These are the times when a single dollar can overturn a business.

Lilah is bound to fail."

Laura texted back, "Even if you get ahead of Lilah, it's going to be a long journey; at least a year. And in a year, so much can change."

Marlene quickly replied, “True, but Lilah has Gerard's trust. Has she brewed him a charm? If only there was a way to make him abandon her, it'd be simpler to bring her down. She'd crumble easily then."

Laura reflected on this for a moment.

Marlene, having sent her message, started to devise a plan. Her thoughts were interrupted by her father calling her.

Her surprise was evident when she entered the living room to find police officers.

Onyx was speaking to the police. “My daughter made a mistake; I should have watched her more closely. Officers, I'm sorry for all the trouble. Accept this small gesture of my apology."

He extended a thick envelope, which the head officer declined with a stern, icy demeanor. “Mr. Phillips, I'm just doing my duty. Don't obstruct our work."

Onyx's expression darkened. He was used to getting his way, but these officers were unyielding.

Grasping the gravity of the moment, Marlene recoiled as an officer announced, "Miss Phillips, you're accused of bribing to cause harm.

Please come with us."

"I'm innocent!" Marlene protested, struggling in vain against the officers' grip. As she was escorted away, she called out to her father, “Dad, get Laura. She might help.”

Onyx dialed Laura as instructed.

Laura, upon learning of the incident, hurried to intervene. She declared her lack of concern, and following Marlene's fine payment, she was released.

Though not confined, Marlene seethed, whispering venomously, "That traitor. Despite the fortune I spent, she betrayed me."

Laura's gaze grew intense, and she sensed complexity beneath the surface. “Next time, tread more cautiously. You better head home."

“Thank you, Laura."

With that, Marlene made her way back, weariness weighing her down.

Awakening the next morning, she found her phone swamped with unread messages, all probing about her police station visit.

Even her Twitter followers were buzzing with curiosity.

A photo of her being escorted to the station had surfaced online.

Enraged, Marlene reported the uploader and clarified on Twitter that the situation was a mere misunderstanding.

Soon, another post appeared, this time about Laura entering the station.