Chapter 904 Jake in Trouble
"Hey Olivia, got a sec to talk?" Yasmin's voice was thick with worry.
Olivia could tell something was up. She set her briefcase on the couch, turned away from Mia, and asked, "Mom, what's going on?"
"Your dad's in trouble," Yasmin said, her voice cracking.
Olivia's face went white. "Is it his health?"
"No, he hasn't had surgery yet, but your dad's been arrested!"
"What? What do you mean he's been arrested?"
For the past three years, Olivia had been living on edge. There had been constant issues at home, especially with Darcy and Lynn, who were causing trouble. It wasn't until Winnie returned to the country last year that things had calmed down a bit for their family.
It had been a long time since Yasmin had called her in tears.
Olivia had almost forgotten the panic that came with sudden crises.
Yasmin, crying, said, "Your dad was taken to jail. The police came to arrest him last night. I didn't tell you because I thought we could bail him out with some money, but it's not that simple.
The police... they said your dad killed someone!"
"Killed someone? No... that's impossible."
Olivia staggered, unable to comprehend what Yasmin was saying. Her reaction startled Mia, who stopped playing and ran over to see Olivia's pale face.
"Mommy, what's wrong?"
Olivia's eyes welled with tears. She hugged Mia to the side and asked Yasmin, "Please explain. What happened to Dad?"
"What's been going on at home? What happened to Dad?"
"Mom, I told you to keep me informed about everything, no matter how small. Why do you always hide things from me?"
"Dad's been sick; how could he suddenly kill someone?"
"After our company went bankrupt and Noah took over, Dad hasn't been doing any business. How could he get into a conflict with someone?"
"The conflict wasn't your dad's!" Yasmin explained. "It started with your cousin Finn's business. He got into a nasty competition with a real estate company that has strong connections."
"Your aunt Rhea told Finn to stop, but he was impulsive and mortgaged all their assets, investing everything into a project."
"Recently, that real estate company sent people to trouble Finn. He had severe financial issues and asked your dad for help with the accounts. Your dad, having run a company before, knew how to handle these things."
"He helped Finn, but it didn't solve the problem. Instead, it got Finn accused of business crimes, and your dad, being the upright person he is, couldn't stand it."
"He took Finn to confront the real estate company... and that was yesterday. He never came back."
"I waited at home until midnight, and then the police came to inform me that he had been arrested for assault."
"I found out that the real estate company's boss was severely injured by your dad... When I got to the hospital, that person was already dead!"
"I still don't understand what happened. All I know is that the deceased was named Joshua Thomas."
"I've tried contacting his family, but I can't reach them. I'm at my wits' end."
"Olivia, if you can, please come back."
Olivia was overwhelmed and extremely anxious.
Key points: Jake was inexplicably involved in a murder case.
Her mind was in a fog. How could this happen...
She didn't have time to think. She quickly booked a flight on her phone, her face pale, handed Mia to their neighbor Lena and drove to the airport.
She was on the phone with Yasmin the entire way.
It wasn't until she boarded the plane that Olivia realized she hadn't informed Winnie or requested leave from the Blanchet Group's HR department.
She held her head in her hands, feeling lost. Just a week ago, Yasmin had called to say Jake's heart condition had worsened. He had already undergone three stent surgeries, and his heart couldn't handle another. If his condition deteriorated, a heart transplant would be necessary.
This weighed heavily on Olivia. Jake's life was more important than anything. She had planned to quit her job in Trento City, take care of Jake for six months, and then move the family to another city, away from trouble so that Jake could get a new heart.
That was why she distanced herself from Jeremy. She did not want to get involved in any more drama, fearing it would lead to her parents' demise.
But before she could implement her plan, this happened.
Tears silently fell from her fingers.
Lymington.
Stepping off the plane, Olivia headed straight to the police station's detention center.
But the police wouldn't let her see Jake. They classified him as a suspect in a manslaughter case, and in three days, he would be transferred to the criminal investigation department. They advised her to hire a lawyer and contact the victim's family. "The family has filed a lawsuit accusing your father of intentional homicide. This is very serious. If the court rules it as intentional homicide, your father could face the death penalty.
We suggest you try to reach an understanding with the victim's family and get them to withdraw the intentional homicide charge. That way, your father might receive a lighter sentence."
"He couldn't have killed anyone! He's a heart patient; how could he have the strength to kill someone?"
"What was his motive? Did you thoroughly investigate the crime scene?" Olivia was frantic, shouting in anger.
"Olivia..." Yasmin arrived and held her back.
They had endured so much bullying over the past three years. Yasmin knew that in Lymington, no one would show them any leniency. They had to be cautious in everything they did.
The police ignored Olivia's outburst and said coldly, "Don't doubt the police's evidence collection. We thoroughly examined the surveillance footage and bloodstains, and we have eyewitness testimonies: your father struck first, and it was a fatal blow. The victim was taken to the hospital but died from excessive bleeding in the brain."
"Olivia, I asked this morning, and that's what the police said."
"The police believe your dad's manslaughter charge is almost certain, but Joshua's family is accusing him of intentional homicide. He's old, and his heart surgery hasn't been done yet. He can't die in prison, and he can't die with the label of a murderer." Yasmin cried softly.
Olivia looked up at the dark sky, her fists clenched. "There must be something wrong here! I know my dad. He wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone a person."
"Mom, where is Joshua's family?"
"At Lymington Central Hospital. Joshua's body is in the morgue. Rhea said the body should undergo a forensic autopsy to determine your dad's guilt, but the police haven't requested it. We went to ask this morning, but Joshua's family chased us away. They refuse to allow the autopsy."
Refusing an autopsy to determine guilt? Wasn't that suspicious?
And the autopsy was a legal procedure. Why hadn't the police requested it?
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