4. A Chaotic Situation

"What? Zayden can be released from prison?!" Petra protested to Harris who called her.

In Petra's presence, Rebecca and Zevanna were suddenly speechless. They were both dumbfounded by this news. As they recalled, the plan to frame Zayden had been well-organized.

Why did Zayden escape the evidence trap that Petra, Rebecca, and Zevanna made up?

"Who set him free? What a jerk! He shouldn't be out of jail!" said an exasperated Petra.

"I can't do anything, Mr. Petra. The evidence provided by someone on Zayden's side is really strong. That person even found out that the website was selling fake diamonds."

Petra became worried. Her emotions were full of anxiety. She brushed her hair back in frustration.

"No, there's no way anyone could find out that the website sells fake diamonds!" Petra replied fearfully.

Rebecca and Zevanna looked at each other, each of their eyes radiating worry. They both thought of the risks involved if Zayden were to be released from prison.

"You're not good at your job at all! I asked you to do everything you could to trap Zayden!" Petra cursed at Harris as her temper rose dramatically.

Zevanna was also upset. As bad possibilities ran through her head, Zevanna guessed who was on Zayden's side.

"Tell me, who found the important information about the website?" Petra asked, her tone urgent.

Rebecca and Zevanna were also waiting for the answer to that question. The two of them looked resignedly at Petra who seemed dumbfounded for a moment, then suddenly picked up the glass that was slammed hard.

PRANGG!

Rebecca and Zevanna were simultaneously shocked.

"How did he find it? Who the hell is that guy? And why is he helping Zayden?!"

Frustration and panic mixed in Petra's chest. Her breathing was ragged as she felt mixed emotions. Petra gripped her own hair as she walked back and forth.

"I don't want to hear or know anything. I want you to find out who the person was who found that important information!" Petra urged anxiously.

On the other side of the phone, Harris had actually given an implicit refutation of the order. Because for Harris, somehow the person who helped Zayden was not an ordinary person.

Websites that sold fake diamonds were more often used by conglomerates. Or famous actresses and actors who have an income of more than one hundred million dollars, as well as high popularity.

If there was someone who knew that the website was selling fake diamonds, that meant he had access to find out.

"Harris, I'll kill you if you can't find out who it is!" Petra threatened with emphasis.

On the other hand, Harris was secretly worried. Harris wondered how to find out about the person who was helping Zayden.

"I'll pay you whatever you want, Harris. Just give me the details of the person who helped Zayden. I don't like it when someone gets in the way of my plans!"

Shortly afterward, the call was unilaterally hung up by Petra.

At that moment, Petra looked at her phone screen with emotion. Petra could not contain her irritation.

"I won't be able to let Zayden live in peace!" Petra said exasperatedly.

"Honey, can't we let Zayden live? He's a poor man after all, take it easy. He won't be able to touch us," Rebecca said.

Petra's exasperated gaze shifted to Rebecca. Petra shook her head.

"It can't be, darling. I don't know why I have such an uneasy feeling about her. How did he get out of prison? Who helped him?"

Rebecca was silent. All of Petra's questions made her realize something. If Zayden was indeed from the poor, why would there be someone who could help find evidence?

"Honey, finding proof that the diamonds are fake is not easy. Not just anyone can enter a fake diamond website," Petra explained.

"That's right. I just realized that only certain people enter the diamond website," Rebecca replied.

"Then who helped Zayden?" said Zevanna.

"Why do you all look so indecisive?" A voice from behind made them all turn their heads in unison.

Zevanna immediately lit up at the arrival of Andreas, her boyfriend. Andreas was walking with Hendrick and Hanna, his parents, who were the top conglomerates in the city.

"Honey! I was really worried!" Zevanna immediately stood up and walked over to Andreas to hug him.

Andreas was confused. After releasing Zevanna's hug, he asked, "I heard you talking about Zayden, your son-in-law-I mean your poor, useless ex-son-in-law?"

Rebecca and Petra invited Hendrick and Hanna to sit down after paying their respects. Compared to the two of them, Hendrick and Hanna's wealth was greater. The two of them were the third wealthiest conglomerate, while Rebecca and Petra were the seventh wealthiest conglomerate couple.

"Looks like Zayden isn't as ordinary as we thought," Petra replied, her face showing doubt.

Hendrick and Hanna looked at each other. They accepted the expensive wine served by the mansion's maid.

"There's someone who can tell that the website we run is a fake diamond website. And that person helped Zayden get out of prison." Petra explained.

"How?" asked Hendrick. "To be sure that the diamonds are fake, we need to buy the diamonds. And... we don't sell them to the general public."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. I don't know if the person who helped Zayden also knew the diamonds contained narcotics or not," said Petra.

