Gerard's gaze bored into Hodge as he made a call. "You have two hours to remove the Brooks Group from Eleywood."

Hodge's heart raced, thundering in his chest as fear gripped him. He swallowed hard, his throat constricting as a dry lump formed. His legs trembled and buckled beneath him, and he dropped to his knees, pride abandoned as he begged for mercy. "Mr. Harris, please don't do this. Show some pity!"

Gerard remained unmoved, ignoring Hodge's pleas. “Send Lucas to prison. The evidence will be sent to you later," he ordered.

Rosetta's eyes widened in shock and trepidation as the implications of Gerard's words sank in. Her lips trembled, and she regretted the thoughtless words she had flung at Lilah.

Panic-stricken, Rosetta rushed toward Lilah and dropped to her knees, pleading desperately, "Miss Phillips, please ask Mr. Harris to spare us. Please forgive my son!"

As she looked down at the groveling woman, Lilah's tone was as icy as Gerard's. "You deserve everything you get. You can't blame anyone but yourself."

“I do deserve it. Please help me, Miss Phillips! From now on, you are my benefactor. I will never forget you." Tears streamed down Rosetta's face as she clutched at Lilah's hand.

Lilah shook off her hands in disgust. "If the tables hadn't turned, would you have been so forgiving to me?"

Rosetta was stunned into silence, blinking in astonishment. She finally realized the depth of Lilah's relationship with Gerard. He was willing to give up his business dealings with the Brooks family for her sake.

Gerard's cold gaze shifted to the deputy chief, who had been watching the scene unfold with unease. "It appears you no longer want your position," he stated flatly.

The color drained from the deputy chief's face as he stuttered, "M-Mr. Harris, I have nothing to do with this!"

Gerard dialed another number without acknowledging his words.

"Investigate your subordinate carefully," he ordered the person on the other line.

The deputy chief's eyes bulged as he nervously shifted his weight to the other foot. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

He had unwittingly landed himself in hot water with the formidable Gerard Harris by doing the Brooks family a favor. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach.

He knew his prestigious position as deputy director would be stripped away as punishment for his involvement.

Gerard turned to Lilah, his expression softening slightly. “Let's go home."

Lilah nodded, looping her arm through Gerard's without glancing back.

Together, they left the police station, leaving a wake of stunned silence in their path.

By 10 o'clock that evening, the news about the Brooks family occupied all the headlines across the internet.

The Brooks family's downfall was swift, with bankruptcy looming.

Lucas was swiftly apprehended by the authorities upon regaining consciousness in the hospital. News cameras captured shocking footage of the once-privileged young man being led away by police, his hands bound in shackles as reporters shouted questions.

One by one, the Brooks family businesses began collapsing Like dominoes. The family's vast wealth evaporated in the blink of an eye.

On news sites and social media, netizens furiously debated what could have brought down such a magnate. “How could the Brooks family suddenly go into receivership? Brooks Group monopolized almost half of the domestic market. What happened to them?" One commenter wrote in disbelief.