102Toby quickly whispered to Michael, "Don't turn around, but Mr. Turner is a few tables behind us, staring at us. What should we do?"Michael calmly replied, "Don't panic, Toby. Let's just continue eating as if nothing is wrong." He understood Toby's concern about potentially jeopardizing his job, but he didn't want to let fear dictate their actions.However, Toby's anxiety started to get the best of him. He leaned closer to Michael and said, "I'd rather leave right now. I don't want any trouble." The thought of facing their boss's scrutiny was too much for Toby to handle.Michael motioned for the waiter to come over and asked for the bill. He swiftly paid with his credit card, not wanting to waste any more time. As they made their way back to the factory, Toby couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and uncertainty.Once they were alone, Toby turned to Michael and said, "Since day one, I've felt like you're not just an ordinary guy. How did you manage to have so much money to be so

104Ryan's piercing gaze sent a shiver down Michael's spine. He had always known Ryan to be cunning and manipulative, making him a formidable foe. The collision felt almost intentional, like a deliberate attempt to unnerve him further."Ryan," Michael muttered under his breath, his voice laced with apprehension. "What a surprise."Ryan's smirk widened, clearly relishing in Michael's discomfort. His eyes scanned Michael with a mix of curiosity and suspicion."Well, well, well, look who we have here," Ryan drawled, his tone dripping with disdain. "Didn't expect to see you skulking around here, Michael."Mentally regaining his composure, Michael replied confidently, "I could say the same about you, Ryan. What brings you to this part of the office?"Ryan's smug expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he opened his mouth. But before he could utter a word, the sound of commotion and screams had caught Jimmy's attention. Jimmy emerged from his office, a smile on his face as he greeted Rya

106Once there, Michael was asked by a police officer to remove all valuable personal belongings. He took off the few things he had on him, including his watch and some bracelets, and put them on the table. The police officer then asked him to remove his ring as well."I can't part with my ring," Michael protested. "It's sentimental to me."The officer, indifferent to his plea, remarked, "I don't care. Take it off and put it in the bag."Reluctantly, Michael removed his ring and placed it in a plastic bag. The officer then swiftly tossed the bag into a nearby cell, leaving Michael feeling completely violated.Feeling the need to reach out for help, Michael politely asked, "Can I make a phone call, please?"The officer dismissively replied, "Later."Frustrated by the officer's lack of concern, Michael exclaimed, "This is an abuse of my rights!"In response, the officer simply chuckled and disregarded his statement. A few minutes later, another officer arrived and introduced himself as

108As they stepped out of the Commissioner's office, Samantha arrived, her eyes welling up with tears. "Michael," she breathed, rushing to him. The sight of him, free, suprised her, and she broke down, tears streaming down her face, she was playing her victim card.Ryan quickly approached her, his expression filled with concern. He gently held her, trying to comfort her. "Don't cry, Sam. It won't happen like that. He will be punished for what he's done."Michael, still reeling from the recent events, began sorting through his returned belongings. His heart sank when he couldn't find his ring. Perplexed, he wondered aloud, "Where could it be? I had put it here."He immediately turned to Douglas, who was standing nearby. "Douglas, I can't find my ring. It's gone," he explained, a hint of worry in his voice.Douglas's brow furrowed. "Are you sure you didn't misplace it somewhere? We can look again.""No, I had it with me before I was arrested. It's a family heirloom, I've had it since i

110Michael collapsed onto the familiar sofa, his body aching from the ordeal he had just endured. The weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders as he finally found solace in the comfort of his own home. Emily burst through the front door with a mixture of relief and worry etched across her face. Without a moment's hesitation, she enveloped him in a tight embrace, nearly knocking him off balance."Oh Mike, I was so worried!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with genuine concern. "Where have you been? What happened?"Leaning back into the sofa, Michael let out a heavy sigh before recounting the harrowing events that had unfolded over the past few days. "It's a long story, Em," he began, his voice filled with weariness. "Ryan, out of spite, had me falsely arrested based on a complaint from Samantha. They confiscated my belongings, and I had no way of reaching out to let you know."Emily's eyes widened in disbelief, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. She had always k