Rise of The Abandoned Husband (Liam Knight) novel Chapter 144

144 Chapter 144- The Esteemed Guest’s Retribution: A Frame–Up Shattered

144 Chapter 144 – The Esteemed Guest’s Retribution: A Frame–Up Shattered

I stood my ground as Daxon Johnson’s face morphed from shock to panic. The arrival of Commander Keller and the Deputy Chief couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. A third man stepped out from the car – Declan Steele, one of the highest–ranking officials in the war–zone. This was getting interesting.

“Well?” The Deputy Chief’s voice was sharp. “I asked what’s happening here, Johnson.”

Daxon quickly composed himself, smoothing his jacket and forcing confidence into his posture. “Sir, I was conducting a routine quality inspection. We received reports of substandard herbs being used in this factory.”

“And the gun on the ground?” Commander Keller pointed at the crushed weapon.

“Knight attacked me when I attempted to confiscate contaminated materials,” Daxon said, puffing out his chest. “He violently resisted a lawful inspection and destroyed government property.”

I nearly laughed at his audacity. The man had no shame.

“Is this true, Mr. Knight?” the Deputy Chief asked me, his expression neutral.

Before I could answer, Daxon jumped in again, clearly hoping to control the narrative. “Sir, I have documented evidence of quality violations. And now physical assault on an officer. I recommend immediate closure of this facility and arrest of-

“Enough,” Declan Steele interrupted, his voice quiet yet commanding absolute attention. He turned to me with a nod of recognition. “Mr. Knight. I wasn’t aware this was your factory.”

Daxon’s eyes darted between us. “You… know each other?”

“Mr. Knight is an esteemed guest of our war–zone,” Declan stated flatly. “His contributions to medical research have been invaluable.”

I watched with satisfaction as the blood drained from Daxon’s face. His smug smile vanished, replaced by dawning horror as he realized his miscalculation.

“I’m disappointed, Johnson,” I said, letting my words hang in the air. “When you

144 Chapter 144–The Estoomed Guest’s Retribution: A Framo–Up Shattered

threatened me yesterday about tonight’s conference, I didn’t expect you’d stoop to fabricating quality issues.”

“I did no such thing!” Daxon protested, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Then explain why your men claimed to find contaminated Red Lotus petals that I personally inspected yesterday,” I replied calmly. “Or why they deliberately damaged rare Spirit Grass seedlings during their so–called inspection.”

Elder Hansen stepped forward. “It’s true, sirs. I watched them knock over trays of herbs with no regard. This wasn’t an inspection – it was sabotage.”

The Deputy Chief’s eyes narrowed. “Johnson, is this because Knight refused to attend your dinner party last year?”

“What? No!” Daxon sputtered. “The surveillance system showed clear violations. We have footage-”

“Interesting,” I cut in. “Because yesterday you told your men the surveillance system was broken. How would you have footage if that were true?”

Daxon froze, realizing his mistake too late.

Commander Keller turned to the head of the Quality Control department who had been standing nervously behind Daxon. “Is there something you’d like to share with

us?”

officials, then back at Daxon. Self–preservation The Mag–looked at Daxon, then at the won out. “Mr. Johnson instructed us to find problems regardless of whether they existed,” he admitted, shoulders slumping. “He said it was a personal matter and we’d be rewarded for our cooperation.”

“That’s a lie!” Daxon shouted,

no toward the man.

Declan Steele stepped between them. “Careful, Johnson. You’re in enough trouble as it is.”

The Deputy Chief’s voice was ice. “Did Johnson specifically instruct you to plant false evidence?”

The Quality Control head nodded reluctantly. “Yes, sir. He suggested we bring substandard herbs to mix with the inventory here and then ‘discover‘ them.”

144 Chapter 144 The Esteemed Guest’s Retribution: A Frame–Up Shattered

“That’s absurd!” Daxon was practically foaming at the mouth now. “He’s lying to save his own skin!”

The man pulled out his phone. “I recorded our conversation this morning. I knew this didn’t feel right.”

Daxon’s eyes widened. With a desperate lunge, he reached for the phone. “Give me

that!”

I barely needed to move. With just a flick of my finger, I sent Daxon flying backward. He crashed into a stack of empty crates, landing in an undignified heap. The phone remained safely in the Quality Control head’s hand.

“What, trying to destroy evidence?” I scoffed, brushing imaginary dust from my sleeve.

Gasps erupted from the onlookers. Even Commander Keller looked startled by the case with which I’d neutralized Daxon.

“Play the recording,” the Deputy Chief instructed.

The Quality Control head tapped his screen, and Daxon’s voice filled the air:

“I don’t care what you have to do. Find something wrong with Knight’s herbs or plant something yourself. This arrogant bastard needs to be taught a lesson. He humiliated me once, and I won’t let it happen again. The surveillance system is conveniently broken today, so no one will know. If you do this for me, there’ll be a promotion in it for

you.”

Silence descended over the factory yard. Daxon remained sprawled among the broken crates, his career crumbling before his eyes.

“Mr. Knight,” the Deputy Chief finally said, “I offer my sincere apologies for this incident. Rest assured, appropriate action will be taken.”

“Johnson,” Commander Keller barked, “you’re suspended, effective immediately. Hand over your badge.”

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