CHAPTER 193: THE END OF WHITMORES

William didn’t know how the small container ended up in his pocket. His mind raced for a solution, but he found none.

He panicked and said frantically, "That’s not mine! I didn’t carry this container. Officer, believe me, I’ve never used any drugs. Someone might’ve intentionally planted it to harm me. Why would I take such a risk? Officer, please believe me!"

The seated officer said, "Heroin. Do you understand? This is a serious crime in our state of Virginia."

William’s mouth went dry. His thoughts went blank, and he collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.

The officer looked at the others and said, "Interrogate the two who came with him."

"Yes, sir." Two officers exited and brought Jennifer and Jeanne into two separate rooms.

After almost half an hour of questioning, and after thoroughly checking their luggage, the officers released Jeanne and Jennifer. However, they were instructed to report to the local police station once they had rented a residence.

Inside the other room, William regained consciousness after a few minutes. The officers continued with the interrogation and found the case to be rather bizarre. After some thought, the lead officer agreed to help and requested surveillance footage from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where William had spent nearly three hours during transit. But after carefully reviewing the footage, they found no suspicious individual approaching William.

With a sigh, the officer said, "Mr Whitmore, I truly believe your claim. You don’t look like a smuggler. But the law is the law. I have no evidence to prove your innocence. You must understand... 120 grams of heroin is a serious crime in this state. You will be charged under both Virginia transport laws and federal trafficking regulations. We’re placing you under arrest and will hand you over to the local authorities."

He paused and added, "Under the Virginia statute, you’re likely facing a mandatory minimum of five years, since this is your first offence... possibly longer under federal guidelines. I suggest you hire a capable lawyer and apply for bail immediately. The detention centres here aren’t a good place for someone your age."

William had recovered some of his composure and could now think more clearly. He asked, "May I know how many days it takes to get a bail hearing?"

The officer replied, "If your lawyer is capable, you might get bail as early as tomorrow. Otherwise, it could take three to seven days."

William said, "Officer, I truly did not traffic any drugs. I’m new to this area and don’t know anyone. If you could kindly suggest a contact for a good lawyer, I’d be grateful."

The officer replied, "From my position, I can’t give you a direct contact. But if you want my advice... ask your family to find a lawyer who’s handled similar cases before. They’re all listed online. Some lawyers are capable of not only securing bail but also helping clear your name."

William asked, "Thank you, Officer. May I see my wife and daughter?"

The officer nodded, "They’re waiting outside. You may speak to them now... you’ve got ten minutes."

William rushed out of the room, leaving his bag behind. As he opened the door, he spotted Jennifer and Jeanne, anxiously looking towards it. Upon seeing him, they quickly approached.

William wasted no time. He explained that it was either a setup or just terribly bad luck, but he had to deal with the situation now.

He told them what the officer had said regarding the bail and the urgency of hiring a lawyer. Since Jeanne and Jennifer were cleared of any suspicion, they immediately went to a nearby hotel to check in and store their luggage. Then Jennifer began searching online for a capable attorney.

She soon found a news article about a similar case at the same airport just a few months earlier. A lawyer had successfully secured bail the very next day... and the case had made local news.

Jennifer found the lawyer’s number through an online directory. Though it was late, she managed to speak with the lawyer’s assistant and scheduled an appointment for the next morning.

The following morning, both mother and daughter rushed to the lawyer’s office. To their relief, the lawyer had already gathered information about William’s case from the authorities, based on what they had told his assistant the night before.

They found him competent and professional... giving them hope that William’s release could be secured soon. But when the lawyer quoted five million dollars as his fee, both women hesitated.

They had arrived in the US with just fourteen million dollars in total. Paying five million upfront, without even knowing the bail amount... would strain their future living.

However, the lawyer clarified that out of the five million, only two would be his personal fee. The rest would go towards securing bail and necessary arrangements. He assured them he would ensure bail was granted without delay.

Jennifer had already read online that bail in similar cases often ranged between one and five million dollars, though ten or even fifty million had been recorded in extreme cases.

After a detailed discussion, they finally agreed on the condition that the lawyer would be paid a total of eight million dollars. How much he kept and how much went toward bail was up to him. They would pay five million up front, and the remaining three after William’s release.

