Share

Chapter 28

Author: Old Pumpkin
last update Last Updated: 2024-08-28 13:31:32
“After all the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, and the dedication, how could someone like Ethan end up in prison? How is this fair?"

"Should we take this as a warning sign? Should we start thinking about quitting our jobs and going back to simpler lives?"

If Ethan, who had done so much good, could be arrested, they feared an even worse fate if they did not pack up and resign!

At that thought, many of the officials could feel their convictions wavering. Living an ordinary life would surely be better than spending the rest of their lives in prison.

Having heard those comments, Stephen panicked and shouted, "Shut up, all of you! This is nonsense.

"Ethan's imprisonment is based on solid evidence."

Someone asked quietly, "Then where's the evidence?"

Stephen fell silent. He was left exposed and speechless.

He realized he had been too hasty. If the investigation had been more thorough, this would not have happened.

Suddenly, he remembered something crucial. When they started searc
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 29

    "Hello?” George was in quite a good mood. The situation had caught the federal government's attention, and there was talk about an investigation. If the situation proved true, not only would Ethan face punishment, but they would also be rewarded.That was perfect. Not only would it boost his presence in the federal government, potentially paving the way for a future cabinet position, but he could also gain nationwide recognition. It was a win-win situation with no downsides!"George, we have a problem!" Stephen was frantic. "A big problem!"The smile vanished from George's face. "What problem?" He was puzzled. Stephen was supposed to be opening the suitcases to check Ethan's embezzled funds, so why was there suddenly bad news?"Did Ethan have an accomplice who burned all the money? Or did someone help Ethan escape?"Stephen said, "It’s neither of those."George breathed a sigh of relief. "Then why panic? As long as we have Ethan, there's nothing to worry about.""There's no

    Last Updated : 2024-08-28
  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 30

    The reporter picked up the letter, initially puzzled about why he was being asked to read it. How could a single letter answer anything? However, as he read the contents, he felt a shock run through his body, and his eyes widened in surprise. "A thank-you letter? And it's addressed to Ethan Rivers?"His gaze shifted to the suitcases and he quickly crouched down to search through them. To his astonishment, he found that every single letter was a thank-you note from someone."No need to keep looking," said a bank employee standing nearby. "There are eighty-seven suitcases here, and each one is filled to the brim with thank-you letters."The reporter froze as realization dawned on him. Ethan Rivers was not a corrupt official! On the contrary, he was a great man who had helped countless people, so much so that thank-you letters filled an entire villa."Ethan owns over a dozen properties in this neighborhood, all filled with suitcases containing these letters."The reporter gulped,

    Last Updated : 2024-08-28
  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 31

    "What do you mean impossible? They've sent over the evidence. Now everyone knows what your son did wrong," the voice on the phone said mockingly.Then, with a click, the call ended abruptly.Simon stood there frozen, unable to process what he just heard. After a while, he hurriedly investigated the matter. When he learned the truth, he nearly fainted from sheer rage.The person his son had arrested was not corrupt. Worse still, the dozen or so properties were all bought with Ethan's own money, and the suitcases piled inside were not filled with anything valuable.Those heartfelt, touching thank-you letters moved many leaders in the federal government."How could someone like this be corrupt?”"Simon, what's going on here?"Faced with those questions, Simon was now panicking. His earlier pride had betrayed him, and he felt miserable. In such a short time, his son's major achievement had turned on its head and was now a major blunder instead.Thinking about how he had been braggi

    Last Updated : 2024-09-18
  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 32

