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Chapter_155
Nellie’s expression tightened with confusion as she looked at Zeke. “What do you mean? Don’t make a scene or you’ll wake your grandpa and get yourself into trouble.”
Zeke, sensing Nellie still didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, urgently pulled his phone from his pocket and thrust it into her hands. His voice trembled with despair. “Mom, check the news. It’s everywhere. The Smith family is finished.”
Nellie’s heart skipped a beat as she unlocked Zeke’s phone and read the headlines. The weight of it hit her hard—she had seen some of the reports, but never expected them to come to light like this. How did it all get exposed? she wondered. Dad’s hidden those documents so well…
Before she could process it fully, Dennis slowly descended the stairs, his hand gripping his cane for support. When he saw Nellie’s pale face and Zeke’s anxious expression, he frowned, his confusion turning to concern. “What’s going on? Why are you two just standing there?” he asked, his voice gruff.
Nellie was trembling, unable to speak as the full scope of the news sank in. She could barely form the words. “Dad… we’re doomed.”
Dennis’s expression darkened immediately, a scowl creeping onto his face. “What nonsense are you talking about? Pull yourself together.”
Zeke, unable to keep quiet any longer, took the phone from Nellie’s hand. He spoke carefully but with mounting urgency. “Grandpa, last night at midnight, someone leaked everything. The Smith family is involved in tax evasion, selling substandard products, bribing officials… all the documents and photos are out there. People are furious, and it’s all over the internet.”
Dennis’s eyes widened in disbelief. His blood ran cold as the reality of the situation crashed down on him. The weight of years of corruption, deceit, and power struggles was finally catching up. Before he could respond, his legs gave way, and in the blink of an eye, Dennis lost his balance.
In a sickening instant, he tumbled down the stairs.
Both Nellie and Zeke froze in shock, too stunned to act. For a long moment, neither of them moved to help him.
Nellie snapped back into reality when she saw the blood pooling beneath Dennis’s head. Her hand shook as she reached for her phone to dial 911, but Zeke stopped her with a firm grip on her wrist.
Nellie stared at him, confused. Zeke, normally calm and collected, was grinning with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine.
As Dennis lay unconscious, his blood staining the floor, Zeke seemed oddly detached, his eyes gleaming with a strange thrill. He wasn’t worried at all—if anything, he looked more excited than anything else.
“Zeke,” Nellie whispered, her voice trembling. “What are you doing? Give me the phone. Your grandpa is bleeding—hurry!”
Zeke smirked, his gaze hardening as he stared at Dennis. “Mom, listen carefully. The Smith family is finished. Our reputation is beyond repair, and Grandpa needs to take responsibility for his actions. We need to gather everything we can from the house and leave. Money can buy us a new life anywhere in the world. You know the combination to Grandpa’s safe, right? Now’s not the time to be sentimental. Let’s take it all and get out of here. Once we’re abroad, you can live however you want. But if you can’t see that, I’m afraid I can’t save you either.”
Nellie stood there, torn between her conscience and the brutal truth of Zeke’s words. She wanted to feel sorry for Dennis—her husband, the father of her children—but something in her was starting to snap.
Zeke, sensing her hesitation, leaned in closer, his voice cold. “Do you really want to live with absolutely nothing? Think about it, Mom. The only way out of this mess is to take what we can and leave.”
Nellie’s resolve hardened, her face set in determination. “No,” she declared, her voice steely. “I don’t want to live like this. Zeke, you’re right. Let’s pack up and leave now. I know the code. We’ll leave Grandpa to his fate.”
Without another word, Nellie and Zeke began hurriedly packing, completely ignoring Dennis, who lay unconscious on the floor.
As they were about to head out to the car, Nellie paused, a sudden thought crossing her mind. “Zeke,” she asked, her voice tinged with hesitation, “What about Winona? Should we just leave her behind?”
Zeke’s response was cold and dismissive. “Mom, since Winona’s engaged to Victor, she’s part of the Carter family now. She’s not our responsibility anymore.”
Nellie, finding some logic in his words, nodded and followed him out, their escape planned and their future uncertain.
Meanwhile, at Apex Urban University, Bonnie was concerned about her friend. “Yve, I noticed you were on your computer all night. Did you stay up? You should take a break and rest in the dorm.”
Yvette, her eyes distant and unfocused, rested her chin on her hand, twirling a pen absentmindedly. “Nah. I’ve got someone to visit tonight.”
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. “Did you hear about the Smith family? It’s outrageous! What they did—so inhuman!”
Yvette barely reacted, her expression unreadable. She glanced up at the sky, now bathed in the golden light of early afternoon. “Yeah, I’ve heard.”
She paused, her gaze drifting over the peaceful, sunlit scene outside. A quiet smile played at the corner of her lips as she muttered, “If the heavens won’t take the devils, I will.”
At the hospital, Dennis slowly regained consciousness, his head pounding and his mind disoriented. He blinked, realizing he was lying in a sterile hospital room, guarded by two police officers.
The officers exchanged glances, and one stepped forward, holding out an arrest warrant. “Mr. Smith,” he began coldly, “you are under arrest for multiple charges. Considering your health, we’ve arranged for questioning in two days. Until then, you will remain under constant surveillance in this ward. Any attempt to leave will result in severe consequences.”
Dennis’s heart sank as he absorbed the weight of the situation. His world, which had once seemed so solid and secure, was crumbling before him.
The officers left the room without saying another word, leaving Dennis to stew in his regret and disbelief.
The years of ruthless business practices, corruption, and manipulation had caught up with him. The Smith family’s downfall was inevitable, but Dennis had never imagined it would come this way.
As the last of his strength left him, Dennis slumped against the bed, feeling decades older in that moment. If he ever found out who leaked the information that led to his destruction, he swore he would make them pay. But for now, all he could do was ponder who might have betrayed him.
His mind raced, settling on the Chambers family, but he quickly dismissed the thought. No, it can’t be them… He racked his brain, but the answer remained elusive.
At 11:00 p.m., a shadowy figure entered Dennis’s ward, unseen by the surveillance cameras. The darkness in the room seemed to cloak the figure, as slender hands gently lifted Dennis from his bed.
Dennis, deeply unconscious, had no idea of the fate awaiting him.
