Chapter 98

Chapter 98

The sound of chaos echoed inside the mansion as Min and a few other servants tried to block the

police. Yet it was futile. It took Lawrence a few minutes to realize that he was already walking outside of

his study, police and SWAT members around him. What just happened?

Lawrence blinked, the harsh sunlight hitting his eyes after the dimness of his office. Confusion swirled

in his head. Outside, manicured lawns stretched towards a wrought iron fence.

A picture of perfect suburban life, shattered by the black and white figures swarming the property.

Police cars, their red and blue lights a jarring contrast to the blooming flowers, choked the driveway.

Lianne. Where was she? His eyes darted around, searching for the crumpled figure he expected to find

sprawled on the plush carpet. But there was nothing. Just a gaping hole in his meticulously planned

scenario.

A cold dread clenched his gut. Then, a glint of white caught his eye. Through the throng of officers, he

saw her. Lianne. But something was wrong. A smirk played on her lips.

Before he could process what was happening, a loud slap rang against his ears. His cheek stung. His

gaze immediately landed on the woman who stood before him. Sofia Lockhart. Lawrence was about to

respond when the SWAT that was holding him hauled him inside the car.

Lawrence could only frown, still speechless from what just happened. He even forgot to ask them to

call his lawyers. All he could do was stare at the handcuffs that now restricted his hands.

“How dare you!” Sofia hissed as Karina tried to hold her back.

“Murderer!” Sofia screamed. “You will rot in prison! I promise you! You will rot in that place!”

“We have to leave this place…” Karina held Sofia’s arm and pulled her away from the car.

“I will make you regret everything!” Sofia hissed, her eyes full of hatred. Yet a part of Lawrence knew- a

part of him knew that this woman just orchestrated everything! Just…. What just happened?

The journey to the police station was a blur. Lawrence found himself staring blankly ahead, unable to

comprehend the gravity of his situation.

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He was booked, processed, and thrown into a cold, impersonal cell.

Hours passed like seconds in that dim, claustrophobic space. Lawrence’s thoughts were a tangled

mess, his mind unable to grasp the reality of his predicament. He was a man accustomed to power and

control, but now he was nothing more than a prisoner.

Lawrence had to get a personal lawyer. He was informed by a representative earlier that Mr. Thompson

and Atty Arian Smith would not be able to help him as the two were affiliated with LH GROUP.

Aside from the smuggling cases, Lawrence was now booked with attempted murder and conspiracy to

commit murder. Moreover, he was not allowed bail because the police found his fake passport and

documents that he was using to go out of the country. Apparently, more cases will soon be filed. A

mess…. Everything was a mess.

“Mr. Lockhart… I am Sander Kent, the prosecutor. I am glad that you agreed to meet with me…” A

middle-aged man smiled and greeted him the moment he arrived inside another room.

“I was expecting to talk to my lawyer… alone.” Lawrence glared at his lawyer Mr. Mason Brown. “You

didn’t tell me-

—

66

“Just hear him out.” Mr. Brown immediately said. “Maybe he could help you.”

“Mr. Lockhart…” Mr. Kent said as he sat on the chair. “Please take

your seat…” he gestured towards the chair opposite him. “This will be a long conversation.”

“Why are they offering him a deal?” Sofia was frowning inside the car as she looked at the man sitting

next to her. This man was none other than Mr. Thompson- the legal counsel of LH Group.

“Miss Lockhart, please understand that this was the prosecutor’s choice. We cannot do anything

about-“

Sofia looked away, Mr. Thompson just told her that they are going to offer Lawrence a deal for a lesser

sentence as long as he cooperates with the investigation of the smuggling case and the poison that he

used. Again, this was the prerogative of the government.

“As much as we want to put him to prison for life- ” Mr. Thompson made a deliberate pause, his

expression darkened. “It seems that they

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think Mr. Lockhart is an important individual in the current smuggling syndicate in the country.”

Sofia gritted her teeth. So what now?

So, she wanted to put him in prison because she wanted to abide by the law and they actually offered

him a deal instead? How is that fair?

Frustration bubbled within Sofia like a pot of water about to boil over. “They just want him to become a

snitch,” she spat, the word leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. The image of Lawrence’s smug face,

even in handcuffs, ignited her anger.

Here was the man who threatened her life, poisoned her and her mother, and likely had a hand in

countless other atrocities, and now he might get a slap on the wrist in exchange for potentially valuable

information.

Mr. Thompson sighed, his weathered face etched with the weight of countless legal battles.

“Unfortunately, Miss Lockhart, the justice system doesn’t always operate on a ‘fairness’ scale. They

prioritize convictions and building a case against bigger players. Sometimes, that means cutting deals

with the lesser evils.”

Sofia slumped back in the leather seat, defeated for a moment. This wasn’t the vengeance she craved.

She craved to see him broken, stripped of his power and arrogance, and left to rot in a cell for the rest

of his days. But as Mr. Thompson’s words sunk in, a sliver of pragmatism began to chip away at her

anger.

