Karen narrowed her eyes. "So you're saying that I have to provide evidence?"

"Whatever crime it is, there must be proof, right? With just this recording, how am I supposed to question Luke? Besides, Luke is too busy for these little tricks. I believe he's innocent. This man might be intentionally framing him," said Old Master Mallory as he let out a yawn.

Being old, he had a habit of taking a nap. Being woken up like this made him feel very tired.

Karen's face turned pale. "Fine, just you wait. I'll go get the bank transaction records now. We'll settle this based on evidence!"

She refused to believe that even with the evidence laid out in front of him, Old Master Mallory would still side with Luke.

Karen left in a huff.

Old Master Mallory let out another yawn, and Mr. Griffin reminded him, "Sir, you should rest for a while."

Old Master Mallory thought it was a good idea. He got up with his cane, but just as he was about to head to the bedroom, he stopped to remind Mr. Griffin, "Oh, by the way, let Luke know about this."

He had temporarily dealt with the trouble, but Luke needed to be informed.

"Yes, I'll inform him shortly.” Mr. Griffin nodded.

"Alright. If she comes with those transaction records later, then we'll talk. I'm going to take a nap.” Even though Old Master Mallory said so, he did not really feel threatened by the so-called transaction records.

It would be strange for Luke to leave behind such evidence.

After Karen left Crawford Manor, she hurriedly returned to the villa where Silas was being held.

Later, she realized she might not need Silas to go to the bank for statements. As long as she got the transaction records, she could find out the account number and investigate at the bank.

She knew who the people around Luke were. Hence, once she identified the account holder, it would point to Luke orchestrating this.

Karen planned everything well. Then, she stood in front of Silas again.

Silas' mouth was gagged with a rag.

Disgusted, Karen lifted her jaw, signaling for someone to remove the cloth.

Silas took a deep breath and then started coughing.

Karen took two steps back, as though she was avoiding a deadly virus. When the coughing stopped, she approached and said, "You mentioned someone transferred money to you, right? Show me the transaction records. I need to know the account details."

Silas froze for a moment, then shivered suddenly. He gave Karen a pitiful look.

There were no transaction records. It was all a l ie.

Karen felt a pang of unease when she saw his reaction.

"Where are the transaction records?" Karen pressed, afraid that if she waited a second longer, the records would disappear.

"There. There are no transaction records." Silas shook his head, his face contorting in pain.

"What did you say?!" Karen widened her eyes, glaring at him fiercely. "You claimed there were transaction records before. Were you lying to me?" Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Silas quickly explained, "I was afraid you'd keep hitting me... Actually, those people gave me cash. There's no bank transaction record at all."

"Cash?" Karen stepped back, catching onto what he said. "Who are these people you're talking about?"

Silas wore a bitter expression and answered, "They're the ones who've been protecting me.

They handed me cash directly, no banks involved."

Karen's expression darkened even more. Without the bank's involvement, no transaction records meant no evidence. The only evidence was Silas' words.

The man next to Karen also picked up on the key point and asked with a stern expression on his face, “You said they've been protecting you. There are a few of them, right? Have you ever met the mastermind behind all this?"

He believed that Luke could not possibly be protecting such a man.

Therefore, those protecting him must be Luke's subordinates. However, how could they prove that these people were working for Luke?

"I, I..." Silas struggled to utter another word.

He thought blaming everything on this man named Luke Crawford would be enough, but he did not expect there would be so many messy things going on.

Transaction records? Those people?

"I haven't seen the mastermind. All throughout, those people were..." Before Silas could finish his sentence, Karen pulled out her phone and handed it to him.

She showed him a picture of Luke. "Have you seen this guy?"

Silas' eyes darted around. He knew this should be the Luke Crawford guy they had been talking about.

Just by looking at the photo, he felt that this guy was not someone to be messed with.

When Silas was hesitating whether to lie to Karen again, the man next to him stepped forward and warned, "If you dare to lie about this again, you're done for!"

Silas shuddered in fear. A whiff of an unpleasant odor emanated from below.

He had wet himself...

Karen frowned, wishing she could kick this cowardly guy far away. Holding her nose in disdain, she handed her phone to the man beside her.

"There's Luke Crawford and his close associates in the photo. You'll question him. If you catch him lying, ruin his hands!"

She needed Silas to clarify to the press. If his legs were ruined, it would be noticeable. However, if his hands were ruined, it would be less obvious—especially if he wore long-sleeved clothes.

"Yes!" The man took her phone.

Karen quickly walked out.

She did not go far and stood in the courtyard waiting for updates from her subordinates.

After a while, her subordinate approached with a serious expression.

"How did it go?" Karen could not wait to hear the results.

"He was honest this time. He didn't dare to lie. But he has no evidence against these people. Madam, we have no proof to show that Luke Crawford did this." The man shook his head, respectfully handing back the phone.

"Damn it!" Karen's eyes turned red. "It's obviously Luke Crawford who did it. How can there be no evidence? Go, have someone retrieve surveillance footage from the hotel!"

She had no choice but to start from the hotel.

Luke Crawford had to be the mastermind!

Karen knew deep down that even if Silas clarified to the media that it was intentional defamation, Old Master Mallory still would not treat her kindly.

Hence, Luke Crawford had to take the fall. Otherwise, her position in the Mallory family would remain precarious!

Karen understood that even though Old Master Mallory had kept Daryl Mallory abroad for years due to his dissatisfaction with his extramarital affair. How could he not miss him since he was his only son?

However, considering she had given birth to two heirs for the Mallory family, Old Master Mallory would not openly express how much he missed his son.

Now that Old Master Mallory found out that it was because of her involvement with Silas that made Daryl choose another woman, his heart was undoubtedly displeased. It was because of her that his son had been staying abroad without returning!

Therefore, a powerful person had to take the blame to restore the situation.

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away," replied the man before leaving in a hurry.