The outcome was better than they had hoped. By noon that day, William was granted bail at only two million dollars. All three Whitmore family members returned to the hotel that afternoon.

Though the case would proceed, the lawyer assured them he would try to reduce the charges to a financial penalty rather than prison time. William regained some hope after hearing how the lawyer planned to approach the case.

That evening, the Whitmore family finally moved into their rented house. Though their savings had dropped to six million dollars due to the sudden drug charge, they felt a renewed sense of optimism. They spent the evening discussing their future plans and how to move forward from here.

***

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom, someone anonymously leaked a video showing Jennifer Whitmore boarding a plane and leaving the country along with her family members. The video was of high quality and clearly captured her face.

The Whitmore-Clifford scandal had already been buried beneath a flood of newer controversies by that time. But this video reignited the fire. Social media erupted, mocking the Whitmore family for fleeing the Kingdom in disgrace.

Soon after, another post surfaced... this time revealing the current condition of James Clifford in painful detail. It included a video of him in the hospital, missing a leg. The post claimed James had been expelled from the Clifford family, and all his properties had been confiscated.

This new wave of scandal didn’t spare the Clifford family either. Their business was already reeling from the previous attacks. Now, their rivals took the opportunity to push them further down, adding salt to the wounds.

That day, Nicholas Clifford, the patriarch of the Clifford family, finally had enough.

After a private family meeting, he made the decision. He ordered Phoebe Baker to take James and leave the Kingdom permanently. He handed them a lump sum of one million pounds and removed their names from the Clifford family registry. From that day forward, their bloodline would never again be entitled to any inheritance or recognition from the Clifford family.

Someone also posted the new address of the Whitmore family in Virginia on social media. Several businessmen who were owed large sums by William panicked upon hearing the news of his escape. They had known William as the chairman of EverBuild, so their first step was to seek information directly from the company.

When they learned that William had been removed from his position a few days earlier and no longer had any affiliation with the company, some decided to travel to Virginia to collect their debts personally, while others began legal procedures.

According to the information received by EverBuild, William Whitmore personally owed more than ten million pounds. In response to the growing inquiries, EverBuild’s public relations department issued a formal notice stating that William Whitmore had been removed from his position several days ago. He held no position within the company and had no further association with it. Anyone seeking repayment from him would need to pursue the matter personally.

This announcement caused another uproar within the business community. It became clear that EverBuild had undergone a major internal shift. The board had elected a new chairman from the Langford family of Birmingham, and Miss Francesca Walters had taken over as the new CEO.

While EverBuild’s future appeared promising, the same could not be said for William Whitmore. He was drowning in debt, and speculation circulated that he had fled the Kingdom to escape his financial obligations.

***

Teresa went to the brokerage office to finalise the deal with Bernie Sanders.

After returning to the Kingdom, she had met Bernie at a party. Bernie was a small businessman, but he was capable enough to catch Teresa’s attention. He was well-mannered and knew precisely how to speak—and more importantly, how much to speak. In business conversations, time is always limited. Bernie possessed the rare gift of sealing a deal in the shortest time possible.

Bernie Sanders owned a proprietorship in the construction material supply business and was one of the suppliers for EverBuild. That connection caught Teresa’s attention, and she decided to invest... not in his business, but in him.

Under Teresa’s guidance, Bernie’s business had grown rapidly over the past few months. Teresa never asked for anything in return. She had only suggested, casually, that he should build an image of being interested in buying EverBuild shares on the market. He had done exactly that. And now, for the first time, Teresa asked something of him. Bernie finally understood why that image had been created in the first place.

Bernie did what he was told. He bought all the shares of EverBuild from the Whitmore family. He subtly influenced them to leave the Kingdom. He helped them sell their properties and liquidate their assets.

Although he didn’t know why this powerful figure from Heimdall had targeted the Whitmore family or EverBuild... he was happy to have finally done something of value for her.

After signing all the documents, Teresa Li became the second-largest shareholder of EverBuild.

At the gate of the brokerage house, Teresa turned to Bernie and said, "I’ve already called Miss Francesca Walters. You should meet her as soon as possible. You’ll find new opportunities in business. Stay with her, and you’ll reach new heights."

Bernie bowed respectfully and thanked her. He knew just how monumental this opportunity was.

He stood there for a long while, watching as Teresa’s car disappeared into the distance.