[98] b

"Sorry to interrupt your meeting, Mr. Adrian," Jimmy's voice sounded hesitant and extremely cautious on the other end of the line."Get straight to the point, Jimmy."Jimmy took a slow breath before continuing his report. "I just received the latest information from our contact in the legal department."Adrian frowned. "What information?""The apartment where Miss Kara is currently living..." Jimmy paused for a moment, as though weighing the impact of what he was about to say. "It was sealed by court bailiffs tonight."The faint smile that had been on Adrian's face only moments earlier gradually disappeared, replaced by a tense expression. "What did you say?" he hissed sharply."The investigators have determined that the apartment is suspected of having been purchased with funds from the project currently under investigation. The court issued an emergency seizure order this afternoon, Mr. Adrian."Jimmy continued speaking on the other

[99] a

Next day, Ashbourne Group was once again bustling with activity that had been delayed by the audit that had shaken nearly every level of the company. Since early morning, Victor's office had hardly been quiet for a moment. With Ashbourne Group's CEO entangled in a complicated legal case, Victor personally stepped in to review countless reports and approvals to ensure that the company he had built over the past decade continued to operate as normal.One by one, the division heads arrived carrying reports that needed immediate attention, while the legal team and investigators took turns requesting additional documents to complete Adrian's case file.The same was true for Tara, who barely had a moment to catch her breath.Several folders still lay open across her desk. Some contained documents related to the Neo Group partnership that was about to be officially launched, while others were financial records requested by the investigators to ensure there were no rema

[99] b

"I can't even get into my own apartment. And it's all because of your filthy scheme! All my belongings are still in there, damn it! Are you happy now, Tara?!"Tara remained silent."I don't care. Give me access to that apartment, Tara. You have no right to own it. I'm the rightful owner!"A faint smile appeared on Tara's lips."Are you listening to me? Why aren't you saying anything? Feeling guilty, huh?!" Kara shouted. "Give it back already. It's mine, Tara! Aren't you ashamed of being a thief in your own family?"This time, Tara laughed at Kara's endless rant. "Me? A thief?""Yes!" Kara snapped. "Oh, my God! I never imagined I'd have a sister like you, Tara!"Tara merely shook her head in disbelief. She turned her gaze to the streetlights flashing past outside the window. Deliberately, she let Kara vent every last bit of her anger and energy over the phone before saying anything."Where are you right now?! Don't make me get v

[100] a

The sky was beginning to darken when the black car pulled up in front of a hotel on the corner of the city's commercial district. The building was clean and reasonably comfortable, but it was clearly a far cry from the luxury hotels the Valmont family had always frequented.Leonard got out first. His eyes surveyed the building without saying a word. For decades, he had been accustomed to staying in five-star hotels with impeccable service. Now, simply finding a place to spend the night meant setting aside their pride and carefully considering every expense.Helena stepped out of the car, wrinkling her nose as she looked at the hotel's facade with obvious displeasure. "We're really staying here?" she asked in a demanding tone.No one answered. Adrian remained silent as he took a medium-sized suitcase out of the trunk, while Kara stood staring at the hotel's sign with a rigid expression that still carried traces of anger.Their steps felt heavy as they walked through the automatic glass

[100] b

Helena let out an irritated sigh, no longer wanting to argue about who was to blame because the bitter reality was already right in front of them. "What matters now is that our family home has been searched and sealed. And... you gave your mansion to that woman."Kara added sarcastically, "I'm still the owner of that apartment, so how is it possible that I've been thrown out and can't even live there anymore?"Kara's words instantly reminded Adrian of her phone call with Tara just a few hours earlier. He could still clearly remember how Tara had refused to return the apartment.Realizing that lamenting their fate would change nothing, Leonard walked over slowly and sat back down on the narrow sofa. His gaze was empty. "So what now? What are we supposed to do while we wait for the investigation to run its course?"No one answered. Everyone in the room seemed to have lost their direction, cast out of their glamorous lives into something uncertain.In the midst of the oppressive silence,

[100] c

It didn't take long before his call was connected to a dedicated representative."Good evening, Mr. Ashbourne," a polite voice greeted him from the other end of the line."There's a problem with my app. I can't log in," Adrian said, getting straight to the point without any small talk."Certainly, sir. Please hold for a moment while we check."The hotel room was once again enveloped in tense silence. Helena and Kara shifted uneasily, watching Adrian's expression grow more impatient with each passing second.A few moments later, the bank representative's voice came through the phone's speaker, which Adrian had intentionally turned on. "We apologize, sir. According to our system records, all access to your personal accounts has been temporarily restricted until the ongoing investigation reaches a further legal decision."Adrian's expression changed dramatically. The color seemed to drain from his face in an instant. "What do you mean, restricted?" he demanded, his voice rising."You are