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2024-11-26 16:10:13Later that day, they went back to the police station.
Joshua sat in the small, dimly lit cell, his back resting against the cold, concrete wall.
The metal bars creaked as the sound of distant footsteps echoed down the hallway.
It was a prison, and it was meant to break people—but Joshua had long since learned to endure such things.
Yet, despite his indifference to the squalid conditions, there was one person who refused to leave him in peace.
Ethan stood just outside, his face a mask of frustration.
"I can't leave you here like this," Ethan said firmly, gripping the bars of the cell.
His voice carried a mix of respect and guilt. "Not after all you’ve done for us."
Joshua raised a hand, his expression calm. "This is fine," he replied, his tone steady. " I don’t need anything special."
One of Ethan’s subordinates, an overzealous officer with little understanding of the situation, approached and try to lock Joshua’s cell.
Ethan caught sight of it and exploded in anger.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Ethan barked, stepping forward, his voice rising with authority.
The officer froze, his face paling. "I-I was just getting him settled in, sir."
The cells were in disrepair, their cracked walls and creaking beds a testament to years of neglect.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed, his frustration palpable.
"This isn’t how we treat people—especially not someone who has given everything for this city."
He turned to another officer.
Ethan’s voice echoed through the hall as he issued quick orders.
"Get this place cleaned up. Change the bedding. We’re upgrading the entire facility—new toilets, a proper shower, and a bed that won’t leave him crippled after a night of sleep. And someone get the damn heating fixed!"
His tone left no room for argument.
Joshua watched quietly, his expression unreadable.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and reflective.
"You really don’t have to do this. The worst nights of my life are long behind me."
Ethan stiffened, the words hitting him harder than any argument could.
He thought of the countless sacrifices Joshua had made, of the blood and sweat that had turned Texpanse from chaos to order.
And now, to see him here—discarded and disrespected—filled Ethan with a bitter sense of injustice.
Around them, the other inmates watched in silence, their curiosity piqued by the unusual treatment.
Whispers passed through the cells like a wave.
"Who is he?" one murmured. "Never seen the chief act like this," another added.
The weight of Joshua's presence grew heavier with every passing moment.
Once the cell was cleaned and the bed replaced with something marginally better, Ethan stepped outside to call Robert, the deputy governor.
The conversation was brief but tense.
"The governor is sticking to his decision," Robert said grimly.
"He wants Charlie Northridge to take over Anderson. Joshua’s contributions mean nothing to him."
Ethan’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the phone.
"Calvin Dark is a fool," he growled.
"Charlie Northridge has never earned a fraction of what Joshua has. And now he thinks he can waltz in and take over like it’s his birthright."
Robert sighed. "It’s political. You know that. Northridge has ties Calvin can’t ignore."
Hanging up, Ethan leaned against the wall, his mind racing.
The future of Texpanse felt like it was slipping through his fingers, and the thought of Northridge in power made his stomach churn.
"Joshua saved this state," he muttered to himself. "And now we’re handing it to incompetents."
The next morning, miles away, Charlie Northridge lounged in the sunlit dining room of the governor’s mansion.
Charlie picked up the coffee and took a sip.
"Poof!"
He spat it all out.
The governor was startled.
"What happened? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Nothing, it's just that the coffee is too hot."
Charlie put the coffee aside, picked up some bread, took a bite, and frowned, finding it hard to swallow.
In the capital, he was always enjoying the best food and drink, so how could he have ever eaten such unpalatable food?
Charlie leaned back, his polished shoes tapping against the floor.
"The Anderson family is mine now, but Joshua’s legacy… that’s going to cause problems."
Calvin took a slow sip of his coffee, nodding.
"We’ll deal with them. But it won’t be quick. Joshua had been working with some important people. The people who owe him will be difficult to sway, and they’ll need to be handled carefully."
Charlie waved a hand dismissively. "Loyalty can be bought or broken."
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"You've just settled here, they won't respect your opinion. So, you need to find a way to send Joshua to hell in front of them."Charlie put down the bread and began to ponder.The governor’s words made sense.He currently only had the support of the Anderson family and the governor.To expand his influence, he must first make an example of Joshua!In this way, they would fear him and cooperate with him.Charlie directly asked Calvin, "Do you have any good ideas?"Calvin smiled, "Of course, what you need to do today is exactly this.""Joshua’s name carries weight, but that weight can crush him if you handle it right. A scandal would shake public confidence in him and elevate you as the voice of morality and order."Charlie smirked, "And you think people will believe it? "Calvin leaned forward, his voice low and persuasive."Saints fall harder than sinners. Joshua owns several luxury properties in Texpanse’s most exclusive neighborhood. Rumor has it, he uses them to house his lovers.
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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.
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Charlie didn't knock on the door immediately.He took out his phone and dialed Governor Calvin Dark's video call.Calvin was having an online meeting with governors from other states."Governor, we're ready to take action on our side."Calvin said excitedly, "I'm just in a meeting with other governors, and Joshua's case can be used as a typical example.""Don't hang up the call, broadcast the whole process to us live!"Charlie understood and immediately handed the phone to his subordinate to broadcast the entire process live.In the governor's office.Calvin was having a video conference with other governors online."We were just discussing corruption, and I have a typical case here.""A businessman named Joshua is very close with officials and legislators at all levels, and he spent a billion dollars to buy two villas and kept dozens of mistresses!"The other governors were shocked when they heard this.Dozens?One governor said indignantly, "Such a person cannot be let off."Calvin
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The crowd stood in stunned silence as Mary’s voice rang clear, the photograph in her trembling hand a symbol of a life lost for Texpanse's safety.One by one, the other women stepped forward, their own photos clutched against their chests like shields.Each picture told a story of sacrifice, of husbands who had given everything for the state's prosperity.Charlie shifted uncomfortably, his confidence wavering.The silence from the gathered assembly was deafening.His narrative of "mistresses" crumbled beneath the weight of these solemn truths.“These women are the widows of heroes,” Mary declared, her voice strong despite the emotion in her tone.“Our husbands laid down their lives for this state, and Joshua gave us a home to honor their sacrifice.”Ethan, watching from the sidelines, let out a long, quiet sigh.He had never believed the wild accusations against Joshua, but hearing the full truth deepened his respect.He now understood Joshua’s calm demeanor earlier that morning.He’s
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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
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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
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Charlie stood in the office, staring at the bank statements in disbelief. His mind raced, but the numbers didn’t add up. How had Joshua managed to give away so much money—year after year—without anyone noticing? It was impossible to reconcile with the image of the man they’d always known. The amount of money he was sending to these families, the support for all these widows, it didn’t fit into the clean narrative Charlie had built around Joshua’s financial dealings.“This is...” Charlie trailed off, a sense of unease creeping into his voice. “This is more than just charity. Something’s wrong here.”Calvin, who had been sitting in a chair across from him, gripped the edge of the desk. He had always been a man of calculated moves, and this revelation shook him to his core. “I don’t get it. How could he afford this? How could he give away this much and not raise suspicions?”Charlie’s mind worked quickly, sifting through the pieces of the puzzle. The answer seemed clear now—Joshua had be
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