    “Right now, everyone's focused on whether Ethan is corrupt or not. We definitely can't let this discussion continue. We need to divert everyone's attention," George said. "In that case… His reputation!”A spark of inspiration came to George as he figured out a way to turn Ethan’s move to his own benefit.“I got it! We should be targeting his reputation instead!” With that thought, George finally came up with a plan.“It's no longer about whether Ethan is corrupt or not. We need to tarnish Ethan's reputation first. We can say he's got dirty hands, using his local influence to suppress the regional officials.“We'll also say he has connections at the border, earning him large amounts of ill-gotten gains.”Simon considered it for a moment and found the plan feasible. After all, Ethan had been working there for so long. Surely some people disliked him.They could contact those officials and find a few towns that had issues with Ethan to testify. That could serve as proof that Ethan w

    Last Updated : 2024-09-18
  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 33

    Just one suitcase from Ethan had scared Stephen so badly that he was drenched in cold sweat, his shirt soaked through at the back.“But he should be suffering in prison now,” Stephen murmured. “He must be quite miserable at the moment.”Thinking about Ethan's current situation made him feel a little better.Meanwhile, in prison…“Move slower. That mattress is very valuable. Don't let anything happen to it. If Mr. Rivers doesn't sleep comfortably tonight, none of you will sleep!” Liam was directing others as they set up Ethan's “cell.”“Also, install a doorbell by the entrance so Mr. Rivers can call us easily.“Make sure the floor tiles are spotless.”Ethan, standing nearby, was left speechless. He had repeatedly informed Liam that such setups were unnecessary, but Liam insisted on improving his living conditions.Had Ethan not stopped him, Liam would have torn down the cell walls and combined several of them into one large room for him.Ethan said, "I'm now just a prisoner."

    Last Updated : 2024-09-18
  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 34

    The mass resignations further angered George and Stephen, who were already in a foul mood."Why am I dealing with this?" Stephen wondered, confused. He had just taken over, and a bunch of people quitting now was very detrimental to the region's stability.George, angry, felt like flipping the dinner table. He had absolutely no appetite. He could not believe those people had the nerve to use their resignations to pressure him into releasing Ethan. Did they think he could be so easily intimidated?"Good riddance," George said through gritted teeth, his tone icy. "With them gone, we can bring in our own people. Riveria will function just fine without them!" He already had plans to use that opportunity to groom his people, which would help him maintain control and manage Riveria in the future.The next day, news of the mass resignations had spread.In Lytton, a town in North Hill City, Brandon was attending the weekly town council meeting at Lytton's community center. Though not

    Last Updated : 2024-09-18
  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 35

    Brandon carefully orchestrated his plan. He specifically chose a few people to cross the border without much cargo, then deliberately leaked information about illegal border crossings.After setting everything up, Brandon called all the Lytton residents back."The trap has been set. Let's see how they handle it," he said with a smirk.News of the border crossings spread quickly. Due to the mass resignations leaving a shortage of officials, the information quickly reached Stephen and George.Both men’s expressions were grim."More illegal immigrants?"That might not have been a big deal elsewhere, but to them, it was a serious problem. During the three years that Ethan was in charge, there had not been a single case of illegal immigration!"Could they have been right?" Stephen could not accept it. Was Riveria changing with Ethan gone? Was Ethan truly indispensable? How else could people dare to cross the border illegally as soon as Ethan was out of the picture?"Don't overthin

    Last Updated : 2024-09-18
  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 36

    "I'll do an excellent job!" Eric declared, thumping his chest. "Rest assured, Governor Lowe. If I can't solve this case in three days, I'll offer you my head!"After the call ended, George was in a good mood. Individuals so committed were rare. It was all Ethan's fault for being short-sighted and suppressing such talent. What kind of trash were the previous commander and deputy commander for resigning when North Hill City needed them most?"But it's good they left. If they had stayed, they would only have made North Hill City worse," George thought out loud. Meanwhile, Eric hung up the phone and prepared to take action. He already had some suspicions about who would have brought people in illegally.From his previous experiences working with the commander and deputy commander, he was familiar with the various forces in North Hill City."It's highly likely that Lytton was involved in bringing these people in. If I investigate Lytton, I can wrap up this case in less than half a d

