“Fine. Then go dig into it quietly. Find out exactly what Joseph Hunt did.”


    Lucas narrowed his eyes.


    That kind of nerve, toy a hand on someone belonging to him.


    The man clearly had a death wish.


    “Also…”


    Desmond had just turned to leave when he heard the rest.


    “You may be allowed to make up for it, but you did mess up. Are you willing to ept punishment?”


    Lucas‘ voice was cool but firm.


    Desmond nodded. “I ept. I know I’m at fault.”


    Lucas gave a slight nod. “Good. Then forfeit half a year’s sry.”


    Not demoting him was already the greatest mercy he could offer.


    Desmond looked up sharply, eyes misting over.


    He never expected that after making such a serious mistake, Lucas would let it slide without saying much.


    It really did seem like he’d changed.


    Desmond gave a sincere reply, then turned and hurried out to handle what Lucas had just


    instructed.


    Lucas watched the door close, then raised his hand to rub his temples before turning his attention


    back to the files on his desk.


    Over the past month, while he’d been away, countless projects had piled up at thepany.


    Many of them needed his direct input.


    Without his signature, they couldn’t move forward


    And Joseph? He wanted in on Vanguard’s project?


    A cold smirk tugged at Lucas‘ lips.


    He loosened his fie.


    What a joke.


    Hispany wasn’t something any trash couldte onto.


    Someone like Joseph really needed a reality check.


    With that thought, Lucas went back to the stack of project files, carefully reviewing them to see if anyone had tried sneaking people into the project teams.


    He wouldn’t tolerate any of it.


    Ravenshore Police Department.


    Tessa and Julian were locked in the same holding cell.


    Julian’s hair had gone unkempt, turning messy in no time.


    Tessa, on the other hand, was someone who kept herself clean–borderline obsessive.


    She insisted on showering once a day.


    At first, the station allowed it, but eventually it became too much trouble.


    In the end, they just cut her offpletely.


    Tessa started yelling, “What’s the meaning of this? Who decided we’re not allowed to shower anymore?”


    She couldn’t stand the stench on her own body, not even for a moment.


    One of the officers snapped, “This is a police station, not your personal sp No one’s here to cater to your princess attitude.


    “The guy next to you hasn’t showered in days and he’s not throwing a fit like you.”


    His tone was sharp and irritated.


    Tessa’s voice had a naturally grating quality to it–harsh and shrill, like a raspy duck trying to speak


    The moment she opened her mouth, it made the officer even more annoyed, especially when she argued–she sounded like a whole flock of ducks quacking in his face.


    Eventually, the officer lost his patience and banged the cell door with a baton, making a loud ng.


    Tessa screamed in fright and finally backed down, crouching on the floor.


    Julian, meanwhile, remainedpletely detached, like a stranger with no stake in anything.


    He just sat there watchingpletely still.


    Only then did a sense of fear start to sink in for Tessa.


    Had she been <b>wrong </b>to keep refusing to cooperate with the police?


    Her time here was growing more unbearable by they.


    Every minute she spent in this ce felt like torture