The response left Ethan momentarily stunned, his mind racing.Was he confessing? Mocking the allegations? Or something else entirely?Joshua’s smile widened slightly, though his eyes remained sharp.Joshua didn't take it seriously at all; he had a clear conscience. "As the police chief, you can also go and join in the fun."Joshua finished his breakfast and got up to leave.Ethan stared at him, a mixture of confusion and admiration bubbling within.Whatever Calvin and Charlie were planning, Joshua was clearly prepared—and far from the broken man they imagined him to be.Meanwhile, in a sleek, modern office across town, Charlie Northridge addressed a group of state legislators and influential figures.His tone was confident, almost theatrical, as he stood at the head of the polished conference table.Among the attendees was Robert Harrison, the deputy governor, who sat with a furious expression."Ladies and gentlemen," Charlie began, his voice cutting through the low hum of chatter.

When Mary went to call everyone, Calvin turned to the other governors and said, "This woman must be a maid or some kind of employee. Joshua's lovers must all be upstairs."The other governors nodded in agreement.Soon, nearly a hundred people came down the stairs, mostly middle-aged women, with a few younger ones around thirty, and some were even holding babies.The scene left everyone present somewhat stunned.Why was there not a single young, beautiful woman?"Does Joshua like this type?""Honestly, I’m a bit confused."The crowd behind them began to whisper among themselves.Charlie was also a little puzzled. Could it be that Joshua was really some kind of pervert?But then he thought, if Joshua was a pervert, that would work in his favor; it would give him even more opportunities to tease and mock Joshua in the future!Charlie glanced at the camera again, preparing to perform well in front of the governors."You all saw it—Governor Calvin gave Joshua a chance, but he embezzled and

Ethan’s jaw tightened. His gaze was unwavering, filled with disgust.“You call yourself a patriot? What you’re doing is disrespecting the very heroes who died for this country. These women are grieving. They deserve respect, not your baseless accusations.”Charlie stood tall, arms crossed, staring across the room at Ethan with a cold, dismissive expression.The tension between them was palpable.“You’re making a mistake, Ethan,” Charlie said, his voice laced with arrogance.“I’m not here to ask for permission. Joshua’s actions demand scrutiny. And these women—these so-called ‘widows’—are part of his twisted web.”Charlie sneered, glancing around at the other governors, who were uncomfortably silent.“And what would you have me do, Ethan? Turn a blind eye? These women have been living under Joshua’s protection, enjoying the fruits of his ill-gotten gains. If that means stepping on a few toes to expose the truth, so be it.”Ethan took a step forward, his voice sharp.“This isn’t about e

Victor O’Brien stood by the window of the small prayer hall, staring out at the sun-drenched horizon. His mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts. The news of Joshua’s arrest had hit him like a slap in the face. The young man had left in such a hurry, but the words had stuck in Victor’s mind, gnawing at him.Joshua, the one man who had forced him to abandon his old, profitable ways—his illicit businesses, the quick money from the border's shadows. With Joshua gone, the path to returning to those practices had just opened up. In the harsh world of Texpanse, where survival often meant bending or breaking the rules, the temptation to go back to his old ways was strong.But something didn’t sit right.Victor had known Joshua for years. He wasn’t just some political pawn or corrupt officer. The man had genuine influence, and a man like Joshua didn’t just fall without a reason. The arrest could be a setup—a trap to test Joshua’s loyalty, a political game orchestrated by those in power. Vic

The villa stood eerily silent, its vast rooms stripped bare of everything—furniture, decor, even the smallest of personal belongings. The only things left behind were the countless luggage cases, piled high like a sea of mystery. Every corner of the room seemed swallowed up by them.Charlie stared at the mountain of suitcases, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "This is it," he muttered to himself, his voice low and urgent. "This has to be it."The prosecutor beside him, a tall man with a hard face, shifted uneasily. "Do you think... do you think it’s all cash?" he asked, his tone betraying a hint of nervousness.Charlie nodded. "Hundred-dollar bills, stacks and stacks of them. We’ve finally got him. This is the smoking gun we’ve been looking for."The others in the room, including several high-ranking officials, murmured their agreement.A sense of triumph hung in the air. Charlie quickly took out his phone and dialed a number. "Get the bank team here, now. We need to count this. Eve