Chapter 232
Carmen remarked calmly, “Mr. and Mrs. Mansell, let’s be realistic. You can’t bring the dead back to life. However, money is something tangible you can possess, wouldn’t you agree?”
Leia struggled to hold back her anger as she glared at Carmen. "How can she smile after taking my son’s life? Who cares about her filthy money?" she seethed internally.
Under the table, Levi tightly clasped Leia’s hand. Unlike Leia, who openly expressed her hatred, he maintained a calm exterior. He understood all too well that Carmen held significant power in Rithol City—they stood little chance against her. I have to do as Ms. Miller instructed, Levi thought.
“Miss Wilson, I have a question,” Levi said, his voice hoarse but steady. “Before Nigel’s accident, he ended a livestream early due to health issues and was fined 300 thousand dollars. He later submitted a hospital report, but the platform rejected his appeal without explanation. Were you aware of this?”
Carmen paused, recalling it only after her assistant’s gentle reminder. She had established the policy of evading punishment herself, officially. Only intentional evasion would incur penalties, but in practice, anyone reported would inevitably face consequences.
Carmen didn’t care whether it was intentional or not. Every evasion meant profit, kept the streamers hooked, and gave the platform free publicity—a triple win. She would, of course, take full advantage of it.
Nigel’s report, escalated to Carmen due to his particular health circumstances, barely registered with her—she didn’t even glance at it. She instructed her subordinates to handle it as they usually would. Carmen responded flatly, “I'm vaguely aware of it.”
Levi managed a grim smile for the first time since they’d met. “Because of that previous fine,” he said flatly, “the next time Nigel felt unwell and the opposing streamer threatened to report him, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to complete the punishment challenge.”
Carmen couldn’t understand why he brought this up. I treat everyone equally—what’s wrong with that? Am I supposed to bend the rules just for Nigel? she thought with disdain.
“We’ll take the money. Thank you, Miss Wilson,” Levi said with a forced smile as he tucked the bank card into his pocket—his polite demeanor contrasting sharply with the coldness in his eyes.
Carmen was indifferent to how he felt; as long as he accepted the money, everything would proceed without issue. “Now that’s settled,” she said coldly, “I need both of you to revise your statements. Claim that Nigel died of natural causes and that Aubree manipulated you into tarnishing my reputation.”
Leia’s expression darkened, her eyes burning with rage. How can this woman have the audacity to distort the truth like this? If the platform hadn’t threatened to ban Nigel for not completing the punishment, would he have pushed himself to the brink, to lighten our load—until it ultimately took his life! she fumed inwardly.
Levi, restraining Leia, said with chilling deliberation, “We understand.”
Carmen smiled smugly. No one could resist the lure of money—and if they did, it only meant the price hadn’t been high enough or Aubree’s influence was stronger. A mere 15 million dollars, and her people had already caved.
The untouched dishes remained on the table as Carmen got up. She had neither the time nor the patience to dine with people of modest means. “Help yourselves,” she said with a façade of politeness. “I have more important matters to attend to.”
“Have a good day,” Levi remarked with a thin, cold smile. He and Leia watched Carmen leave, their eyes dark with barely concealed hatred.
The phones were returned to them. Levi noticed a message from Aubree and gently patted Leia’s shoulder. “Let’s follow Ms. Miller’s lead; Carmen Wilson’s time is up.”
Vincent’s car was idling outside the hotel entrance—as soon as he spotted Carmen coming out, he immediately sent out an alert. Before Carmen could fully exit the hotel, a crowd surged toward her from a distance—camera crews, grieving families carrying mourning wreaths and protest banners, and even patients still in hospital gowns—all rushing in her direction.
“MindDrift kills!”
“Carmen Wilson, pay with your life!”
“Money laundering is a crime! Shut down MindDrift!”
The crowd’s relentless shouting quickly drew the attention of passersby, many stopping to watch. Carmen’s face went pale. Her itinerary was meant to be foolproof, yet somehow, they had tracked her down.