Blood drained from the woman’s face as she stammered, her voice trembling, “I… I’ve never participated in the operations, I only handle the ounting…”


    “ounting?” Charlie replied tly. “That makes you an aplice as well! You should go with them to make amends. You all are truly despicable!”<fn0962> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on </fn0962>


    Isaac interjected, “Master Wade, I know this woman. Her father is Lucas Frank, who operates an underground casino nearby. Should I take care of them?”


    “Look into their operations and history. If their wrongdoings are beyond redemption, eliminate them,” Charlie instructed coldly.


    The woman crumpled to the floor, overwhelmed with fear and confusion.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Shortly after, three Toyota Coaster mini buses arrived at Thompson First, parking in front of the vi. Albert’s men brutally broke Hudson’s leg along with those of his gang before forcing them into the bus.


    Charlie turned to ine, saying, “Mom, it’s time to go.”


    A hint of embarrassment crossed ine’s face. She pulled Charlie aside and whispered urgently, “They filmed me in a really shameful way. We need to find that video!”


    “Shameful way?” Charlie asked, puzzled. “What do you mean?”


    ine paced anxiously. “That kind of video! They made me strip and recorded it… You have to help me find it and delete it! If that video gets out, I might as well die right here!”


    Charlie was taken aback for a moment,pletely unprepared for the revtion about his mother-inw’s ordeal.


    With a dejected shake of his head, he yanked Hudson closer and demanded, “Did you record her?”


    Hudson whimpered in terror, “Sir, I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking clearly…”


    “Cut the excuses. Where’s the video?”


    “It’s on my phone!” he replied quickly.


    “Did you send it to anyone?”


    “No, no, I swear!”


    Charlie nodded, then took out Hudson’s phone, handed it to ine, and said, “Mom, find the video and delete it yourself.”


    ine snatched the phone, quickly located the video in the album, and deleted it. But after a moment’s thought, she threw the phone to the ground and smashed it.


    With frustration, she dered, “I’m going after them once they get on the bus!”


    Charlie shrugged nonchntly. “Alright, I’ll hurry them up. It’s getting dark, and I need to get home to cook for ire.”


    After watching everyone being loaded into the three buses, ine huffed and tossed the car keys to Charlie. “You drive.”


    Charlie said goodbye to Isaac and Albert before getting into Jacob’s BMW and driving away from Thompson First.


    As soon as they left the premises, ine eximed, “Oh my god, today has been a nightmare! I lost two million dors and only got sixty thousand back! I also broke the jade bangle…”


    The more she reflected on it, the more distressed she felt. She red at Charlie, her eyes brimming with tears, and scolded, “This is all your fault! What were you thinking? Why did you ask them to donate the money to the Hope Foundation?! Why didn’t you let them pay me back?!”


    Charlie remained calm as he replied, “Mom, if you had taken their money just now, what do you think would happen when the police find out they’re missing? They’d investigate their past activities and discover you took their money right before they disappeared. You wouldn’t be able to clear your name, and then Dad and ire would find out about this too…”


    ine was taken aback by his words and eximed, “Hey, don’t tell Dad and ire about this, do you understand?!”