't say a word when he met Zane's deep, unyielding, and expressionless amber eyes, telling him silently to leave since his work for the day was over.
But he had to reason with his boss.
"Boss, the city's been dangerous lately. We need her safety." Damien forced his words, hoping Zane would reconsider this time. Yes, he was in a hurry to get rid of his madam, but now he believed there was another motive beneath.
Zane shouldn't bother himself with matters related to her, though it wouldn't be wise if she got hurt either.
He glanced at his wristwatch, seeing that it was past ten at night.
"Should I find her and bring her home?" Damien asked, waiting for a command.