Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts novel Chapter 492

But they still held plenty of evidence against him, and for Russel, it wasn’t a minor inconvenience. It was a matter of life or death.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the private dining room turned chilly. No one spoke. All that could be heard was the faint sound of breathing. The expressions on everyone’s faces were interesting, as if they were weighing their options, thinking about what to do next.

After a while, Jacob nonchalantly retrieved a leather pouch from his briefcase and handed it to Russel. A smug smile played on Russel’s face as he handed over his own pile of documents to Jacob.

“Jacob, let me have a look first.”

Jacob complied, opening the leather pouch and spreading its contents before Russel. After a quick glance, he returned them to the pouch, raising an eyebrow. “Satisfied?”

“Yes,” Russel replied.

Both men exchanged their respective items.

Russel examined the documents carefully, chuckled, and then returned it to the pouch. He pulled out a lighter, set the contents ablaze, and tossed it into a corner to burn. The smell of burning paper filled the room. Jacob watched the flames dance, with a smirk on his lips. “Russel, after all these years of playing cat and mouse, I must remind you that what I can find out, the investigators can find out too.” The implication was clear - it was only a matter of time.

Russel understood this better than anyone. His actions were simply a desperate bid for time, not an attempt to maintain his position. He knew this was the end of the line. All he wanted now was to protect himself and spend the rest of his life with his daughter.

“You don’t need to remind me. I wish you the best in your continued service to A City.”

Ethan’s eyes flickered. He was guessing at the deeper meaning in Russel’s words. Just then, Matthew’s phone rang. He picked it up and walked outside to answer. Not long after, he rushed back into the room, pale as a sheet. Without regard for the others present, he blurted out, “Sir, it’s bad news. I just got word that the investigators have solid evidence. They’re on their way to our residences.”

Russel jerked upright from his chair, swaying slightly. “That’s impossible. They couldn’t have found evidence so quickly unless someone handed it to them.” His gaze landed on Jacob and Ethan, cold and venomous. His smile was eerie. “Jacob, you’re really playing your cards well. You’re trying to play both sides here, pacifying me while handing over the evidence. You’ve really outdone yourself.”

Jacob frowned. “I didn’t hand over any evidence.”

“Quit lying. Who else could it be?” Russel retorted.

Before he could continue, his own phone rang. He quickly answered, urgently asking, “Who did it?”

“Silvia and Maria.”

The names hit Russel like a bolt of lightning. He could barely hold onto his phone. He repeated, “Are you sure there’s no mistake?”

The person on the other end was confident. “No mistake. They even included their own written statements. They didn’t even try to hide their identities. It’s all there in black and white.”

“Jacob, we should head back. It looks like it’s going to be a rainy night.”

Jacob smiled knowingly. “You’re just eager to get back to Izzy and the twins. Go ahead, I’ll stay back and have a chat with the owner of the villa.”

“Alright, just make sure you get back safely. If it gets too late, stay at the villa.”

“Don’t worry. I know.”

They drove away from the villa, but halfway there, a torrential downpour started, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Lucas furrowed his brows, finding himself midway up the steepest part of the hill. It was the most treacherous part of the journey. Turning back to their countryside estate was out of the question, but continuing forward was just as perilous.

“Mr. Meyer, what should we do now? The rain’s getting heavier and driving’s becoming a nightmare. Should we pull over and wait it out?” Lucas glanced at Ethan in the rearview mirror, seeking his advice.

“Let’s pull over for now. Safety first.”