Chapter 40
Author: Mel Hope
last update2025-01-25 22:24:21

“Marvin, are you absolutely sure about this?” Stewart asked, his tone sharp.

“We can’t afford another mistake. The last time you convinced me to act, we humiliated ourselves. The fallout was immense!”

Marvin, seated across from him, leaned forward confidently, his hands clasped on the desk.

“Governor Clarke, I understand your hesitation, but this time is different. I’ve done my homework. Everything checks out.”

Stewart stopped pacing and fixed Marvin with a skeptical glare.

“You’ve done your homework? That’s what you said last time. And what did we find? Nothing. Just baseless accusations that backfired and gave Douglas more sympathy than ever before.”

Marvin didn’t flinch.

Instead, he smiled faintly, as if Stewart’s words rolled off him like water.

“Governor Clarke, listen to me. I’ve been observing the other properties that fool owns in Exquisite Garden. These are no ordinary houses.

They’re multimillion-dollar villas and warehouses—vast spaces with hardly anyone living there.
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    Soon, Marvin and the officials arrived at the most prestigious estate within Exquisite Garden.The lush greenery, meticulously maintained gardens, and opulent mansions lining the streets exuded an aura of wealth and privilege. This upscale area was known to admit only the crème de la crème of PortVarter’s elite, making it a dream far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens!As the group moved through the estate, their admiration for Douglas's real estate holdings was palpable, though many tried to mask it.The villas and warehouses Marvin had described earlier were architectural masterpieces!One of the officials murmured, “Each of these properties is worth more than what an average person could ever earn in a lifetime!”Smirking, Marvin gestured to one of the towering villas they passed. “The man some of you refer to as a 'hero' must have been very comfortable here, living among PortVarter’s elite while the rest of the state struggled to make ends meet. Can you imagine the audacity?

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    After ending the call with the bank's representatives, Marvin held his phone high to video-call Stewart. His face was flushed with excitement as he panned the camera across the rows of stacked boxes. The sheer number of them was breathtaking, even to him, and he couldn’t wait to see Stewart’s reaction. “Governor Clarke, look at this!” Marvin exclaimed, his voice trembling with enthusiasm. “It’s all here. Dozens of rows, each filled to the brim with what I believe are that criminal’s dirty millions!” On the other end of the line, Stewart leaned closer to his screen, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Incredible! Marvin, this could be the biggest embezzlement case in the history of PortVarter. That bastard, Douglas, is finished!” Stewart paused, as if struck by an idea. “Listen, Marvin. Record a proper video of the entire warehouse—every single row and box—and send it to me. We need to document everything. This is evidence that could shake the country.” Marvin nodded, eage

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    The lid finally came off, revealing... stacks of envelopes. Marvin, though initially caught off guard, quickly dismissed the confusion with a smirk."So that's it," he muttered to himself. "That criminal, Douglas, must have had some bizarre habit of storing cash inside envelopes. What a ridiculous way to hoard money!"The thought irritated him. Marvin could almost imagine Douglas reveling in this peculiar preference, stuffing envelopes with bills as some sort of ritual. It was laughable. "What kind of fool goes to such lengths just to satisfy an odd obsession?" he sneered inwardly.Determined to expose the hidden fortune, Marvin turned to the nearest bank employee."Open one of the envelopes," he ordered. "Let's see exactly how much cash the criminal has been hiding."The employee hesitated momentarily but complied. Carefully, he slit open the top of the envelope, his fingers trembling slightly as he pulled out its contents. His eyes widened as he unfolded a single sheet of

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    As the bank employees and officials continued to open the remaining boxes, they discovered that every single one was filled not with money or valuables, but with letters. The officials carefully unfolded the papers, their eyes scanning the heartfelt messages within.Some of the letters came from children in war-torn regions, their words scribbled with shaky hands thanking Douglas for providing them with shelter, food, and education when all hope had been lost. Others were from impoverished families in remote areas, expressing their gratitude for the wells Douglas had funded, which brought them clean water for the first time in generations. There were also letters from disaster-prone areas, thanking Douglas for his swift response in sending aid after floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes.There were notes from international aid organizations, acknowledging generous donations that had saved countless lives. The letters came from every corner of the world—countries ravaged by conflict,

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    Marvin, struggling to regain himself, simply couldn’t comprehend why, instead of piles of money, there were only letters of gratitude. His heart pounded, his breathing was uneven, and his hands clenched into tight fists.Why?!This was supposed to be the moment where he exposed Douglas as a corrupt, greedy criminal!This was supposed to be the moment where he revealed the hidden hoards of dirty money!Yet, instead, all they had uncovered were testimonies of Douglas’s kindness, his generosity, his selfless contributions to the world.His mind raced, searching for an explanation, any explanation, that would make sense.Just as Marvin was drowning in his confusion, an investigator ran into the warehouse, his footsteps echoing against the concrete floor. The officials turned to him, their expressions expectant. Marvin, desperate for something to shift the situation in his favor, took a sharp breath and asked, “Did you find it?”The investigator nodded. “Yes, we made a new discovery at

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    Marvin's heart pounded violently in his chest. His hands were clammy with his mind racing."Governor Clarke," he said impatiently, "Did you send the video to the federal government?"There was silence on the other end for a split second—then a sharp intake of breath.It was then that Stewart suddenly remembered.He had already sent the video to Javier Drake—Marvin’s father.A cold sweat broke out on Stewart’s forehead. His fingers tightened around his phone.Oh no.Javier was undoubtedly sharing the video with other federal officials by now, perhaps even showing it off to his contacts in the highest ranks of government.If the truth came out after the broadcast went public, the consequences would be catastrophic.Stewart barely managed to croak out, "Marvin… I already sent it."Marvin staggered back as if he had been punched in the gut.Stewart didn’t wait for a reply—he abruptly ended the call and immediately dialed Javier.The phone rang once. Then twice.No answer.Stewart’s panic

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