Chapter 1331:
The lawyer stepped in smoothly. “My client is not in a condition to be questioned at this time. Any inquiries may be directed to me.”
“That’s fine,” the officer replied, producing a document from his pocket. “We can address this with you directly. Mr. Hilton’s Ironclad Athletic Club has failed three separate fire safety inspections over the past two years. The most recent, last month, found blocked emergency exits, expired extinguishers, and multiple code violations. When we conducted a follow-up inspection yesterday, none of the issues had been resolved.”
The old woman’s expression shifted slightly. “Those… those are minor things.”
“Additionally,” the officer continued, “the club’s safety standards fall significantly below acceptable regulations. Last March, a trainee suffered a concussion due to the absence of protective equipment, and the incident was neither reported nor compensated. Two years ago, a coach employed prohibited training methods that resulted in a ligament tear for another trainee—also never documented.”
The old woman’s lips began to tremble, confusion spreading across her face. “Why are you bringing all of this up? Aren’t we here to discuss my son’s injuries? What does the club have to do with any of this?”
The lawyer’s brows drew together as he accepted the document and began reading carefully. With each line, his expression darkened further. “These are minor infractions,” he said finally, his tone firm. “They have no bearing on what happened last night.”
“As for last night,” the officer interrupted without hesitation, “Mr. Hilton entered Ms. Cohen’s residence and proceeded to assault her in the living room shortly after. That room’s window falls directly within range of a surveillance camera, and the footage is clear. Legally, this constitutes both unlawful entry and physical assault.”
𝗙𝗼𝗅𝗅𝗼w 𝘶𝘴 on 𝘨𝖺𝘭𝗻𝘰vе𝗹ѕ.𝘤𝗈𝘮
The color drained from Carlos’s face.
“There’s more,” the officer continued, his gaze moving between Carlos and the lawyer. “Ms. Cohen’s daughter was evaluated by a child psychologist afterward. The report indicates she is showing clear signs of severe emotional trauma from witnessing the events. Because a minor is involved, the case is being treated with heightened seriousness.”
Carlos’s mother snapped, her voice sharp and defensive. “What are you saying? My son is the one who was hurt—he’s the victim here! Instead of going after the man who beat him, you’re questioning him?”
The officer’s expression hardened, his tone turning noticeably colder. “We are already addressing the assault case separately. This is not about comparing injuries.”
The old woman turned desperately to the lawyer, her voice trembling. “Say something! Carlos is the one lying in this bed—just look at what was done to him!”
The lawyer pushed his glasses up and exhaled slowly, his face tight with concern. “This situation is considerably more complicated than it appears. He could be facing heavy financial penalties, a real risk of losing his business license, and on top of that, the assault charge could carry a prison sentence.”
“Prison?” the woman repeated, her voice breaking. “Are you telling me he could actually go to jail?”
.
.
.