“No, I didn’t do it! I’m innocent!” Erica kept dodging backward, her face filled with panic. However, the police paid no heed to her explanations as they took her away.
During the brief moment she passed by Florence, Jane noticed Florence discreetly averting her gaze. Such minor actions didn’t escape Jane’s keen observation.
The media reporters who had come to cover the ceremony hadn’t completely dispersed. Many witnessed this scene, and the sound of shutters clicking echoed in the air.
“The Terry family’s young lady attempting to steal entertainment company secrets, taken to the police station? What a sensational piece of gossip! It’s definitely worth watching!”
The next morning, several trending topics appeared on social media platforms. The Star Entertainment entry even found its place on the trending list, either labeled “exploding” or “hot.”
[Erica Suspected of Stealing Star Entertainment Secrets!]
[Star Entertainment: Farewell My Concubine]
[Erica Now Taken to the Police Station!]
…
After this upheaval, Star Entertainment and the film “Farewell My Concubine” gained tremendous attention, even causing a surge in the stock market.
On the contrary, due to Erica’s scandal, the Terry family, already in a declining state, plummeted even further. The company’s business stagnated, and many partnering firms called to terminate their contracts.
At the police station, Erica sat in the interrogation room, staring blankly at the table. Her eyes wandered aimlessly as the stern-faced police officer sitting across from her asked, “Why did you attempt to steal Star Entertainment’s internal secrets? Do you know that this is against the law?”
Erica continued to shake her head, repeatedly rebutting, “No, it wasn’t me. I’m innocent. It was the Doyle family’s Florence who threatened me into doing this!”
She hadn’t anticipated the situation escalating to this extent, and now she found herself taken to the police station. If she didn’t expose Florence, she might end up in jail, a stain that would follow her for a lifetime!
A fierce glint flashed in Erica’s eyes for a moment. The timeless truth was that one must act in self-interest, or face divine retribution.
Florence? The police officer paused, then signaled to the nearby recorder to jot down Erica’s statement. If she mentioned another person, it implied there was an accomplice.
“You claim she instructed you to do this. Do you have any evidence?”
“Evidence…” Erica hesitated for a moment, then shook her head helplessly. “I don’t have evidence, but I can assure you that everything I’ve said is true. It was out of jealousy that she made me hire someone to infiltrate Star Entertainment’s internal network, wanting to show Jane a thing or two! I was just helping her out.”
The police officer nodded and put down his pen.
“Alright, we’ve heard this. We’ll investigate thoroughly. However, until this matter is clear, you cannot leave the police station. You may go back for now.”
Erica was escorted out of the interrogation room.
…
Since returning from the opening ceremony of “Farewell My Concubine,” Florence had been in a state of unrest, her mind filled with the look Erica gave her as she was taken away and Jane’s smile at that moment.
No, Erica wouldn’t expose her, would she?
She tightly pressed her lips together, furrowing her brows, completely lost in her own panic. She didn’t even hear Peter calling her.
“Florence, Florence?”
“Huh!” Florence snapped back to reality upon hearing the voice but was obviously absent-minded, almost knocking the water cup out of Peter’s hand.
“What’s wrong with you?” Peter looked at his sister in concern.
Florence made a slight adjustment to her emotions, forcing a smile. She shook her head, “I’m fine, probably just too tired lately.”
As the siblings conversed, a sudden knocking on the door interrupted them. Peter went to open the door and found several police officers entering. He was momentarily stunned, “Hello, may I help you with something?”
Florence’s eyes betrayed a hint of panic, quickly looking elsewhere.
The leading officer walked past Peter, glanced at Florence, then shifted his gaze away, speaking to Peter in a businesslike manner, “Hello, we’re here to investigate a case of corporate theft at Star Entertainment. Miss Doyle is said to be related to this case, and we would like her to come with us to assist in the investigation.”
“Florence?” Peter questioned in disbelief and turned to look at his sister. Florence’s face turned pale, and she hastily denied, “I didn’t do anything. Although I was at the scene that day, I don’t know anything about it, brother…”
Knowing Florence’s stubborn temperament, Peter was torn. But she was his sister, and he couldn’t quite believe that Florence would do such a thing. He quickly explained, “She didn’t do anything. Although she was there, she doesn’t know anything about it, officers.”
“Officers, you must be mistaken. My sister was just taking a break, and as for stealing secrets, she wouldn’t do such a thing. She’s currently recovering and can’t handle major shocks. Without evidence, you can’t just take her away.”
Peter managed to persuade the police to leave without taking Florence. He thought the matter would end there, but it was soon leaked by a paparazzo lurking near the Doyle family.
The police visit to the Doyle family quickly became public knowledge, causing the company’s stock market value to plummet.
…
Florence couldn’t contain her anger and decided to visit Jane’s home that day.
Jane was checking the stock market trends, aware of the falling stock prices of the Doyle family. A smile appeared on her face as she observed the downward trend on the screen.
Florence, I hope you can behave from now on.
At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. An irate Florence entered the room.
“Jane, who do you think you are, plotting against our family and my brother? How can you be with Patrick, does he know what kind of person you are?!”
Seeing Jane, Florence became even more agitated. She approached swiftly, lacking manners, and began accusing Jane, as if she hadn’t done anything to harm her.
Jane just calmly looked at her, eventually giving a faint smile, seemingly indifferent to Florence’s accusations.
Florence, furious, raised her hand to strike, but Jane was quick to grab her wrist. Staring into Florence’s eyes, Jane’s face lost its earlier smile, replaced by a cold and unfamiliar gaze.
“Florence, I’ve been ignoring you for so long. Don’t think I’m easy to mess with. Erica has been your little lackey, and without your orders, would she have hired Ling to hack into our company’s internal network?”
Florence’s face turned pale.
Jane let go of her hand, delivering a cold warning, “If you try something like this again, it won’t be as simple as this time!”