?Chapter 1644:


    Shepard epted it, deciding to deal with the matter for Giselle’s sake. “Sit down.”


    A momentter, the secretary entered with two cups of coffee. The fragrance filled the room, rich and unmistakably refined. Wesley and Jalen, who recognized quality when they saw it, immediately understood—the coffee beans had to cost at least six hundred dors a pound.


    Shepard’s opinion of Wesley and his son was anything but good. He saw Wesley for what he truly was—a self-serving, cold-hearted man.


    With a furrowed brow, Shepard awaited Wesley’s words, his steely gaze unsettling the man.


    “Shepard, I’m at my wits’ end, with no one else to turn to,” Wesley said, his voice tinged with desperation. “I’vended in deep trouble. Without your help, I’m facing ruin—possibly a lifetime behind bars. It would tarnish not just me, but you as well. Giselle, being a respected professor, values her standing in themunity. For her sake, I’m begging you to help me.”


    He fumbled with his phone, pulling up his bank ount bnce for Shepard to see. “Look, I’m being straight with you. I’ve got multiple cards, but there’s barely three hundred dors left to my name.”


    Shepard nced at the phone screen. Indeed, the ounts tallied to just over three hundred dors. Wesley wasn’t lying about this, but since he was a government official, who could say whether other hidden ounts existed?


    “What’s the trouble?” Shepard asked, well aware that as a county executive, Wesley enjoyed a host of privileges. Such a paltry bnce hinted at something seriously awry.


    Wesley met Shepard’s piercing stare, feeling as though his every thought wasid bare, a deep unease stirring within him. He could do nothing but speak the truth—how else could he hope to gain any aid?


    Bracing himself, he began, “You know I’m the county executive overseeing Shirie’s Larkspur District. Lately, high-tech projects have poured in, each requiring my approval. I’ve overseen several, including the shantytown renovations and the high-tech park. These are massive undertakings, with funds totaling thirty billion flowing through my hands. I figured skimming a little wouldn’t hurt. After all, doesn’t everyone dip into the pot these days? I only took a small portion.”


    Find your imagination at galn  ovels ; con


    Shepard let out a scornful huff. Wesley’s despicable actions came as no surprise to him. “How much did you take?”


    Wesley caught the contempt in Shepard’s eyes and felt a surge of resentment. The Harper Group’s empire was vast—surely, Shepard had greased palms to climb thedder. Did he truly think himself above reproach?


    Wesley even thought that maybe Shepard had done worse to be this powerful. Yet he kept those thoughts tightly reined, muttering curses only inwardly.


    He held up two fingers.


    Shepard’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Two billion, is it?”


    “No, no!” Wesley hastened to rify. “Two hundred million. Since the prosecutor started sniffing around, I’ve scrambled to cover it. But over the years, I’ve squandered plenty. I sold my house, my car, and drained my savings. It’s still not enough. My family is holed up in a cramped two-bedroom apartment now. I’ve done all I can, Shepard. I can’t face prison. I know you’re rich—please, help me out. I’ll be grateful to you forever.”


    “What else have you done?” Shepard asked, his voice sharp. “You’d better not be hiding anything. Have you done anything that got someone killed?”


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