Chapter 161
dosing armed at the headquaters of bis Estly sa munjom andlu wach
Undoomed office is moved in sind cout of the buil
The silly shock and podshest lobby was now filled sub noise, mul nervous executors whispering among themselves
The as a thick with tension, the sharps licks of cameras from jounalists outside adding to the suffocating weight pressing on his then When he nosivest og his doon, his gare swept the mom
This brother was pos ng baik and forth, phone pressed to his eat, his fire hud taking though his already messy hair.
passing
Ho sharp suit was slightly runjel a lear sign of the stress he was under.
crumpled,
visible–Inlet,
his
Alesandro glanced up the moment Antoni stepped in, and bus ieliet was visible dict, but it soon disappeareit. He quickly ended the call and
“Thually. What book you so long?” Alejandan askesd, his v
vasive Escend while tension.
deng
“This is a fin king faster. The feds aren’t just here for the tie. They’ve digging into everything–money laundering, drug operations, tax fraud, all of it. The lawyers are handling it, but
They work find anything” Antonio sail
said coolly, brushing past him.
Alejandro scuffed. “This isn’t something that randomly happened, Antonilo. If someone tipped them all, then they’ll
komorno dedoči resqsond. His eyes followed the movem
the law enforcement offers, assessing the situation
He had handled crises before–financial attacks, corporate explonage, threats frous tiral businesses—but this feh different. Targeted. Personal, just like Alejandro had insuntatesl
about to ask Alejandro for a detailed uplate when a sharp voice cut through the chaos
cers approaching him. The air shifted, and he glanced at Alejandro, the same thought
Antonio nurned slowly, his sharp gare landing on two officers running through their minds.
Has the arrest warrant finally been givent
“Mir huve a carrant for your arrest,” one of them said, pulling out a document.
“Antondo Carria, you are under arrest for rape and human trafficking. You have the right to main silent.”
The world stopped
For the first time in a long time. Antonio felt trur disbelief
Alejandro frosnest, his t
* paling. “What the fuck did you just say?” he hissed in annoyance continued trading Automo los rights, unfazed by the growing hostility around them
Antunes densland his jaw, fun ing himself to re
composed. The words replayed in his mind, trying to make sense of the accusation. Hapet
De dadot
oh, and far would never so wheir was this coming fromt
Alejandro stepped forward, load “Their lie a mistake! What kind of bullshur charge is ildstTM
bernt implicated by an arrested suspect
“We have evidence and wess testimony the officer states Hatly. “He has be
Automo estuled slowly. So this was it. The real
1/3
Chapter 161
A strategic move. Someone was pulling the strings behind this entire thing: the financial investigation, and now this
It was too well–timed to be a coincidence. What were the odds that it was Gabriel Pierce responsible for what was happening?
That was a possibility, but he also had other enemies who could be behind this
Alejandro wasn’t letting up. “You can’t just take him away based on some random bastard’s testimony! Our lawyers..”
“He will have his day in court, the officer interrupted. “But for now, he’s coming with us.”
pointless.
Antonio remained still as the officer reached for his wrists. He could fight it, refuse, demand to see a judge first, but it would be p
The moment they had an arrest t warrant, the situation had already spiraled beyond his control
The metallic click of handcuffs locking around his wrists echoed through the lobby,
Whispers turned into horrified gasps over the great Antonio Garcia getting arrested.
Antonio barely registered the sound. His mind was already moving ahead.
Alejandro was
was still shouting, but Antonio subtly shook his head. Don’t escalate it. Not here.
-Zabelle, take care of her, was all he said. He wasn’t too worried.
He was innocent, but if they did manage to go to trial, and he was found guilty, the president was under his family’s control, and a pardon would be issued.
Alejandro gritted his teeth, chest rising and falling in barely contained rage, but he understood. He wasn’t going to make this worse than it already
Was
“Ill follow you.” Alejandro muttered under his breath, already reaching for his phone no doubt to call their lawyer. Antonio gave him a small nod before being led outside.
By the time Antonio arrived at the station, the media were already there.
Flashes from cameras bombarded him the moment he stepped out of the police vehicle. Reporters shouted questions, their voices overlapping,
rape allegations?”
“Mr. Garcia, do you deny the
“Sources say there might be more victims. Can you confirm!”
“Is this linked to the money laundering investigation?”
Antonio ignored them all. His expression was blank, controlled. He was used to cameras, to being in the public eye, but this was different
The stigma of these accusations was more damaging than any financial scandal.
The officers led him inside, where they proceeded with the standard booking process.
Photographs. Fingerprints Paperwork.
Antonio went through it all in cold silence.
By the time he was led into the interrogation room, Alejandro had already arrived with their lawyer, Santiago Velez.
Santiago was an older man, experienced and ruthless in the courtroom. He had represented the Garcia family in various looked troubled as he took a seat across from Antonio.
The officer leading the case, Detective Marquez, leaned forward, clasping his hands together.
cases before, but even he
“You’re a hurd I man to reach, Mr. Garcia, Marquez said with a smirk. “I imagine you weren’t expecting this kind of wake–up call* Antonio didn’t answer. He merely leaned back in lis chair, unreadable.
“You were named by an individual already in custody,” Marquez continued, “A man we
we caught rum
running a trafficking ring”
Antonio arched his brow. “And?”
Marquez’s smirk grew. “And he claims you were one of his biggest clients”
There it was. The setup.
Antonio remained silent
Santiago leaned forward. “My client will not be speaking without a formal review of the evidence. If you have actual proof, present it. Otherwise, we’re done here.”
Marquez clicked his tongue. “No deal, then?”
Santiago’s stare was ice–cold. “Absolutely not.”
Marquez exhaled, shaking his head. Then he’s going into holding until we process the next steps.”
Antonio was stripped of his suit jacket, his belt, and his watch before being led into a cold, dimly lit cell.
The metal bars clanged shut behind him
He sat on the narrow bench, elbows resting on his knees, has mind racing
Whoever did this wasn’t just trying to ruin him, they were trying to bury him.
A fire. A financial investigation. And now false rape and trafficking charges
Someone powerful was behind this. Someone who wanted him destroyed.
He exhaled, lifting his gaze to stare at the wall.
They had made one critical mistake.
They thought they had already won.
He would be called the devil if he could be easily defeated, and he was about to show them exactly what kind of enemy they had just made.
