Chapter 40 Cut the Drama
rmed by what she said, Mr. Linden tightened his fists.
Knowing he was beginning to have second thoughts, Maia said, “I know you have a a son and a daughter. You don’t want them
to have to live with the consequences of your actions, do you? You deserve to go to jail, but your family members are innocent.”
At this moment, Buck lunged over and pulled Mr. Lindon up by his cor. ring at the man, he snapped, “Do not test our
patience, Mr. Linden!”
Shocked by his loud voice, Mr. Linden trembled and gulped, not daring to look at him.
Amomentter, Mr. Linden’s tensed body went limp as he gave up resisting.
“All right...”
Trembling, Mr. Linden continued, “After Phil took over Starlight Entertainment, he fired the finance manager and promoted me in
his ce so that he could do whatever he wanted with thepany’s money. Under his leadership, Starlight then lost its leading
position in the industry within a year.”
Mr. Linden sighed.
“Three months ago, when Mr. Phil learned that you had inherited the shares, he started. transferring arge amount of funds out
of thepany. He wanted to make you look bad before stepping in to ‘save‘ thepany, so the shareholders would make him
the CEO again.
“But then you started reviewing the ounts and took control of the funds much sooner than he expected, so he had no choice
but to transfer the misappropriated funds to me so | would
take the fall.”
“What did he offer you?” M asked.
Mr. Linden answered truthfully, “He promised to give my family 10 million dors and to take care of them once things settled
down. All | had to do was take the me.”
“You fool!” Buck said. “How could you be so sure he’d do as he promised? You''d be behind
bars by then!”
Maia looked at Mr. Linden and said, “Mr. Linden was already the deputy finance manager when my mom was around. He
couldn’t have gotten the job if he wasn’t a smart man. He must have kept evidence with him, and if my uncle didn’t keep his
promise, he would sell the evidence to the highest bidder in the media to safeguard his family’s livelihood.”
Surprised that she had guessed correctly, Mr. Linden nodded. “Yes, you’re right.”
Maia asked, “Give me the evidence, and | promise your family will get through this unscathed.
+15 BONUS
“| knew there was no turning back for me when | decided to work with Phil, but | can’t gamble with my family’s livelihood. The
evidence is my only bargaining chip. Why should | trust you?”
Knowing where he wasing from, Maia said solemnly, “Because Rosa is
my mom.”
Mr. Linden fell silent for a while before letting out a sigh and nodding. “I was led astray by Mr. Phil, but | held your mom in the
highest regard because she never broke her promises. You''re right. Since she put you in charge of Starlight, | should believe in
you for her sake.”
Mr. Linden then went to the kitchen and retrieved a voice recorder hidden under the sink.
“This contains most of my conversations with Phil. It should be enough to get him convicted.”
Taking the device, Maia yed the recording and listened to a conversation.
She looked at Mr. Linden and said, “Thank you. I''ll keep my promise.”
Mr. Linden wiped the tears from his eyes and said, “At least now you''ll be able to save Starlight for your mom’s sake.”
Maia nodded and headed out.
When she reached the door, Mr. Linden said in a choked-up voice, “Ms. Maia!”
Maia stopped and turned to look at him. “Yes?”
“Mr. Phil is not going to stand by and do nothing. You have to be careful.”
“| will.” Maia nodded, and with a smile, she left the vi.
“Mr. Linden is right. Your uncle is not going to go down without a fight. The shareholders‘ meeting is tomorrow, isn’t it?” Buck
said, sounding anxious.
“That’s right.”
Maia looked down at the voice recorder in her hand with a resolute look. No matter what, she must save Starlight Entertainment,
as it was her mother’s legacy.
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Zera held onto Cedric’s shirt, refusing to let go.
“Cedric, you mustn''t see Maia ever again, all right? Everything she did in the past was unforgivable, not to mention I’m your
fiancée now. What you did at that press conference would only lead to bad rumors for you, me, and the family!”
Cedric frowned and said coldly, “Then you should cut the drama, shouldn’t you?”
He knew Zera had put on an act to get him to show up and prove to others that he still cared
for her.
Ss
“| wasn’t putting on an act, okay? | was really disappointed-”
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Baz showed up at the doorway. “Sir.”
Looking at Zera, Cedric yanked his shirt off her hand and said icily, “Rest well.”
He turned and left.
Zera wanted to tell him to return, but the door had already closed. Infuriated, she pounded the
mattress.
She stared at the door, then quickly got out of bed and headed toward it. She tried to eavesdrop from behind the door.