Chapter 614 The Exposure of The Mysterious Backer
"If you doubt my words, feel free to review the surveillance footage," Thomas remarked with a casual shrug.
However, surveillance was a luxury absent in the ramshackle settlement where Thomas called home.
Questions regarding the source of the money were carefully documented and filed away.
The following day, Simon's plane touched down in Bay City.
"Mr. Simon..." Those responsible for Lilian's care regarded Simon with a mixture of fear and deference.
Having just arrived from Armie, Simon felt utterly drained. The relentless playback of the distressing video on his iPad, featuring Lilian's desperate cries for help, echoed in his mind like a recurring nightmare.
With a forceful strike, Simon's hand connected with the face of Lilian's supposed protector, causing the man to stagger back. Despite the blow, he remained silent, unwilling to challenge Simon's authority.
"Didn't I explicitly instruct you to keep watch over her at all times?" Simon's tone dripped with malice. "And yet, here we are. Your incompetence is staggering. Is this your idea of top-tier security? Allowing an imbecile to snatch our target right from under your noses!"
The man who bore the brunt of Simon's rage lowered his gaze and clenched his jaw tightly.
Little did he anticipate that someone would tamper with the hospital-brewed coffee, nor did he expect an apparently frail, elderly individual to be the perpetrator behind Lilian's abduction. However, amidst the chaos, he acknowledged his own culpability. It was his lack of genuine concern for Lilian's safety that had paved the way for disaster.
"My negligence led to this!" the man admitted solemnly.
"Your negligence led to her brutal demise!" Simon's retort was laced with fury.
With a dismissive gesture to his entourage, Simon ordered, "Take him away. Let the sharks have him!"
The man recoiled in disbelief. "Mr. Simon!"
"What's there to argue?" Simon's gaze bore into him. "You think you can live after taking my wife's life? You'll pay with your own!"
"The truth is, Lilian was keeping secrets from me!" the man protested desperately, but Simon had already turned away.
As he pressed forward, the man attempted to follow, only to be struck by a jolt of electricity coursing through his back, sending him crumpling to the ground, his eyes rolling back in his head.
The other bodyguards remained silent, fearing reprisal if Simon were to turn his attention toward them.
Later that afternoon, Simon, masquerading as Lilian's husband, went to identify her body. Though her face bore severe damage, it was still recognizable.
"What about the rest of her?" Simon inquired.
"We are still searching," Simon said, his frustration evident, "but the chances of finding them all are very slim. There are too many stray dogs in that area."
Simon clenched his fists tightly. "All of you, get out!"
Looking at each other, they chose to leave.
Simon gazed at the body. "I told you not to come back, why didn't you listen?" Simon's tears welled up. "We could have been happy..."
His cries intensified. After a while, Simon picked up a white cloth and covered Lilian's face.
Then, speaking slowly and deliberately, he said, "Babe, your death won't be in vain. I will make those who owe you pay for it..."
Simon lowered his eyelids. On his right hand, he still wore his and Lilian's wedding ring.
Pressing his thumb on the ring and turning it twice, Simon added, "If you long to be with Darwin so much and want to be with him, I will bring him to you."
Lilian's death became a closed chapter.
The police issued an investigation report. Internet users discussed it with fervor for a few days, but as new topics emerged, Lilian's name gradually faded into obscurity.
As the end of the year approached, Darwin and Monsoon Investment grew busier.
Janna Rhoads wanted to spend Christmas in the countryside with the younger generation, so she returned to the Rhoads family headquarters early to attend to her work.
On Christmas Eve, Charles received the first dividend from Solomon's AI project, a significant amount.
Solomon's AI project, after several months of development, only gained momentum. It became increasingly popular due to its practicality and the team's ongoing optimization and updates.
The project's popularity and user base continued to skyrocket.
This led to news of Solomon providing bonuses to engineers and substantial dividends to the main responsible engineers leaking out in the IT community.
[My friend, a junior programmer, received a bonus close to six figures!]
[Shocking. I know IT salaries are high, but can a junior programmer really make six figures in a quarter?]
[I wish I had chosen IT!]
[A six-figure bonus is nothing compared to the dividends received by the founding team. It's something I could never earn in my lifetime!]
After discussing this matter all night on IT forums, it spread to platforms like Twitter.
Various rumors surfaced, mostly revolving around the amount of money the founding team had received.
Some claimed each of the six co-founders received several million dollars, while others suggested each person received one hundred million dollars.
In the midst of these discussions, a well-known IT influencer posted a revelation. "Just received a tip from an anonymous member of the founding team. One hundred percent certain that the anonymous senior is Solomon's son!"
The submission included a photo showing a small figure entering Solomon's IT department alongside two other co-founders of the AI project.
Upon this revelation, netizens were left speechless.
[I can't stop laughing. Fans are building up a genius image for this kid, son? Charles looks like he's at most five or six years old. Shouldn't we investigate the project before making groundbreaking claims?]
[I'm speechless. Will you believe any rumor? Are you a comedy blogger? Shouldn't we consider what problems the anonymous senior has solved? Can a five- or six-year-old even do addition and subtraction?]
[This revelation could easily be the most absurd rumor of the year.]
[Hahaha, clearly a joke. Why is everyone taking it seriously? Isn't the young boy's silhouette adorable?]
[I've only seen posts about Darwin's daughter before, but this is the first time I've seen his son. Why isn't there a front-facing photo?]
[I feel the big shots are being insulted by capitalists. They're people who want to achieve great things. What is Solomon's CEO thinking, making them take care of kids?]
[Yeah, my friend who used to work at Solomon's Information Department said they always kept a close eye on Solomon, but when it comes to family, they can do whatever they want. If their son wants to visit, he can, and if they want the big shots to keep him company, they will, right?]
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