Chapter 500 The Truth Behind the Bankruptcy of the Astor Group
"That's right, everything your father and brother did was under duress."
Ashley couldn't describe her feelings.
Five years of injustice, curled up in Evercrest City enduring both mental and physical pressure, with her family tormented day and night.
Is it finally time to see the light again?
Ashley's heart, hardened by life, still couldn't withstand the wild joy, her heart racing as if it would burst out of her chest!
She excitedly gripped Sean's hands tightly, using all her strength to keep herself from jumping up, "Sean! I... I don't know what to say, I... I always suspected someone was threatening my dad and my brother. They were so cautious, avoiding me, not letting me investigate or get involved. I knew it wasn't that simple! If it weren't for you, our family might have been the target of public scorn for the rest of our lives..."
Like a child who had finally returned to the embrace of her family after being wronged, Ashley spoke as tears streamed down her face, the light of joy constantly shining.
Sean patted the back of her hand, "It's not time to celebrate yet. We haven't found any funds transferred from the Astor Group into Hannibal's account. We suspect he has accomplices overseas, and perhaps that money didn't end up in his pocket."
Ashley tried to calm herself. "Could it be that someone is controlling Hannibal from above?"
Sean said, "Hannibal's position is already very high. Investigating further up involves people no one dares to touch. However, after repeated analysis, we can basically rule out the possibility of deep cooperation between him and his superiors. The most likely scenario is that the person controlling him is a social force."
"The mob?"
"Or a gray-area financial group."
Ashley didn't dare to be careless and kept nodding, "These kinds of financial groups are ruthless, perhaps even harder to deal with than someone like Hannibal."
Seeing her so happy, Sean didn't want to disappoint her, so he remained silent for a moment.
Ashley sensed he had more to say, "It's okay, tell me everything. Knowing the worst facts allows us to prepare comprehensively."
Sean wished he could solve all the problems at once, allowing Ashley to come and go through customs from then on freely. But unfortunately, even with the connections of his grandfather and father Lucius, he couldn't uncover the final layer of secrets.
"We can't find any evidence that Hannibal threatened your father. So, this matter can be understood as either him threatening your father or your father voluntarily giving him benefits to cover up for himself. As a lawyer, you know that accusations without evidence will only invite more criticism. Until we have a chain of evidence, we can't do anything to avoid wasting our efforts."
Ashley understood everything he said.
Although Hannibal was the mastermind, and the Astor Group's bankruptcy was also forced, all of this was their inferred truth, indirectly obtained, without any evidence to present to the public.
It was like lighting a lamp in her heart, but the outside was still an endless dark night.
The court wouldn't change its verdict based on these speculations, and those glaring stamps wouldn't disappear from the documents.
Ashley's overwhelming joy slowly subsided as she nodded, accepting his explanation, "I'll talk to them. Maybe there are some clues left from back then."
"If there's evidence, that would be great. If not, don't lose heart. At least it's a good start."
Ashley nodded, "Maybe my dad would prefer to talk to you in person. Do you still want to eat?"
Sean burst into laughter, "Are you trying to bribe me?"
Ashley forced a smile, "A bowl of meat doesn't count as bribery."
The meat wouldn't, but she would.
Sean thought.
That night, Todd specifically had Dorian come back for dinner, and then the three men went into the study.
Scarlett was nervously wringing her hands, "Ashley, Todd and Dorian are honest businessmen, they've been steady and reliable all their lives, never daring to cause trouble. Todd was terrified at the time. No matter how I asked, he wouldn't say anything, telling me that the less I knew, the safer I would be. I've never seen Todd so nervous, sometimes smoking all night."
The past was unbearable to recall, and every time Scarlett thought about it, she would start trembling all over, her mental state deteriorating.
Ashley, afraid that Scarlett might relapse into depression, quickly comforted her, "Mom, it's okay, it's okay. Hannibal is dead, and no one will threaten Dad anymore. At least in the official documents, no one dares to make things difficult for us."
Blair also gently persuaded, "Mom, the hardest times are over. Things will get better from now on. As long as our family is together, we have nothing to fear."
The two of them each held one of Scarlett's hands, constantly comforting her, and Scarlett on the sofa finally gradually calmed down.
But in the study, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Sean slowly exhaled, "So, you have no evidence?"
Todd said helplessly, "I was taken into a car with my eyes covered, couldn't see anything. They just said if they didn't get the money, they would kill our whole family and destroy the Astor Group. I didn't dare to risk my family's lives!"
Dorian, on the other hand, was holding his head in frustration, rubbing his hair vigorously, his eyes red, "Someone found me at the time, using the Astor Group and our family's lives as leverage, forcing me to embezzle funds from a KM Group subsidiary."
Back then, he would receive photos every day, showing his family members in unseen danger, potentially losing their lives at any moment.
Some assassins were even at Ashley's school, entering and leaving the library and cafeteria with her.
If he made one wrong move, she would die.
Sean showed a puzzled expression, "KM Group's review process is so strict, how did you manage it alone? Did Ashley help you?"
Dorian shook his head, "It's not surprising you think that. Over the years, Damian's biggest grudge against Ashley is probably that he was convinced she helped me secretly transfer the funds, allowing me to take so much money smoothly. But Ashley didn't know anything from start to finish, she was completely unaware!"
But Dorian couldn't explain further. The more he said, the more trouble it would cause, and the more people would be put in danger.
He could only follow those people's demands, step by step, into an inescapable predicament.
Sean asked, "How did you manage to bypass KM's chairman and directly get that much money?"
Dorian smiled bitterly. He probably never thought there would be a day when he would have to reveal the secrets he had kept hidden for so long.
Those days were too long ago, too dark, too painful, and too difficult!
"Someone provided me with KM's internal information, allowing me to bypass layers of reporting and directly negotiate with the bank. In other words, at that time, my authority was second only to Damian's. I don't know how they did it, but all the procedures were stamped with KM's chairman's private seal. Even the lawyers couldn't tell, otherwise, the bank wouldn't have transferred so much money in just three days."
Dorian regretted it deeply.
If he hadn't succumbed to the threats back then and had secretly sought Damian's help, perhaps the outcome would have been different.
But then again, would Damian have helped him at that time?
Thinking further, he smiled bitterly. No wonder Damian hated Ashley so much. Besides her, who else could freely enter Anthony's house, access his study, and use his private seal?
It was his cowardice back then that harmed Ashley.
After hearing his explanation, Sean was even more convinced that Hannibal had been framed. This force was hidden in the dark, vast, extreme, and immeasurable.
Todd's aged face showed a bitter expression, "Actually, even if we can't go back, I've accepted it. Sean, don't risk yourself for us."
"Hannibal is in prison, undergoing investigation. His secrets will soon be uncovered. I'll find a way to guide the investigation in this direction. Maybe he'll be eager to make a deal and reveal the people behind him."
Todd's gray eyes brightened, "If that's the case, that would be great. As long as he confesses, we have hope!"
Sean was about to speak when the phone rang. Seeing the number, he stood up, "Sorry, I need to take this call."
Sean stood alone on the balcony, speaking in a low voice, "Yes?"
"Hannibal committed suicide."
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