    Last Updated : 2024-09-18

Latest chapter

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 644

    Lily shook her head. She knew what the result was just by looking at Stephen’s expression. She smiled wryly. “You’ve done enough. I’m very happy about all you’ve done for me. Let’s head down the mountain.”Stephen was barely keeping it together, so Lily drove them down. She seemed fine on the surface, but once they reached the foot of the mountain, she could not hold back anymore. She stopped the car and burst into tears.Stephen listened to her sobs but was powerless. He knew why Lily was crying, but he could not comfort her.Just then, someone knocked on the car window. Lily held back her cries and rolled down the window.A couple carrying a child stood outside, and the man asked in concern, “Is something wrong? Do you need help?”Lily looked at the happy family in front of her and felt worse.“I’m fine. Please leave.”Then, she rolled the window back up.The couple exchanged a look before leaving helplessly.Inside the car, Lily choked out, “Steph, I don’t want to leave y

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 643

    There were many things Ethan could say to refute that statement.For example, Lily was a young lady of a wealthy family, and her partner would be the heir of another wealthy family. No matter how much emotional pain they were in, they had more money and resources than most people could dream of. Life was not just about romance, and this was what people meant by crying over nothing. However, all Ethan said was, “What has that got to do with me?”Stephen thought about it and replied, “I can give you money.”Ethan said indifferently, “I have enough money as is.”Too many people had offered him money, and there was nothing he needed money for at the moment. He had long stopped worrying about cash.Stephen paled. Emotional appeals did not work, and neither did money. He had run out of ideas.He glanced at Lily beside him. “Go outside first.”Lily’s mind was a mess. Every word Ethan spoke hit her hard. It was her first time meeting Ethan, and she had no idea how to handle it.She n

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 642

    Seeing Stephen so timid, Lily muttered in disappointment, “Steph…”Ethan could not be bothered to continue the conversation.“You can go now. I won’t help you.”Lily looked at Ethan, feeling resentful and disappointed. “People call you a clairvoyant, but you call Stephen a coward. In my eyes, you’re the real coward. You have the ability to help, but you choose to do nothing.”She was angry at Ethan’s unwillingness to help and his insult to Stephen. To her, there was nothing Stephen could not do. How could she allow him to be humiliated like that?However, the next second… “Shut up! Don’t be disrespectful to Ethan. Apologize to him now!” Stephen rebuked her.Lily froze, her eyes wide as she looked at Stephen with shock and disbelief. She defended him, and not only did he not help her, but he even scolded her and told her to apologize to Ethan.She could not believe it. Was he really the Stephen Quinn whom she knew?Stephen did not care what Lily was thinking. All he knew was t

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 641

    Ethan noticed the two people approaching.Lily was too nervous to meet Ethan’s gaze, and Stephen gulped as he greeted, “Ethan.”Ethan looked at him. “What now?”Stephen glanced at Lily before saying, “This is the daughter of the Ford family. Her name is Lily.”“I know,” said Ethan, “and I know she’s marrying Sebastian Katz in thirty-five days.”Lily looked at Ethan in shock. She knew she would marry in about a month but did not know the exact date, so how could Ethan, who did not live in Metropolis or had any connection to the powerful families, know? Now, she began to understand why Ethan was called a clairvoyant in the stories beyond the borders.In truth, deducing the date was simple. All Ethan had to know was the vague timeline.Stephen said, “I want your help to stop her from marrying Sebastian.”“Why?” Ethan asked. “Neither the Fords nor the Katzes have a problem with it. You’re a Quinn. Why would you care?”For a moment, Stephen did not know how to answer.Lily quickly

