Corrine met his gaze, unfazed.
“Took you long enough.”
“You know how messy it is digging up files from that far back,” he said, his tone light, though the weight of his words was anything but.
The reporters sitting along the edges of the room remained silent, too focused on the unfolding scene to grasp the tension suffusing the air.
A reporter in the crowd spotted Jericho and nudged a colleague.
“Is that Jericho Hilton from CBP?”
“Impossible. Why would someone from CBP know a suspect?”
“I’m telling you, I saw an interview with Jericho a few years back. That definitely looks like him.”
Jericho took a step forward, his voice steady and commanding.
“Good evening, everyone. I am the head of CBP.”
A hush fell over the room. He lifted a file in his hand.
“This contains the full report on the Brevard smuggling case from three years ago-an investigation in which Miss Holland played a crucial role. For years, she has worked to bring Brevard to justice, but he is elusive, cunning, and always one step ahead. Although we have yet to apprehend him, I want to make one thing clear-Miss Holland has no involvement in this case. I ask the media to refrain from spreading false accusations.”
His graying hair hinted at his years of service, but the sharpness in his gaze and the unwavering authority in his voice left no room for doubt. Every word he spoke carried undeniable weight, silencing the room.
Just outside the door, Leah’s eyes widened in shock.
“CBP… Corrine was working with CBP? And Jericho Hilton himself came forward to defend her? That was unthinkable.”
Wilbur swiped at the cold sweat forming on his forehead, his pulse hammering in his ears.
He might be stationed at a police department, but Jericho Hilton’s reputation preceded him.
The man was a legend-CBP’s longest-serving chief, famous for cracking one of the biggest smuggling cases in history. In just a year, he had dismantled dozens of major smuggling operations, earning national recognition.
But now, the real question loomed-who was Corrine Holland to have both Jayden and Jericho personally vouch for her?
If clearing her name was the only goal, sending someone else with the files would have been enough. But Jericho had come in person, making it clear that she held a special place in his regard.
The reporters flipped through the case files, their initial skepticism fading into uneasy silence.
If Corrine were truly guilty, Jericho would never have defended her so publicly. To challenge his words now would be the same as openly going against CBP itself.
“It looks like she really was falsely accused.”
“Maybe those two suspects dragged her into this on purpose-revenge for what happened three years ago.”
Just as the tide of public opinion was about to shift in Corrine’s favor, a shadow of malice flickered in Leah’s gaze. She had deliberately tipped off the reporters, ensuring that Corrine’s reputation would take a hit. She wasn’t about to let Jericho’s sudden appearance ruin all her efforts.
Leah’s eyes lingered on Corrine for a moment before she turned away, swiftly typing out a message on her phone as she left.
Inside the room, a reporter’s phone vibrated. She glanced down, her expression shifting as her lips curled into a knowing smile. Then, she raised her voice.
“This only proves she wasn’t involved in the smuggling case three years ago,” she pointed out sharply.
“It doesn’t clear her of suspicion in this case. If she’s truly innocent, how do you explain the illicit funds discovered at the scene? Why would the suspects insist that she was the mastermind?”
Her words struck a nerve, setting off a wave of murmurs before the questions turned pointed.
“Even if she had no part in the smuggling case, what about today’s incident? As the owner of Timeless Treasures, wouldn’t she have had the perfect opportunity to exploit her position for illegal profits?”
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If she has nothing to hide, she should be able to provide solid evidence, right?”
“Just because she helped solve a case three years ago, does that mean she gets a free pass now?”
“The law is meant to be fair and transparent. If she’s receiving special treatment just because she cooperated in the past, wouldn’t that undermine public trust?”
Leah observed as the conversation once again turned against Corrine, the corners of her lips curling with satisfaction. So what if Corrine had helped crack a major case? Public opinion was still a force she couldn’t control. She wanted to see who would step in to protect Corrine now.
Sliding on her sunglasses, Leah returned to her car, pulled up the live stream, and smirked. With a few quick taps on her phone, she deployed internet trolls to twist the narrative further-spreading the notion that law enforcement was deliberately covering up Corrine’s crimes.
Corrine’s sharp instincts flared as she observed the unfolding situation in the interrogation room. Her eyes narrowed slightly, locking onto the female reporter stirring the pot. A faint, knowing smile curved her crimson lips.
“Would you like me to explain?”
“Of course!” The female reporter met Corrine’s icy gaze, her confidence faltering for a split second. She took a steadying breath, straightening her posture with feigned composure.
“Everything requires evidence. If you claim you’re innocent, you need to provide proof, don’t you?”
Just then, a deep male voice interrupted, saying, “I came here as fast as I could-just made it.”
All eyes immediately turned toward the newcomer. He strode in, exuding effortless dominance, his buzz cut accentuating the rugged sharpness of his features. Clad in a dark leather jacket, his tall, commanding frame made him stand out even among the most meticulously groomed men outside.
The sheer charisma he radiated left the female reporters momentarily stunned, a flush creeping onto their faces.
Jules moved with unwavering purpose, his gaze fixed solely on Corrine. His sharp eyes swept over her, scanning from head to toe as if confirming she was unscathed. Only then did the tight knot in his chest finally ease.
She was safe. That was all that mattered-otherwise, he’d be in for another round of relentless reprimands.
Wilbur, who had been standing nearby, visibly stiffened the moment Jules entered. His eyes widened in disbelief, his pupils trembling with shock.
“Jules?” That name carried weight. It wasn’t one easily forgotten.
Jules was a legend, a figure more formidable than even Jericho. He had enlisted at eighteen, attained the rank of lieutenant by twenty, and was promoted to colonel at twenty-four-earning the title of the youngest colonel in history.
But just when his future seemed limitless, unforeseen circumstances forced him into early retirement. Within a year, he founded Blue Core Technology, securing an unshakable empire in the tech industry.
During his years of service, Wilbur had fought side by side with Jules, forging an unshakable bond between them. Jules hesitated for a brief moment upon seeing Wilbur, but then a faint smirk ghosted across his rugged face
“Looking for evidence, are you?” His voice carried an effortless authority as he stepped forward, dragging in a man whose face was marred with bruises. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled out a crumpled testimony and handed it over to the interrogator.
“The last suspect has been caught. You can question him alongside the other two.”
Without a word, Corrine rose gracefully from her seat, offering the chair to the battered man. Under the weight of countless scrutinizing gazes, the man cracked instantly, confessing his crimes without hesitation. Corrine’s innocence was established in mere moments.
The room buzzed with stunned silence. No one had expected the case to be resolved so swiftly-or for the suspect to spill everything so easily.
“How do we know this isn’t just a scapegoat you conveniently brought in?” The female reporter’s voice sliced through the tension, her tone sharp and challenging.
“Look at his injuries-clearly, he was forced into confessing!”
Jules exhaled through his nose, already expecting her interference. On his way to the station, he had been watching the live stream, taking note of this particular reporter. Every time a resolution seemed within reach, she would surface again-persistent, relentless, determined to see Corrine fall.
“What do we do, sir?” Matias turned to Nate, seeking permission. His patience had worn thin. He was itching to know which paper this woman worked for-she clung to the story like a rabid dog refusing to let go.
Nate lifted his gaze, his dark eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.
“Find out who’s pulling her strings.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.