C125 The Consequences

The afternoon sun was beginning to set as members of the Wood family slowly arrived at the hospital one after another. Ben was the first to enter Kelvin's private ward. Moments later, Sarah and Samantha arrived together, with little Monica asleep in Samantha's arms. The atmosphere inside the room was unusually quiet.

Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward Tracy. She had remained beside Kelvin's bed the entire day. Seeing all of them together, she forced a tired smile. "The doctor came a few minutes ago," she said softly. Sarah hurried forward. "Mom... how is Dad?" Tracy looked back at Kelvin before answering. "He survived." Everyone finally let out a sigh of relief. "But..." Their expressions immediately became tense again. "He's still in a coma."

Silence filled the room. The only sound was the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Sarah slowly walked to her father's bedside and gently held his hand. "You have to wake up, Dad," she whispered. "We still need you." Just then... Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Almost everyone's phone vibrated simultaneously.

Ben frowned as he took out his phone. Sarah looked down at hers. Even Tracy reached for hers. Each of them had received the same emergency notification from Wood IT Company. URGENT NOTICE! Major institutional investors have withdrawn their investments. Estimated company market value has dropped by 5%. The room instantly became silent.

Ben's eyes widened. "What?" Sarah read the notification twice to make sure she hadn't misunderstood. "Five percent..." Tracy's breathing suddenly became heavier. A memory flashed through her mind. Only a few weeks earlier... Wood IT Company had lost three percent of its market value after Ben had publicly uploaded the photograph of Alicia and Mike.

Back then, the Police Minister's influence had shaken the company's investors. Now... The company had lost even more. Five percent. That wasn't a coincidence. Tracy slowly raised her head. Her gaze settled on Ben. At almost the same moment, Sarah also looked toward him. Neither of them spoke. But the suspicion in their eyes was impossible to hide.

To Tracy's surprise... Samantha was the first person to break the silence. She looked directly at Ben. "Ben..." Her voice was calm but unusually serious. "What did you do?" Ben frowned. "What do you mean?" Samantha didn't look away. "Did you offend Police Minister Mooney again?" The room became deathly quiet. Ben immediately stood up. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Samantha folded her arms. "I'm asking because this has happened before." She continued without hesitation. "The first time the company lost market value was after you publicly humiliated Alicia." "And now..." "Our company has suddenly lost another five percent." She narrowed her eyes. "What exactly did you do this time?" Ben's expression darkened. "I didn't do anything!" "No?"

Samantha replied calmly. "Then explain why investors suddenly withdrew investments overnight." "I don't know!" "You expect us to believe that?" Ben slammed his phone onto the table. "I said I don't know!" Sarah finally spoke. "Brother..." Her voice trembled slightly. "Were you... somehow involved in the Mike's arrest?" Ben looked at her in disbelief. "Even you don't trust me?" Sarah lowered her head. "I just want the truth." Ben laughed bitterly. "So now everyone thinks I'm responsible."

Tracy slowly stood up. "Ben." He turned toward his mother. She looked straight into his eyes. "I'm not accusing you." "But answer me honestly." "When Mike was arrested..." "When Quinton and Mary were fired..." "When your father was poisoned..." "Were you really involved in none of it?" For the first time in a long while... Ben couldn't answer immediately. That brief hesitation made the room even quieter.

Finally, he clenched his fists. "I didn't poison Dad." "I swear." No one replied. Although they believed he hadn't poisoned Kelvin... That wasn't the question Tracy had asked. She quietly looked away. Somewhere deep inside her heart... The image of her son had begun to crack.

Elsewhere... Inside the Mooney residence... Mark calmly placed his phone on the table. A smile slowly appeared on his face. "The investor has withdrawn his shares." "The company's value has already fallen by five percent." Peter quietly nodded while sipping his tea. "They moved faster than expected." Mark smiled. "I only made one phone call." Georgia looked at her son helplessly. "You're enjoying this far too much." Mark laughed. "I'm simply reminding certain people that influence has consequences."

Peter placed his cup on the table. "The message has been delivered." "If they continue provoking our family..." "The next loss won't stop at five percent." Even Alicia looked surprised. "Dad..." "You really did all this?" Mark looked toward her with a smile. "They touched my daughter." "They should consider themselves lucky I only stopped at five percent." Although Alicia didn't entirely agree with his methods... She couldn't deny that, for the first time since Mike's arrest... Someone had finally fought back.

Meanwhile... Inside the police station... Several investigators sat around a table reviewing the evidence. Peter Mooney had personally sent legal representatives to examine every detail of the case. One officer frowned. "The timeline doesn't match." Another nodded. "The security footage clearly shows Laura willingly entering Mike's apartment." A third investigator added, "And Alicia's statement completely contradicts the rape allegation."

The lead investigator sighed. "Our case has become extremely weak." Another officer quietly spoke. "Keeping him here without stronger evidence could create legal problems." After a lengthy discussion... A decision was finally made. Mike Smith would be released on bail while further investigations continued.

A police officer unlocked my cell. "Mike." I slowly stood up. "You're being released on bail." For a moment... I thought I had misheard him. "I'm... leaving?" He nodded. "Come with me." As I walked through the station, countless emotions filled my heart. Relief. Gratitude. Confusion. Sadness. Everything felt unreal. The officer handed me my belongings before leading me outside.

The moment the large gates opened... Fresh air hit my face. I closed my eyes. Freedom. Waiting outside were the people who had never abandoned me. My mother. My father. Chris. And Alicia. The moment my mother saw me, tears immediately filled her eyes. "My son..." She rushed toward me. I hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry..." She shook her head while crying. "No..." "You've suffered enough."

My father gently placed his hand on my shoulder. "You're home now." Chris smiled widely. "I knew you'd get out." Alicia stood quietly a few steps behind them. Our eyes met. Neither of us spoke. Sometimes... Silence carried more meaning than words. Before I could walk toward them, however... A black luxury sedan parked nearby flashed its headlights.

The rear window slowly rolled down. Peter. He looked at me calmly. "Mike." I nodded politely before walking over. He opened the rear door. "Get in for a moment." Without saying anything, I entered the vehicle. Peter took out a document folder and placed it before me. "Our agreement." I looked at the papers once more.

This single signature would change my life forever. Peter didn't pressure me. He simply waited. After a long silence... I picked up the pen. Slowly... I signed my name. Peter examined the signature before carefully placing the documents back inside the folder. A satisfied smile crossed his face. "Very good." "As promised..." "I'll keep my word." He extended his hand. I shook it.

"Our agreement will soon be happening." I nodded. "I understand." Neither Chris nor Alicia knew what had just happened. To them... It simply looked like Peter wanted to congratulate me after my release. I stepped out of the car. Peter's driver quietly drove away without another word.

As I walked back toward the people waiting for me, Alicia smiled warmly. "Grandpa wanted to congratulate you?" I forced a small smile. "You could say that." She nodded innocently, completely unaware that my future... Had just been decided with the stroke of a pen. And somewhere inside Peter's briefcase... The agreement that would bind Alicia and me together now carried my signature. The consequences of today's decisions had only just begun.