Chapter 734: A pact with the devil

"If you think he won’t survive in prison, then you’d better start preparing his funeral, because I’m not changing my mind."

Stephen Bennet rested his hands on the floor, hanging his head low. His mouth trembled, opening and closing. When he raised his head, he looked in the direction where Atlas had left.

"Atlas..." he whispered, wanting to crawl and beg him more. However, he knew Atlas. If Atlas said he wouldn’t change his mind, he meant it.

"That brat..." he hissed through gritted teeth, only to realize everyone in the station was looking in his direction. Stephen felt his heart constrict with shame as he pushed himself up, trying to keep the last bit of dignity he had.

"Can I speak with my son?" he asked one of the officers. "Please, I have to see my son."

The officer sighed, glancing at the others. "I’m sorry, but we can’t allow any visitors at the moment."

"But I’m family! I’m his father! How can I not see my son?!"

"I’m sorry." The officer lowered his head. "It’s protocol. Your son is a suspect in an attempted murder."

"Please—"

"I’m sorry. You can come tomorrow, sir, but we can’t let you see him tonight."

Stephen stumbled back, looking around to see if there was anything else he could do. But no one paid him much attention in the busy station. When he saw the detective who had escorted Atlas out return, he rushed over to beg him as well.

But, just as the officer had said, they couldn’t allow Stephen to see his son at the moment. Though Stephen wasn’t a government official, he was certain he had a right to see Sven. Yet, he had no choice but to comply.

Stephen walked out of the station with a heavy heart, calling the lawyer he’d sent to Sven to get an update. Even though Sven had admitted to his crimes, Stephen just couldn’t believe it. He wanted to know their chances.

"Hah..." he huffed, stopping in front of the station as his car pulled up. He listlessly opened the door and got in, but as he did, he realized he wasn’t alone.

Looking at the man seated beside him in the backseat, Stephen’s heart thudded nervously. He glanced at the driver and then at the occupied front passenger seat.

"Who... who are you people?!" he shouted, reaching for the door handle. But the driver had already locked it.

Stephen yanked at the door, almost breaking it in his frantic attempts to open it. When he looked out at the station, he slammed his hands against the window.

"Help!" he shouted, hoping someone could hear him. "Help! Someone’s here — I don’t know these people! Help!"

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, but he wasn’t looking at Stephen. Instead, he looked at the man beside him, who nodded. With that, the driver sped away from the station.

"Help!!!" Stephen yelled as loudly as he could, his heart sinking as he saw the station growing more distant. "Help! Someone’s trying to kill me!"

"Mr. Stephen Bennet, please don’t be afraid," said the man beside him, nearly making Stephen choke in shock. "We’re not here to kill you or abduct you. We’re here to talk."

Stephen held his breath, but instead of listening, he pounded on the window even more aggressively. He tried to unlock the door, but it was useless. He was stuck. There was no way he’d trust these people he had never met.

Whoever they were, he was certain they were bad news.

"Help! Help! Damn it!" Stephen continued to struggle, still trying to escape. But the people in the car with him remained unbothered, as if they weren’t worried he’d get away.

"Your son is going to spend the rest of his life in prison," said the man beside him. "Do you want to save him?"

"Hel—" Stephen stopped, nearly biting his tongue at the man’s words. Slowly, he turned his head and cast the man a look. "What?"

The man had a stern look on his face, his hands covered with black gloves. To Stephen, he looked almost unnaturally neat, even in the dim light inside the vehicle.

"What did you say?" Stephen breathed out, his heart sinking. "You think... I can save him?"

The man calmly blinked, gazing at him. "Yes."

"How?" Stephen stammered. "My son already admitted to the crimes. He tried to kill someone — can I really save him?"

"Well, it depends on you," said the man. "He can be saved, but it’s up to you if you’re willing."

Unlike Sven, Stephen knew these people were dangerous. They wanted something from him, and he was certain the cost would be high. But as a parent, even if he wasn’t the best, he was still a father.

He might have berated Sven and called him a disgrace, but he was still his son. In trying times, Stephen would do anything for his family — for his son, his wife, and his daughter.

"What do you want me to do?" Stephen asked under his breath, his heart sinking deeper as he realized he was making a pact with the devil.

The man beside him held Stephen’s gaze, then allowed a small, sinister smile. "Take Atlas Bennet’s position, and we’ll ensure a not-guilty verdict for Sven Bennet."

"What?" Stephen breathed out in surprise. "You’ll get him a not-guilty verdict? How?"

"That’s not something you should concern yourself with."

Stephen gulped, holding his breath before nodding slightly. "Can I ask you a question?"

The man didn’t respond, but Stephen continued. "Once I take Atlas’s position, what’s going to happen?"

"You’ll find out when the time is right," said the man. "You’ve been with the company even before these children were born. It’s only fitting that you’re the one at the top, don’t you think? Your son will be a free man, and you’ll be the head of the family. It’s not a bad trade, is it? If you’re undecided, we’ll give you time to think it over."

The man paused before he resumed, "But what I can assure you is that, even if you disagree, we can find someone else to do the job. It’s only convenient for us to stick with the biggest shipping company in Anteca."