Hearing the conversation before him, Andreas curved a grin. He felt both intrigued and curious about who Zayden really was.

"If Zayden is not an ordinary person, who is he?" Andreas asked. "Have you ever traced his identity, Zevanna?"

Zevanna nodded her head. "Of course I have. His parents are dead, and he lived with his poor uncle and aunt before marrying me. There is no record of any wealth from her parents, not even any inheritance."

Andreas' eyebrows furrowed as he thought of something from Zevanna's explanation.

"Then... how did she have someone to help her? Have you found out who that person is, Mr. Petra?"

"I've ordered Harris the police detective to find the identity of the person who helped Zayden," Petra answered confidently.

Andreas nodded slowly. "Make sure those detectives are working properly, Mr. Petra. If the person who helped Zayden turns out to have traced more information about the website, our narcotics distribution secrets will be jeopardized."

No one answered between them. The situation became silent and tension-ridden. At that moment, Zevanna remembered how calm Zayden was when he agreed to her divorce request.

Zevanna felt a stirring inside, had she misjudged Zayden all this time?

****

[Priority Customer Name: Zayden Alexander Lee]

"What is this? There's no way you're registered as our priority customer?!" Christian snarled in disapproval after reading the information on the special priority customer record.

In front of Christian, Zayden was still wearing a very calm expression. Zayden had come an hour ago to take care of the payment of his credit debt to the bank, which still had $100,000,000 left.

During his life as a commoner, Zayden had been in debt. Zayden did not want to receive any money from Bruno. Moreover, living a married life with Zevanna requires a lot of money.

"How can you suddenly have a savings balance of $1,000,000,000?!" asked Christian again.

Christian was the manager at the company where Zayden worked as an office boy six years ago. Zayden was fired from the company and charged with corruption because Christian spread rumors.

Two years ago, Christian became the manager of a bank. They meet again because Zayden needs to borrow money from the bank to pay for his wedding with Zevanna and run his business.

Seeing Zayden who has changed completely of course makes Christian distrustful.

"Hey, two months ago you were still begging me for more money! How come..." Christian was speechless.

Zayden was still sitting quietly on the sofa reserved for priority customers. A faint curve of a smile curved his features.

"I don't need to explain anything to you, Christian. My purpose here is to pay my debt to the bank and buy a building to build my company," Zayden said.

Christian still didn't want to believe it.

"No way," Christian replied. "Hey, is all your money legal?"

"Of course. You got the report from the bank officer about checking my financial flows, right?" Zayden asked.

"That would be a lie!" said Christian.

Christian turned around and called for one of the bank officers to come over. When the bank officer arrived, Christian looked at Zayden sharply.

"How did a poor guy like you get this much wealth so soon?" Christian quipped.

Then Christian's gaze shifted to the bank officer beside him.

"Did you check properly? There are no illegal financial flows in this customer's financial records?"

Zayden realized Christian was in denial about the facts in front of him. Calmly, Zayden watched as the bank officer shook his head.

"We've done a thorough check, Mr. Christian. There is no record of corruption, illegal trading, or money laundering by Mr. Zayden's customers."

Christian was dumbfounded.

"But... I know him very well. Did you use the financial flow detection tool?" asked a still incredulous Christian.

The bank officer nodded his head to Christian.

"We have, sir. We took all the necessary steps to check," the bank officer replied.

"Christian, never mind. Why can't you trust me?" said Zayden.

Christian looked at Zayden with a dumbfounded expression. Christian couldn't say anything as he watched Zayden.

"You know, I told you once that people's lives can change," Zayden added.

"But not yours, Zayden. You're so poor! Why can you... you do illegal work?!" Christian accused again.

Exasperated by Christian's constant accusations, Zayden spoke to the bank officer.

"Please take care of the building purchase that I told you about. Oh, my personal secretary will deal with you," Zayden said.

Beside Zayden, Alan as his personal secretary immediately nodded obediently. Soon Alan left with the bank officer to carry out Zayden's request.

"Oh my... well, how could you?!" Christian looked at Zayden admiringly, but also sarcastically.

"Your life has changed a lot, Zayden. Do you feel like you have a lot of wealth now?" quipped Christian.  

Zayden looked at Christian intensely for a split second.

"Why don't you ask yourself? Didn't your stock investment quadruple until you mocked me?" Zayden returned Christian's sarcasm.

Christian laughed sarcastically. "Gosh, you're so vindictive. Can you even manage your wealth now? I'm still suspicious of why you're suddenly rich like this."

"Mr. Christian, you should be careful when you want to mock someone. You don't know how people really live."