Chapter 78: Chapter 78 The Walls Close In
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Selina was living her best life, using a fake account to like every nasty comment about Elara.
Watching her rival get completely destroyed online felt absolutely amazing.
When Leo’s name popped up on her phone, she hesitated before picking up. "Yeah?"
"I did everything you wanted. Where’s my money?" he demanded.
Selina’s mood soured instantly. "Chill out, what’s the rush? If I transfer it now and the cops trace it back, then what?"
"Then give me cash!"
She couldn’t really argue with that logic. "Fine. Thirty minutes. I’ll get it to you. Text me your bank info!"
Leo wouldn’t have helped her without a damn good reason.
If she hadn’t found out about his massive gambling debts, he never would have risked his career to help her frame Elara.
Just as she was about to make the transfer, another orchestra member called her.
"Selina, we have a major problem! The police just arrested Leo!"
Selina shot to her feet. "What the hell?!"
Her hands were shaking as she closed the banking app, her heart racing with panic.
Had they figured it out?
--
"Officer, I’m the victim here. Why am I getting dragged in for questioning?" Leo complained loudly, his voice cracking slightly with nervous energy.
The officer smiled calmly, pulling out a notepad with practiced ease. "Don’t get worked up, Mr. Leo. This is just standard procedure. I want to ask what you were doing the day your violin disappeared."
Leo’s eyes shifted slightly, his fingers drumming anxiously on the metal table. "That day I was in rehearsal until noon, then went back to the hotel. I was exhausted so I crashed until five."
He paused, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Then I left my room to grab dinner, and when I got back to the hotel, our pianist called asking me to hang out at the restaurant on the third floor. Lots of people can back this up. Thirty minutes later, I went back to my room."
The officer nodded slowly, his pen scratching notes while acting like he was buying every word. His experienced eyes never left Leo’s face, cataloging every micro-expression.
"Mr. Leo, can you tell me who this person changing clothes in the stairwell might be?" The officer casually pulled up the video on his tablet, watching Leo’s reaction carefully.
When Leo saw the footage, his eyes went huge and his chair scraped backward instinctively. "That’s... that’s not me!" His voice pitched higher, panic bleeding through.
The officer raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing at his lips. "I never said it was you, Mr. Leo. Why are you freaking out?"
Leo’s hands were trembling now, gripping the edge of the table so hard his knuckles turned white. The officer continued with deliberate calm.
"Maybe the angle makes it hard to tell. Our tech guys cleaned up the video quality. Let’s watch it on the big screen so you can see better." He gestured to the wall-mounted TV, his movements slow and theatrical.
As the enhanced footage played, Leo stared at his own face, now crystal clear on the TV screen, and he sat completely froze like a deer in headlights.
"I... Officer, you have to listen to me." Leo’s voice was barely above a whisper, his breathing shallow and rapid. "I never did any of this stuff. This video has to be fake!"
Leo suddenly clapped his hands together, the sound sharp and desperate in the small room. "Yeah, it must be doctored! Officer, why would I trash my own violin?" His laugh came out hollow and unconvincing.
The officer leaned back in his chair, studying Leo like a predator sizing up wounded prey. "What if you had huge gambling debts and wanted to set up the hotel so you could sue them? Wouldn’t that make perfect sense?"
Leo’s pupils went wide, his whole body shaking violently before he forced himself to pull it together .
He pressed his lips into a thin line, his jaw clenched tight with determination. "That’s just your theory. I want my lawyer. I’m not saying another word until my attorney gets here."
--
Alpha Dominic leaned against his office balcony. "Thanks, Xavier."
Xavier smirked slightly. "No big deal. Who would’ve thought this idiot would pick a fight with the wrong guy - going after your mate like that."
Alpha Dominic let out a cold laugh, his grip tightening on the railing until his knuckles showed white. "Yeah, bad move on his part."
His expression darkened as frustration coursed through him. Too bad his mate wasn’t exactly grateful for his help, so he’d just made sure the witness ended up in her hands instead of taking direct credit.
He’d also asked his contact to delay Leo’s meeting with his lawyer - a few well-placed calls to tie up the public defender’s office.
If Leo got legal advice too fast, he might cook up some new lie to worm his way out of this mess.
Alpha Dominic wasn’t letting anyone involved walk away free - not the puppet or the puppet master!
--
Meanwhile, Selina was having a complete meltdown after Leo got busted.
Alpha Enzo, watching their stock price hit rock bottom, felt his world crashing down. "Selina, please, I’m literally begging you - kill that trending topic right now!"
Selina bit her lip, furious with resentment. "Dad, why do you always pick her side? Is it just because she got married and found some rich guy to protect her?"
Alpha Enzo took a deep, shaky breath. "Selina, you clueless girl!"
"Elara’s husband is the Alpha King!"
"Who else do you think could tank our company’s stock price like this?"
Selina stared at him in total shock, her mouth hanging open.
Alpha King?
Dominic Wolfe!
Elara’s husband was the freaking Alpha King!
