Chapter 217: We can come to some kind of agreement.

Meanwhile, Dorothy watched the scene unfold from a distance, panic slowly replacing the smugness on her face. She had never expected Kevin to be arrested so quickly.

But what truly caught her off guard was when Kevin suddenly pointed directly at her.

"I’m not the only one involved!" he shouted. "She came to me because she needed money to get her husband out!"

Everyone immediately turned toward the direction he was pointing.

Dorothy’s face went pale.

Clara’s expression hardened the moment her eyes landed on her stepmother.

Meanwhile, Lily, Silvia, and Gen exchanged glances before their lips curled into knowing smirks.

"First her daughter, and now this woman," Lily muttered. "Does this family have some kind of competition to see who can cause Madam the most trouble?"

Silvia cracked her knuckles.

"If only I had one murder to spare."

"Silvia!" Gen exclaimed, staring at her.

"What? I said one. I’m being economical."

Gen blinked at the two women before cautiously raising her hand. "Should I say something too?"

Lily nodded encouragingly. "You’re free to express yourself."

Gen swallowed nervously. "Then... I hope she gets punished for everything she’s done."

Silvia and Lily stared at her in surprise.

"That’s it?" Silvia asked. "You went easy on her?"

Gen shrugged. "It’s a reasonable request."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Considering who’s standing over there, I’d say your request is already being processed."

Gen glanced toward Dorothy, who was now surrounded by police officers.

"Well... that was quick."

Silvia smirked. "I was expecting at least a dramatic chase."

Dorothy glared at them from a distance.

"You three—"

Lily immediately waved at her. "Don’t worry! We’ll visit you!"

Dorothy’s expression darkened. "Why would you visit me?"

Lily smiled innocently. "To make sure you’re enjoying your new surroundings."

Silvia snorted. "Lily, stop provoking her."

"I’m not provoking her. I’m being supportive."

Gen covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Meanwhile, Clara remained silent, her cold gaze fixed on Dorothy. For the first time, Dorothy had nowhere left to hide.

***

While Kevin and Dorothy were being escorted away by the police, another person was already waiting for them.

Inside Crownwell Holdings’ office, Blake Quinn sat rigidly behind his desk, sweat trickling down his forehead as he stared at the man sitting across from him.

Dominic Sterling sat calmly in the chair, one leg crossed over the other, casually petting a small dog resting beside him. His expression was unreadable, and the silence in the room was far more intimidating than any threat.

"Mr. Sterling, I had no idea what Kevin was planning," Blake stammered, desperately trying to maintain his composure. "I swear, I didn’t know he was going to involve your wife’s bakery."

Dominic’s hand continued moving slowly through the dog’s fur.

He didn’t respond and that silence made Blake even more nervous.

Everyone in the business world knew who Dominic Sterling was. Blake had committed countless fraudulent deals over the years, but crossing paths with Dominic was the one mistake he had never wanted to make.

And now, Dominic had personally stepped in.

Within hours, the evidence against Crownwell Holdings had surfaced, several of their illegal transactions were being investigated, and the company was dangerously close to financial collapse.

"Mr. Sterling..." Blake swallowed hard. "Please, I can fix this."

Dominic finally lifted his eyes toward him.

"Can you?" The single question made Blake’s heart sink.

"Yes!" he immediately replied. "I’ll stop every illegal operation. I’ll cooperate with the investigation, and I’ll return the properties that were wrongfully taken from their owners."

Dominic remained silent for several seconds, and when Blake couldn’t bear it any longer, he pleaded.

"Please, Mr. Sterling. Give me one chance. I’ll do whatever you ask."

Dominic glanced down at the dog before calmly replying,

"I don’t need you to do anything for me, Mr. Quinn."

Blake looked confused. "Then... what do you want?"

Dominic’s expression hardened. "I want you to answer for everything you’ve done."

Blake’s face went pale.

The dog suddenly shifted in Dominic’s lap, and Dominic casually resumed petting it.

"After that," he added coldly, "the law can decide what happens to you."

Blake’s face turned pale as Dominic’s words sank in.

"Mr. Sterling, please..." he began, his voice trembling. "I understand that I made mistakes, but surely we can come to some kind of agreement."

Dominic’s hand stopped moving over the dog’s fur. "An agreement?"

Blake nodded quickly. "I’ll compensate every landowner. I’ll shut down the illegal operations. I’ll even resign from Crownwell Holdings if that’s what you want."

Dominic stared at him without the slightest change in expression.

"You’re still trying to negotiate."

Blake swallowed. "I’m trying to save my company."

"No," Dominic replied calmly. "You’re trying to save yourself."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Blake looked toward the documents scattered across his desk. Every page contained evidence of years of fraudulent acquisitions, forged paperwork, and complaints that had been deliberately buried.

He suddenly realized just how much Dominic already knew.

"You investigated us..."

"I didn’t need to investigate very much," Dominic said. "Your own records were enough."

Blake’s fingers trembled. "Then why did you come here personally?"

For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Dominic’s lips.

"Because you made the mistake of involving my wife."

Blake froze. He had heard the rumors about Dominic’s marriage, but he had never imagined that Clara’s bakery would bring the notoriously private businessman directly into the matter.

"Mr. Sterling, I didn’t know—" he tried to explain once again.

"You didn’t need to know," Dominic interrupted. "You should have known better than to interfere with someone else’s property."

Blake lowered his gaze. "Please... at least let me keep the company."

Dominic leaned back in his chair. "That’s not my decision."

Blake looked up hopefully. "Then whose is it?"

"The authorities will decide what happens to the company and its assets. And there’s no agreement when it comes to my wife," those cold words ring a bell in Blake’s mind.

His shoulders slumped. Just then, the office door opened. Mark stepped inside with a folder in his hand.

"Sir, the investigators have arrived downstairs. They’ve started collecting the company records."

Blake’s heart sank. "So soon?"

Mark nodded. "They also have the documents Kevin kept in his private office."

Blake immediately looked toward Dominic. "Those documents..."

Dominic’s gaze remained cold. "I’m afraid they won’t be disappearing this time."

Blake closed his eyes. Years of carefully hidden crimes were finally coming to light. And there was nothing left for him to negotiate.