Marcus paused in surprise, then nodded.

Olivia sat in a swivel chair, spinning a pen between her fingers. She said, “Are you even aware that Fiona’s been running a loan–sharking ring? A government official’s wife secretly charging sky–high interest–do you know what crime that adds up to?”

Victor chimed in, “Three years ago, usury became a criminal offense.

“Under thew, anyone who lends money for profit without state approval and repeatedly offers loans to the public–disrupting the financial market–faces at least three years in prison if the case is serious.

“If such illegal lending urs more than ten times, the sentence increases with each additional vition.”

Olivia nodded and said, “Marcus, don’t tell me you don’t know about this. You’ve taken quite a bit of this money yourself, haven’t you?”

Hearing this, Connor was so furious that his head throbbed. He had risen through the ranks himself and knew every twist of the system, yet he never imagined his own subordinates would turn out to be the masterminds behind the scheme.

Stanley mmed the table and barked, “Marcus, have you lost your damn mind? You swore an oath to serve the public, not to line your own pockets.”

Olivia said, “You knew exactly how serious this was, so why go through with it? Is someone else pulling your strings?”

She thought, ‘If Marcus only wanted to save J, he could have done it a dozen ways without ever targeting me. Someone higher up must be pulling his strings.‘

Marcus stammered, “H–How do you know?” He was stunned; he had not expected Olivia to guess it.

Olivia raised an eyebrow and said, “I read fortunes–I predicted all of this.” She looked every inch the cunning fox.

Victor gently shook his head. He thought, ‘Olivia is still the same as before.

Olivia added, “Before I take action, you had best exin yourself.”

Suddenly, Marcus clutched his head and cried out, “It was Fiona–she wanted to help the Evans family take revenge.”

“Then who is behind her?” Victor and Olivia spoke in unison.

Marcus said, “I’m not entirely sure either. Sometimes, Fiona says it’s the Sherman family, and at other times, it’s said to be the Evans family.” Then he raised his head and fixed his gaze on Olivia. He added, “They all despise you.”

Connor pondered, ‘Hasn’t the Evans family already fallen? And which Sherman family is Marcus talking

about? The one in Hirica?‘

b19:43 /bbFri/bb, /bOct?

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Victor was puzzled; during his posting in Kingtonelle, he had never heard of the Evans family. It wasn’t until he received his transfer to Hirica that their name first came up.

Olivia asked, “The Shermans are involved, too?” She thought, ‘T’d been so focused on bringing down the Evans family that I’dpletely overlooked the Shermans.

Marcus said, “No, that’s not the case. I don’t know how Fiona and the Sherman family established contact. The Sherman family merely reached out, saying they wanted to teach you a lesson. And then they entrusted this matter to Fiona to handle.”

Connor jabbed a finger at Marcus and snapped, “Marcus, you’re a real piece of work.”

These usations alone–shielding his daughter, making arbitrary arrests, and taking bribes–were enough to put Marcus behind bars for life. fne016 Chapters first released on Find1Novel/fne016

Marcus realized that there was no way for him to escape at this point; in the final moments, he only wanted to protect his daughter.

J was the only daughter Marcus had with his first wife. His first wife had stuck with him through everyte–night study session and double shift while he crammed for the civil–service exams.

She died before she could enjoy any of the rewards, and he had never forgiven himself for failing to give her the life she deserved.

To ease his guilt over his first wife, Marcus showered J with whatever she wanted. Yet J never seemed to appreciate it and kept causing trouble at school.

Each time, he cleaned up the mess, convinced he was just giving her the life he’d failed to give her mother.

Marcus pleaded, “I admit to everything. Punish me however you see fit–I ept it. Just spare J. Please forgive her. She hasn’t done anything wrong; she’s only young and naive. If anyone’s to me, it’s me for failing to raise her right.”

Olivia shot back, “Forgive her? Who’s going to get justice for the girls she tormented? L jumped to her death justst month–six months after J’s bullying drove her to the brink.”

Marcus froze, shock shing across his face. He thought, ‘I paid her off–how could this still happen?‘

Olivia went on, “J spread obscene rumors iming L had promiscuous rtionships. L was expelled and had to endure daily whispers and stares.”

L had simply put her hair up in a bun with a few pretty pins, yet J and her clique spun obscene rumors about her. The story swept through the school, and soon the neighbors near L’s home were whispering too.

L came from an ordinary family. Her parents died young, leaving only her grandfather at home. While shopping for groceries, he heard the rumors, copsed from rage, and died.

L went to the police, only to be beaten up and turned away with a warning to stay out of it. No amount of Marcus’s money could ever restore her family, her reputation, or her innocence–they were gone forever.

Ultimately, L suffered an emotional breakdown and jumped from the roof. Another young life was ilost/i.

bD /b

At the time. J–an outstanding student representative–was waiting to receive her award at the citymendation ceremony.

After learning the whole story, Victor was consumed with rage, his voice trembling as he said, ‘Marcusi, /iyour indulgence cost a girl her life.”

Stanley was trembling with anger as well. Having children of his own, he could empathize even more deeply He said, “What did that girl do wrong? Why should she have to suffer such injustice?

“All of this is the result of your daughter’s willfulness and your indulgence.”

Marcus hung his head, then burst out hysterically, “It’s all their fault. Why did J pick on L and not someone else? They provoked her–L had iting.”

Olivia pped Marcus hard across the face.

Marcus was stunned by the blow and momentarily rendered speechless.

Olivia said, “In cases of school bullying, we should not look for the problem in the bully.” Her voice was as clear and cold as a mountain spring, carrying a faint chill–the kind that bites like winter wind and makes the heart shiver.

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