CHAPTER 438: CHAPTER 438: HUGH YORK IS TAKEN AWAY

This constant stream of people arriving caused Hugh York’s legs to start shaking even before anyone came in.

But he quickly regained his composure.

With Chief Hayes and Elder Prescott both here, things couldn’t be worse.

However, the arrival of the people from the Regulatory Bureau drained the last bit of color from Hugh York’s face.

He could only silently pray in his heart that they weren’t coming for him.

But sometimes, when luck is down, even drinking cold water can get stuck in your teeth.

And indeed, they were coming for him.

The leader was Jared Grant, the head of the Regulatory Bureau.

Recently, in Aethelgard, there was a special agency set up a few months ago to eliminate evil as the capital.

They could investigate people without filing an online report; with solid evidence, they could directly arrest someone first.

After Jared Grant came in, he got straight to the point and said, "Deputy Chief York, we received a report. Please come with us immediately to cooperate with our investigation."

Hugh York shivered.

"Who, who reported... no, what did they report about me?"

"You’ll know when you come with us. As for who reported it, sorry, we can’t disclose any informant’s information here."

After finishing, he unceremoniously waved a big hand: "Take him away!"

Two people from the Regulatory Bureau immediately came forward, holding him up from left and right.

Noelle York panicked and instinctively grabbed her dad’s sleeve.

"Dad!"

Hugh York felt annoyed with Noelle, but now wasn’t the time for family affairs. He forced himself to calm down and said, "Noelle, go home first. We’ll talk about everything once I’m out. Don’t worry, Dad will be back soon. Go home and keep your mom company, tell her not to worry either."

But the more Hugh York forced himself to remain calm, the more Noelle’s fear swelled inside her.

Because if it were a small matter, Hugh York would definitely first settle the score with her for the "miscarriage".

Yet now, he was comforting her instead.

Showing the situation was indeed serious.

Her tears immediately flowed down her cheeks. "Dad..."

"Don’t cry, it’s nothing major."

Hugh York was still trying to comfort, but Jared Grant’s patience was exhausted.

"Let’s go, Deputy Chief York!"

Hugh York nodded slightly, gave Noelle one last look, forcing out a smile.

He was about to accept his unfortunate fate and leave with the people from the Regulatory Bureau when he heard Jared Grant ask Vincent Ford.

"Director Ford, it seems a friend of mine was brought here. Can I see her?"

Vincent Ford asked, "Which friend?"

"A young friend, named Ashley Shaw."

Both Hugh York and Noelle suddenly turned to look at Jared Grant.

Jared Grant didn’t avoid it, almost deliberately wanting Hugh York to know why he was here.

After all, he indeed held substantial evidence that pointed to Hugh York accepting countless bribes over the years.

Arresting Hugh York was justified and legal.

Hugh York was guilty, even if he was now full of regret, he could only endure temporarily—not knowing what evidence they had on him, staying put was the best option.

But even when he got into the car, he still couldn’t figure it out.

How on earth did an orphan girl make connections with these people?

Even if you picked any one of these people at random, they wouldn’t be someone an ordinary person could easily meet.

Let alone stand up and speak for her.

Moreover, judging by Owen Sinclair’s attitude, it seemed he really treated her like an elder would.

But these questions, he certainly wouldn’t get answers to.

...

Inside the case handling area, a few people were still unaware that the situation outside had "changed".

But Hugh York’s subordinates, following his orders, tried every possible means to make Ashley Shaw look less disheveled.

First, they prepared a set of new clothes—the original ones were soaked with sweat.

But despite the persuasion from two policewomen, Ashley Shaw still refused to change.

She didn’t know what was happening outside, but remembered one saying: unexplained kindness is either adultery or theft.

She wouldn’t accept this sudden favor.

"Then, please have some water and wash your face?" The policewoman said, "You’re severely dehydrated now. If you don’t drink some water, I’m afraid you’ll pass out."

Ashley Shaw hesitated for a moment, but eventually took the water.

The policewoman breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Hugh York’s people wanted her to "restore her to her original state," she initially felt annoyed, she was a police officer, not a caregiver.

But seeing Ashley Shaw, seeing the young girl’s haggard appearance, she felt a trace of pity in the end.

She didn’t know the details of Hugh York’s matters, but people working here could see the intention at a glance.

Otherwise, why not do it in their own territory, but come to this small local police station to interrogate someone?

Poor little girl like a frail willow, heard she just started college, who knows how frightened she must be.

But the girl seemed stronger than the policewoman imagined, having endured so much suffering and shock, yet not shedding a single tear.

"Drink more, and you’ll change your clothes later... You sweat so much, if you don’t change, you’ll definitely catch a cold. No matter what happens, you must first take care of your health, right?"

Ashley Shaw instinctively wanted to refuse, but seeing the genuine concern in the policewoman’s eyes, she nodded.

"Thank you."

Just as they were speaking, the heavy door of the case handling area was suddenly pushed open.

Ashley Shaw thought it was Hugh York coming to trouble her again, but when she looked up, she saw a group of familiar people.

Grandpa Prescott, Owen Sinclair, and both Jocelyn Hayes and Ariana Grant.

Jocelyn Hayes and Ariana Grant had just followed the police car to make a record for Ashley Shaw’s damaged hairpin case, unexpectedly running into Vincent Ford here.

Only then did they learn that Ashley Shaw was also brought here.

Ashley Shaw didn’t know Vincent Ford and Jared Grant, but clearly saw concern in their eyes.

Obviously, they were "on her side".

Owen Sinclair was the first to run over, seeing Ashley Shaw’s pale lips, the whole person looking as if she had just been fished out of the water, what was there not to understand in his heart?

Case handling is no longer permitted to involve torture, but if Hugh York intended to torment someone, he had plenty of ways.

His eyes turned red around the rims, and his hands clenched tightly into fists.

"Ashley..."

The voice rolled out of his throat, surprisingly carrying a hint of choked sob.

"Uncle Owen..."

Ashley Shaw tried hard to curve her lips into a smile.

Seeing her expression, Owen Sinclair felt heartbroken to the core, wishing he could beat up Hugh York directly.

But he didn’t dare to show his heartache too obviously, and could only say, "I dragged you into this, if not for me, you wouldn’t have been brought here. Ashley, I truly owe you this time. I’ll make it up to you for all the suffering you endured today."

He categorized his heartache as "guilt," so Ashley Shaw didn’t overthink or misunderstand.

Ariana Grant and Jocelyn Hayes then hurried over, chirping questions about her condition.

Asking why she sweated so much, and what they did to her.

Ashley Shaw feared they would worry and answered them in a way that downplayed the severity.

Elder Prescott, being old, was the last to come before Ashley Shaw.

He stared into Ashley Shaw’s eyes, having a lot to say in his heart, but the words turned into a complaint once they reached his lips: "See if you’ll dare hide things from me next time!"