George looked dejected after hanging up the phone.


    Judging from the phone calls and his expressions, Lauren understood the Quinn family’spany was in trouble, just likest time.


    “George, what’s going on?” Lauren walked to him and held the handle of the carved sandalwood chair with a trembling hand.


    Hearing that, George red at Lauren and mmed his fist on the wooden table beside him.


    “Did you do something again?” he growled.


    “They’re saying we have offended someone powerful.All the partneringpanies have called me to terminate the coboration with us.”


    Lauren didn’t dare to tell the truth.


    George’s attitude toward her had changed greatly ever since he found out that she had hired a criminal to rape Natalie. He had be cold and distant.


    Lauren couldn’t tell him that she had hired people to harm Natalie again.


    “Why are you always ming me when something bad happens? I’ve been staying at home all day long.I would never do anything reckless under your watch.Maybe you’ve offended someone during one of your business deals,” Lauren exined in an aggrieved voice.


    Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the chair to hold back her fear and guilt.George believed Lauren’s words.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    He had been watching her closely so he believed she didn’t do anything reckless again.


    However, little did he know that Lauren was more cunning and vindictive than he had imagined.


    She had ways to execute her ns right under his watch without garnering his suspicion.


    “All right.I’ll apologize to the partners and find a way to deal with the issue.” George was burning with rage.He picked up his coat on the chair and stood up to leave.


    “Stay at home.Don’t make any trouble again.” Lauren picked up her bag and followed him.“George, I’lle with you.How can I let you endure all the hardships yourself? We are a couple, and we’ll face it together,” she said, holding his arm.


    The Quinn family’spany was in a miserable position because all the partners had cut ties with them.


    Some of the factories had copsed due to ack of funds.


    George and Lauren had been dealing with the chaotic situation for the past three days.


    George was exhausted.He was even debating on dering bankruptcy.


    But the business was all they had now — it was an ancestral asset.He didn’t want the family business to copse under his administration.


    “Don’t worry.Our Quinn family’s business stood for years.I’m sure we’ll make aeback after the crisis ends,” Laurenforted him.


    Even she couldn’t figure out why all thepanies had terminated the partnership with theirpany overnight.


    ‘Who on earth is behind all this?’ Lauren wondered.


    Unfortunately, she didn’t have the time to figure it out.


    The day after the couple finally dealt with the problems of the Quinn family’spany and returned home, the police came looking for Lauren.


    “Mrs.Quinn, you’re the suspect of multiple crimes. We have received the evidence and are here to take you for investigation.”


    “What’s going on, sir? I think it’s a misunderstanding.My wife wouldn’tmit a crime.” George tried stopping the police.


    However, his voice faltered.He regretted marrying Lauren at the moment.


    The woman was pure evil — she got into trouble and dragged him into the mess.


    But George couldn’t leave her alone.If Lauren got arrested, it would be a disgrace to the Quinn family.


    “Your wife is suspected of bribery, attempted murder, illegal business transaction, and several other crimes.If you want to know further, we can discuss it in the station.” The policeman walked over and handcuffed Lauren who was staring at him with wide eyes.As the cold handcuffs touched her skin, Lauren began to scream and thrash.Her legs grew wobbly, and she could barely stand on her own.


    “No...I didn’t do anything,” she mumbled as her head began to spin.


    The past shed before her eyes.She had taken advantage of the Quinn family’s power and secretly indulged in illegal activities.


    Lauren had been hiding the secret all these years, and she almost forgot all about her tainted past.


    The memories came gushing as the police mentioned the crimes one after the other.Lauren broke into a cold sweat.After all, she was in a deep mess now.


    “I’m innocent! I didn’t do any of it! Let go of me! George, help me!” Lauren panicked.


    Her hairpin fell to the ground, leaving her hair in disarray as she struggled to break free from the handcuffs. Two policemen had to hold Lauren in ce as she continued to scream and thrash.


    “We have to take her away now.” George lowered his eyes and remained silent.


    He didn’t know how to defend Lauren.


    George was more shocked than anyone else when he learned what had happened.He had lost all trust in Lauren.


    The charges made him wonder if he had married a devil.


    George’s stomach churned with unease.He didn’t know whether he hated Lauren or not.


    “I have nothing to say,” he finally said, waving his hand.


    “George, let me exin! They are using me of a crime I didn’tmit.Think about all the things I have done for this family.I’m Cassie’s mother, for God’s sake!” Lauren shouted hysterically.


    Tears flowed through her thick foundation, leaving a ck streak. Just as the police were about to take Lauren away, a woman strutted into the house.


    Sounds of heels clicking on the floor reverberated across the room. The woman reeked of alcohol, smoke, and perfume.


    “What did my mother do? Why are you arresting her?” Cassie asked, switching her gaze between Lauren and the police.She had no clue about the problems the Quinn family had been enduring.


    The police ignored her and dragged Lauren into the car.


    Confused, Cassie ran to George, who had copsed on the sofa.His face had turned pale.


    “Dad, what’s going on? Why have the police arrested Mom?” George stared into the distance as his heart sank with dejection.


    “That’s it,” he croaked.


    “This is the end of the Quinn family.”


    Just then, the wall clock red loudly.


    Cassie’s heart trembled. It seemed like a warning from God, stating the day of reckoning had finally arrived.


    Cassie sat down with George and listened to the problems they had been facing for the past few days.


    “What? How is that possible?”


    She felt as if her entire world had copsed.She threw her bag down on the floor and slumped on the carpet.


    The energy in her body drained in an instant.


    “So our family is broke?”Cassie wasn’t worried that her mother was arrested. She only cared about money.


    Cassie needed money to live a luxurious, carefree life.She raked her eyes across the house and all the expensive things they had bought over the years.


    Cassie couldn’t imagine that she had to part with her possessions. It felt like she was living her nightmare.


    “It is not as bad as you think. You can find a job. We can manage but surely can’t live a luxurious life anymore, “ Georgeforted her.


    The Quinn family didn’t have any money left.


    After paying the sry of the employees in his factory, George would have to find a job himself.‘What? Find a job?’ Cassie’s eyes widened in horror.She had been happily working in her father’spany, where people did her biddings.


    Now, she couldn’t imagine working for someone else. The sudden twist in fate frightened her.


    “Dad, don’t worry.I’m with you.” Cassie took a deep breath and stood up.


    “I’ll find a way out.” She held George’s hand and sat beside him.


    “Cassie, your mother has set a bad example.I don’t want you to follow in her footsteps. Money isn’t everything.We can still live a peaceful life.Once you find a stable job, you can find an honest, trustworthy man to marry.You can have children and live happily.”