“So, what does this deal entail?” she asked, her voice calmer, albeit laced with a steely resolve.

Mr. Thompson straightened, a hint of relief flickering in his eyes. “The details are still being finalized,

but the gist is this: Lawrence confesses to his crimes, particularly the attempted murder of Mrs.

Lockhart and the conspiracy to murder you. He cooperates fully with the investigation, revealing

everything he knows about the smuggling operation and its suppliers. In exchange, they’ll likely offer a

significantly reduced sentence, with witness protection thrown in for good measure.”

Sofia’s brow furrowed. Witness protection?

Witness protection?

Are they insane?

She balled her hands into tight fists, so tight she felt her nails graze her

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“Obviously, we are doing our best to make sure that he gets a few years in prison. However… this will

still depend on the prosecutor.” Mr.

Thompson said.

Sofia scoffed. A few years? That was a pittance compared to the damage he’d inflicted. Her rage flared

anew, tinged with a bitter irony. “A few years? He’s lived like a king for most of his life, thanks to my

mother!”

She slammed her fist on the armrest, the leather groaning in protest. “Do they even know the kind of

life he’s been living? The sprawling mansions in Malibu and Aspen? The private jets and yachts? All

funded by Eunice’s hard-earned money, money he leeched off of like a parasite!”

Mr. Thompson’s expression darkened. He was well aware of the Lockhart fortune and Lawrence’s

extravagant lifestyle. “They’re starting to piece it together, Miss Lockhart. The financial crimes unit is

investigating the sudden influx of cash into his accounts after your mother’s… accident. There’s also

the matter of the multiple properties under his name all purchased with funds that can’t be easily

traced.”

–

Sofia listed a few of them off, her voice laced with cold fury. “The vineyard in Napa Valley, the

beachfront property in Hawaii… that ski chalet in Switzerland he barely even uses. It’s all blood money,

Mr. Thompson. Every single opulent square foot of it.”

The lawyer nodded grimly. “We’ll make sure the prosecutors are aware of all this during negotiations.

Seizing his ill-gotten gains will be a priority, along with a hefty fine. However, recovering all of it…” he

trailed off, a hint of frustration in his voice. “It might be a long and arduous process.”

Sofia understood. Untangling Lawrence’s web of deceit wouldn’t be easy. He was a master

manipulator, likely using offshore accounts and shell companies to hide his assets. But she wouldn’t

give up without a fight. Eunice deserved better, and so did she

“Then fight,” she said, her voice hard as steel. “Fight like hell to get back every single penny he stole

from my mother. Make him pay, not just with prison time, but by dismantling the empire he built on her

kindness.”

The two started talking about some other details about the case before Mr. Thompson bid her goodbye.

Almost immediately, she turned towards the person sitting in the front seat. It was none other than her

friend Karina. “What do you think?” Sofia asked.

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“Look,” Karina began, her voice carefully measured, “I understand your frustration. This deal feels like a

slap in the face, a mockery of everything your mother went through.”

Sofia nodded curtly, her jaw clenched tight.

“But,” Karina continued, leaning forward, “We have to play the game. This deal, if structured correctly,

could be our best chance to bring Lawrence down. He might not rot in a cell for life, but if he

cooperates, it could expose the entire smuggling operation. Think about the bigger picture, Sofia. Think

about taking down the entire network he’s built, not just Lawrence himself.”

“I know you’re right,” Sofia admitted, her voice heavy. “But there has to be a way… a way to make sure

he doesn’t just walk away from this a free man.”

A sly smile tugged at the corner of Karina’s lips, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “Now that,” she said, her

voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “is where my expertise as a lawyer comes in handy. We

can’t tamper with the core of the deal his confession and cooperation – but there might be ways to

make it a bit less… comfortable for Mr. Lockhart.”

–

Sofia raised an eyebrow, a spark of interest igniting in her eyes. “Explain.”

Karina leaned in closer, her voice barely above a murmur. She began to outline a plan, a legal

maneuver that would exploit loopholes and push the boundaries of the deal, ensuring that even with

witness protection, Lawrence wouldn’t exactly be living a life of luxury.

It wouldn’t be vengeance in the strictest sense, but it would be a form of justice, a way to ensure

Lawrence paid a price beyond just prison bars.

Soon enough, their car started moving. Finally, she arrived at Alexander’s house. Exhausted, Sofia

walked inside. She then removed her heels and sat on the couch.

The house was in complete silence and if she was right, Alexander might still be in the office.

She already bothered him enough so she decided to only tell him that he was going home to rest. She

did not update him about the case as she knew he had been very busy since the accident.

Sofia closed her eyes. Her mind was in turmoil. She was tired, physically and mentally.

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She was angry and helpless and…

“Hey…”

Sofia’s eyes snapped open when she heard a familiar voice.

“Don’t sleep here…”

Alexander’s face welcomed her gaze. “Let me take you to the room.”

He did not wait for her response as he carried her in his arms giving her the warmth that she did not

even know she needed.