Chapter 169: Much Appreciated Info
New Orleans, Federal Office of Public Integrity.
Inside the interrogation room, Gordon quietly flipped through the documents Captain Rico had delivered. He read every page with painstaking care, his expression unreadable.
The moment his eyes stopped on the name Frank Romano, an icy glint flashed across them.
It disappeared almost instantly.
By the time he reached the last page, his face had already returned to its usual calm.
He placed the file on the table, looked up, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Go back and tell your boss that I, Gordon, thank him."
"I’ll make sure Mr. Hale receives your message."
Captain Rico gave a respectful nod before leaving.
As he walked out of the Federal Office of Public Integrity, he couldn’t help feeling surprised.
’He’s far calmer than I expected...’
He had anticipated anger.
Rage.
Perhaps even an emotional breakdown.
Instead, Gordon had accepted everything with unsettling composure.
What Rico didn’t see was that the instant the interrogation room door closed behind him, Gordon’s expression changed completely.
The warmth vanished.
His eyes became as cold as sharpened ice.
One glance was enough to make anyone shiver.
---
A few hours later...
"Gordon, I already told you before."
"I repaid every debt I owed the Luiz family."
"If anyone owes someone now, it’s your family that owes me."
"I, Annabelle Flowers, don’t owe any of you anymore."
Annabelle sat across from him wearing a tailored blazer, her short hair neatly styled.
She looked every bit the successful career woman.
Yet beneath those calm, beautiful eyes lingered exhaustion that couldn’t be hidden.
Every time she met someone from the Luiz family...
The memories returned.
That terrible night.
Dexter’s greedy smile.
His filthy hands.
His arrogant laughter.
Every detail remained painfully vivid.
Whenever she remembered it, it felt as though she had fallen into an icy lake.
Cold.
Hopeless.
Unable to breathe.
"And another thing."
"I don’t care about your money."
"If you really feel guilty..."
"Then stop looking for me."
Her words sounded merciless.
Yet the fact she’d come here again proved she hadn’t completely cut Gordon out of her life.
After all...
When her parents died, she’d been left with absolutely nothing.
It was Gordon who had taken her in.
Fed her.
Paid for her education.
Given her a place to stay.
He had saved her life.
But when she turned eighteen...
She discovered the price of that kindness.
She had been forced to swallow every grievance in silence.
Forced to leave.
Forced to forgive the monster who had ruined her.
The irony was almost laughable.
Even after everything...
The moment she heard Gordon wanted to see her, she’d still come.
"Child..."
"I only want you to live well."
"I still have money overseas."
"If your company ever runs into financial trouble..."
"You’ll never have to ask anyone else for help."
Annabelle fell silent.
She couldn’t understand him anymore.
Yes...
Gordon was in prison.
Dexter had also been imprisoned.
But Dexter was still young.
One day he’d eventually be released.
Even if that never happened...
There was still Lady Francine Luiz.
She could inherit everything.
So why...
Why had Gordon approached her twice already, insisting on leaving almost everything to her?
It was almost as if...
He had already decided she would inherit everything he owned.
If she hadn’t known exactly who her parents were...
She would’ve suspected she was actually Gordon’s biological daughter.
Unfortunately...
Every time she tried asking...
He refused to answer.
No matter how many questions she asked, he remained completely silent.
Even after leaving the interrogation room...
She still couldn’t figure it out.
Outside the room stood a middle-aged man who had been waiting quietly.
She nodded politely.
"Attorney Johnson."
"Gordon wants to see you."
"Thank you, Ms. Flowers."
Ashley Johnson smiled gently.
"Take care."
He had served as Gordon’s personal lawyer for decades.
---
The moment Ashley entered, Gordon spoke.
"Old Johnson."
"We can begin."
His entire aura had changed.
The warmth he’d shown Annabelle had vanished without a trace.
His sharp eyes carried overwhelming pressure.
For a brief moment...
It almost felt as though the former president of the Luiz Conglomerate had returned.
"You found out?" Ashley asked.
Gordon slid the documents across the table.
"Luca’s people gave me this."
"Read it."
The report wasn’t long.
Barely two pages.
Ashley finished it within minutes.
He slowly placed it back onto the table.
"I have to admit..."
"This Luca Hale guy is frightening."
"I still can’t figure out his true background."
Naturally...
They had investigated Luca before.
Every clue pointed toward an ordinary family.
Not even one from the Capital.
According to the files, he’d supposedly grown up in a small town located in Silver Province.
Everything appeared perfectly normal.
Too normal.
Which only made it more suspicious.
Someone had deliberately erased his real past.
Or perhaps...
Someone possessed enough influence to fabricate an entirely new one.
"He really is..."
"Mysterious."
"And terrifying."
For once, Gordon offered praise without reservation.
"So..."
Ashley waited.
Gordon slowly lifted his teacup.
"I’m already in prison."
"I have nothing left to lose."
He took a calm sip.
"Anyone who has wronged me..."
"I’ll settle the score."
"Lady Francine."
"Romano."
"Everyone."
Ashley nodded.
"I understand."
After a brief silence, Gordon looked at him again.
"Old Johnson."
"Whether this succeeds or fails..."
"Don’t come back."
"Stay outside the country."
Ashley’s throat tightened.
His eyes reddened.
Looking at Gordon’s increasingly grey hair...
He couldn’t help wondering whether this was what people meant by the twilight years of a once-great man.
He understood perfectly.
This wasn’t because Gordon feared retaliation from Lady Francine’s hometown.
Nor was it because of the Sapphire-Vanguard Group.
It was because of Luca.
The young man whose influence had become terrifying.
If anything happened to him...
Luca would hunt everyone involved until there was nowhere left to hide.
Remaining overseas offered the greatest chance of survival.
---
That afternoon...
Silverbrook Residences.
Luca had just ended a video call with Vivienne when Captain Rico called.
"How’s Gordon doing?"
He asked casually while resting comfortably on Cecelia’s soft, smooth thighs.
Unlike his relaxed expression...
Rico sounded unusually serious.
"Boss."
"He met with two people after I left."
"The lawyer and Annabelle?"
"Yes."
"Annabelle Flowers left first carrying a stack of documents. Our people are still watching her, but she hasn’t done anything suspicious."
"So..."
"The lawyer?"
"Exactly."
Rico lowered his voice.
"Ashley Johnson spent a long time talking with Gordon."
"Afterward, he personally escorted his wife and daughter onto a flight bound for the United Kingdom."
Luca narrowed his eyes.
"And him?"
"He boarded another flight."
"Destination?"
"The Lake District."
"Our people are on the same plane."
A smile slowly appeared on Luca’s face.
"Very good."
"I’ll send you a phone number."
"Call them."
"Tell them to arrange someone to receive the lawyer’s family."
"Understood."
The call ended.
Rico wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He had always known his boss possessed extraordinary influence.
But he never imagined that influence extended all the way into the United Kingdom.
Just how much power...
How much wealth...
Did one man have?
He didn’t waste another second.
The moment the number arrived, he dialed it.
The call connected almost immediately.
"Good afternoon."
"This is the President’s Office of Dawson Capital Group."
"My name is Emily."
"How may I assist you today?"
The young woman’s polished British accent came clearly through the receiver.
Captain Rico froze.
Dawson Capital Group?
Did he...
Hear that correctly?