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 640

    “That’s soon…” Stephen was at a loss for words again. He was overwhelmed with emotions. The girl who used to play with him had become quiet and reserved, and she was about to marry someone else. He took a deep breath. “Who are you marrying?” Lily gave a name. “Sebastian Katz.” Stephen was shaken. He remembered Sebastian. The heir of the Katzes was handsome and surrounded by admirers since he was young. He was also highly educated, having studied abroad. On top of that, he worked out regularly and could even hold his own in a fight against guys like Andy.Besides, Stephen had heard that the Katzes were doing well, not just in the country but also expanding abroad. The future looked incredibly bright for them. There had been times when Stephen felt envious of Sebastian. “Oh, it’s him.” Stephen did not know how to continue the conversation. He knew that Sebastian was too perfect and, as a result, was surrounded by beautiful and accomplished women. As for Lily, Stephen kne

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 639

    Stephen hid in his room, too afraid to check his phone. His scandal was still making headlines online, showing no signs of fading in popularity. That woman had also been found. Stephen dared not imagine what type of questions people would ask her, let alone the impact her interviews would bring. Stephen was consumed by fear right now. He feared the shame, the disgrace, and the possibility of being sent back to his family in humiliation. He was even more afraid that Snow would see the news. Just as he was at a loss as to what to do, his phone rang, startling him. Glancing at the screen, he realized it was a call from Andy.Stephen was stunned, wondering why Andy would suddenly call him at that moment. Still, he picked up the call. “Do you have time?” Andy’s voice sounded. “Lily is in Riveria.”Stephen’s eyes widened. Lily was the eldest daughter of the Fords—the girl who used to follow him around and call him Steph. She was also the one who was about to get married in the grou

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 638

    More than a decade had passed, but Simon could still remember a friend’s comment when comforting someone heartbroken. “It’s the same for me. It gets worse year after year, but we get by.”Simon knew he could not interfere in that matter. Perhaps the only person in the world who could cure Stephen now was Ethan, who could reveal Snow’s whereabouts. Simon said, “Just have a child with Rachel. After the child is born, I won’t interfere with whoever you decide to be with in private.”After all, Stephen was the Quinns’ heir. It was normal for him to have a few lovers in his life. Likewise, once Rachel gave them a child, they would not interfere with Rachel’s love life. The child would be raised by the family, groomed from a young age to love and serve the family, and prepared to sacrifice their life if needed.Stephen thought of Ethan’s story. Two people who had no feelings for each other were bound for life by the interests of their families. “I’ll talk to Rachel.” Simon said, “

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 637

    Not knowing where he should go, Stephen wandered aimlessly on the streets until he spotted a bar. “How long has it been since I let go of myself and drink?”Stephen walked into the bar. The noisy, chaotic music and flashing lights made him forget his troubles temporarily. After downing two drinks, an average-looking woman approached and started chatting with him. He looked at her as the alcohol took over. He had been working hard for so long, yet he had achieved nothing. Perhaps he was unsuitable to manage Riveria. Besides, with Simon around now, there was nothing much left for him to do. He might as well indulge himself and become that carefree heir of the Quinns again!Stephen decided to head to a nearby hotel with the woman. When he sobered up, it was already 9 p.m. Seeing Simon standing by the bed with a stern expression, he subconsciously wanted to get up. However, a sharp headache struck him. Before he could recover, the pressure, troubles, fear, and uneasiness that w

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 636

    What could he do? He was merely someone who had to act under the orders of the family. Ask Ethan for help? Ethan had no obligation to help, and Stephen himself could not think of a reason or excuse for him to help.The matter had nothing to do with him, and he did not know them. Ethan did not need to involve himself in the messy disputes between those families. Well, should he try on his own? However, he was just the Quinn family’s heir, not the head of the family. The other families might not respect him, and even if he were the head of the family, the others could choose to ignore him. At that moment, he thought of Ethan’s words again. “Perhaps even until now, you still think you can solve every problem just by relying on yourself and the Quinn family’s power.”Stephen hung his once prideful head lowly. “If only… I could be like him.”After hearing Ethan’s story, he gained a deeper understanding of Ethan’s power. Even when it came to a conflict between two great families

DMCA.com Protection Status