Chapter 80
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When Alex returned Josephine to the orphanage, Ruth and the children were anxiously gathered near the doorway, their faces lighting up at the sight of her.
As she stepped inside, the younger kids rushed forward, wrapping their small arms around her waist.
“Big sister Jo, we were so worried!” one of them exclaimed, tears glistening in her eyes.
“Did they hurt you?” another asked, his voice trembling.
Josephine knelt down, enveloping them in a warm embrace “I’m okay, really,” she assured them softly.” Everything’s alright now.”
Rudyard stood a little apart from the group, his eyes meeting Alex’s.
“Thank you for bringing her back.”
Alex smiled gently, placing a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder.
“You did the right thing by calling me. You helped save her.
The boy’s face brightened with a mix of pride and relief.
”
As the children led Josephine inside, chattering excitedly, she turned back to glance at Alex lingering by the doorway.
“Aren’t you coming in?” she asked, a hint of something hopeful in her tone.
He shook his head lightly. “I have some things to take care of.”
Her gaze searched his for a moment. “Will I see you again?
“Count on it,” he replied with a soft smile.
She nodded, her eyes reflecting gratitude and something deeper. “Thank you, Alex. For everything.”
He watched as she disappeared into the warmth of the house, the door closing gently behind her.
***
Later that evening, Alex entered the opulent mansion that served as the mayor’s residence–the stark contrast between its grandeur and the surrounding poverty was impossible to ignore.
Agents were stationed throughout the property.
Agent Collins approached him in the grand foyer, a file in hand.
“We’ve uncovered some disturbing information,” she said grimly, handing over the documents.
Alex skimmed through the pages, his jaw tightening.
“Bring Donovan in,” he instructed.
Moments later, Donovan—the mayor–was escorted into the study, his hands cuffed, eyes darting nervously.
“Mr. Donovan,” Alex began calmly, though his eyes bore into the man with an intensity that made him squirm.
“You were appointed to serve this community, to improve the lives of its people.”
Donovan swallowed hard. “I… I have done my
best.”
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“Your best?” Alex’s gaze hardened. “To what country does this mine belong?”
“It belongs to our country, Axum,” Donovan replied with a bow, visibly shaking.
Alex’s face remained stony.
“In this world, there is one empire that controls six other kingdoms. And Axum, our kingdom, is the smallest and poorest. Do you know why that is?”
Donovan bowed deeply, voice trembling. “I–I don’t know.”
“It’s because of people like you,” Alex’s voice turned icy. “How dare you keep the discovery of rhodium hidden in this copper mine and secretly sell it to our neighboring kingdom, Prussia!” 1
“Please, forgive me!” Donovan fell to his knees, trembling. “Please, give me another chance.”
“Why did you betray your country?” Alex demanded.
Donovan stammered, too terrified to speak, his whole body shaking with fear.
Agent Collin stepped forward, holding up the document. “Copper is priced around $4 per pound, but rhodium is worth $75,000 per pound. Instead of sending it to Axum, you smuggled it out to enrich yourself.”
“For over twenty years, you’ve done this, costing our country billions in losses.”
Alex’s gaze grew colder.
The avarice of mankind is insatiable.
“People like you are the reason this country suffers.” He turned to Collin.
“Confiscate all his assets and imprison his entire family until he reveals every bit of his hidden wealth. He’ll remain in jail until then.”
At this, Donovan’s trembling turned into a defiant glare. He rose unsteadily.
“You can’t jail me. I hold dual citizenship with Prussia. If you lay a hand on me, Prussia will retaliate. I demand you let me see the Prussian ambassador.”
“So, a spy as well.” Alex’s eyes darkened, a dangerous glint in them.
Suddenly, Donovan screamed as his legs gave way beneath him, breaking with a sickening crack.
“Life won’t be easy for you.”
“Prussia will crush this miserable place!” Donovan shouted, his breath turning shallow as he collapsed, unconscious.
Alex looked to Agent Collin. “Let Kingswell manage this mine from here on.”
“But what about Prussia? We’re not ready to handle their pressure,” Collin replied.
“I have an idea.“,
Two hours later, the Prussian ambassador to Axum jolted awake as his secretary called him urgently.
“What?”
“Sir, there’s an emergency. Please open the news.”
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He opened the news, his eyes widening at the headline flashing, across the screen.
“There’s a massive fire engulfing the mayor’s house in the mining city,” the reporter announced.
“It appears to be an electrical failure that led to the blaze, and we’ve just received confirmation that the entire mayoral family, including Donovan and Carlo, perished in the accident,”
The Prussian ambassador turned to his secretary. “What about the rhodium?”
“The police discovered the minerals and reported it to Axum’s Federal Bureau of Investigation. It seems the kingdom might trace Donovan’s sales to us. What should we do?”
“He’s dead now. If the FBI comes knocking, deny everything. We’re washing our hands of this.”
“Yes, sir.”
Meanwhile, Donovan and Carlo were thrown into a dark underground cell.
Agent Collin loomed over them, arms crossed. “Better start talking. Where’s the money, and who did you sell it to? Believe me, we have all the time in the world to dig out the truth.”
***
Back at the Kingston Corporation headquarters, Jasmine Kingston sat at her desk, massaging her temples.
She’d received all the reports from her assistant–the mining city, technically under Vancouver’s jurisdiction, had been selling rare rhodium illegally while Axum’s own supply was dangerously low.
“Bianca, could you bring me a coffee?”
“Of course, Miss Kingston,” her assistant replied, disappearing for a moment before returning with a steaming
cup.
Jasmine took a sip and frowned slightly. “This tastes different. Did we change suppliers?”
Bianca shook her head innocently. “No, it’s the same as always. Maybe it’s just been a long day?”
“Perhaps,” Jasmine conceded, setting the cup down.
As Bianca left the room, she pulled out her phone and sent a discreet text to Chris: “It’s done. She drank it. The back door will be unlocked.”
Chris replied almost instantly: “Perfect. I’ll take it from here.”
Bianca hesitated, a pang of guilt twisting in her stomach. But thoughts of Chris–his charm, his promises- pushed her forward.
She was only helping him seek justice, and all he wanted was a chance to talk to Jasmine. He had promised her.
He wouldn’t harm Jasmine.”
