As Matteo spoke, Carmichael could see the lies in his eyes, his despicable lies palpable in the air. Despite the gravity of his past actions, there was an undeniable determination within him to keep his secret to himself. Carmichael listened attentively, the lines of his face harding slightly as Matteo continued to lie about how he was coerce into betraying his clan and working with the Dragon clan. There was a moment of silence as Carmichael watched Matteo's words, his expression blank and contemplative.Matteo's smile slipped from his face, a pained expression replacing it. It was easy to lie to Carmichael, he realized, all it took was a grieved expression and a pause in his lies. Carmichael drew closer, his fist clenched and ready to strike. With one swift motion, Carmichael struck Matteo in the stomach. The blow knocked the wind out of Matteo, and he collapsed, gasping for breath and coughing up blood.Carmichael leaned down and grabbed Matteo by the collar, hauling him back into
As Alejandro and the group meticulously laid out the evidence, the atmosphere in the room was thick with tension. Alejandro, his brow furrowed, pointed to a series of photographs, his voice strong and commanding as he explained the significance of each piece of evidence. "This photo," he began, gesturing to a grainy image on the projector screen, "was taken at the port during the time of the kidnapped. It provides a crucial timeline of events that led to the incident." As he spoke, the intensity in the room grew palpable, the officials leaning in, absorbing every word.One of the authorities, a stern-looking man in a suit, interjected, "But how can we be certain of the authenticity of these documents and recordings?" His skepticism hung heavy in the air, causing a ripple of unease among the group. Without missing a beat, a member of the team, Emilia stepped forward, her gaze unwavering as she calmly explained the rigorous verification process they had undertaken. "Every document, pho
"Then, I guess it is alright with you if we searched your company." The superintendent stated, his finger firmly tapping the desk. Mr. Carmicheal's eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. He had known the superintendent was persistent, but this was more than he had bargained for. "I... I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that. My company has a lot of proprietary information that could be compromised if you search it. And I'm not even sure if you have the legal authority to do that."The superintendent nodded slowly, as if considering Mr. Carmicheal's words. "I understand your concerns, but we have evidence that suggests otherwise. I am not at liberty to share the details of our evidence, but I can assure you that it is credible and warrants a search of your company. We are not asking for permission, Mr. Carmicheal, we are informing you of what is going to happen." The superintendent's tone was firm and authoritative, leaving no room for debate.Mr. Carmicheal felt his heart sink as he rea
After bidding Mrs. Katherine a tearful farewell, Lindsey made her way to visit Mrs. Amazon, her grandmother, who was surrounded by shadows of disbelief and remorse in her home. When Lindsey entered, Mrs. Amazon looked up at her with eyes clouded by the weight of her emotions."Lindsey," Mrs. Amazon's voice trembled as she spoke, "I am so glad that you are safe and sound. I can't believe that my own son could have been involved in such hurtful actions and I knew nothing about it. I feel so lost and overwhelmed."Lindsey sat beside Mrs. Amazon, wrapping her in a gentle embrace. "Grandma, I understand how hard this is for you, but please know that it's not your fault. You couldn't have known or prevented what happened," Lindsey offered words of comfort, her voice soft and soothing. "These are incredibly difficult circumstances, and you don't have to face them alone. I am here for you, and I want to help in any way I can."Mrs. Amazon nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. "I feel so helpl
As they approached their destination, Alejandro's phone buzzed again, prompting him to glance at the screen with a furrowed brow. "It's Queency," he informed Lindsey before answering the call."Hey, Queency. We're almost there," Alejandro spoke into the phone, his voice turning warm as he conversed with his sister.As the call ended, Alejandro briefly updated Lindsey on their plans for the evening, a sense of warmth settling over them as they approached their home. The prospect of reuniting with loved ones offered a glimmer of hope and comfort after the poignant visit to the cemetery."You ready?" Alejandro asked, his eyes meeting Lindsey's with a reassuring smile.Lindsey nodded, a fleeting sense of peace settling over her. "Yeah, I am. Thank you for being with me today."Alejandro's smile widened, his gaze filled with understanding and unwavering support. "Always."As the Tesla pulled into the driveway, the anticipation of reuniting with family softened the lingering ache in Lindsey
"Come on, we need to hide," Karen said, her voice tremulous with fear."I can't. I need to go to my mum and dad," Lindsey replied, her gaze fixed on the direction of her parents, her whole body shivering with dread."I'm sure your parents would want you to hide," Karen murmured, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Do you know a safe place to hide?" she whispered."Yeah, yeah," Lindsey stammered as she finally moved away from the door. With timid steps, she made her way to her closet. Her hands shook as she hastily pushed aside the clothes, revealing a locked door. Fumbling with the keypad, she typed in the password."Isn't this place obvious?" Karen asked, exhaling sharply."Mum and dad always said that the most obvious place is the most secure, because people rarely look there," Lindsey replied, her voice tinged with resignation.A thud echoed through the room, followed by indistinct muttering as footsteps drew nearer. Hurriedly, they squeezed into the hidden space, locking the door beh
"Hey Lindsey, be careful please." Karen called out, her voice filled with concern, as she watched her friend climb up the tree.Lindsey balanced herself on the branch, reaching out to pluck the red apple. "I've got it!" she called triumphantly as she carefully made her way down to the ground.Karen sighed in relief as she saw her friend safely on the ground. "You always make me worry, you know that?" she chided with a gentle smile, knowing that Lindsey's adventurous spirit always got the better of her.Lindsey flashed a mischievous grin, "But that’s what friends are for, to keep you on your toes."Karen rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah. Come on, we need to get back home. Your parents have been searching for you.""Ugh, they worry too much," Lindsey grumbled as they made their way back. "But I guess it's nice to know they care.""Exactly," Karen nodded, "You're lucky to have parents who care so much.""I suppose you're right," Lindsey conceded, looking over at the picturesque cottage they c
"Sir." Rushed a young man as he got inside the office after a series of knock with haggard breath "Holding different folders in his hands," said the young man as he entered the office and stood in front of the mahogany desk."What is it?" came a deep voice from the back of a mahogany chair, the man's back away from view as he stared deeply out the window."We found them," replied the young man, panting slightly."What?" asked the voice as the man sharply turned, collecting the files from the young man, his eyes scanning them intently."Yes, sir, they are in Texas," continued the young man with a smile, finally expressing relief after months of research."Good job," the voice said, followed by a smile. "I'll make sure your salary is increased." He said as he turned away, his focus back on the files in his hands."Thank you, sir," muttered the young man as he quickly rushed toward the door, opened it, and shut it behind him, knowing he was dismissed. Back in the office, a deathly laught