Ch. 2041..2050

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2041-Although the Southern Star Syndicate had been saved, there was no progress in Elias' case.

Meanwhile, Ralph, following Bella's instructions, had people closely monitoring Aaron's movements.

After handling all the funeral arrangements for Lance, Christopher visited his mother, Sophie, at a top- tier nursing home in Savrow.

Sophie had withered away to little more than skin and bones. She sat in a wheelchair with her back to her son, tended to by a caregiver, basking in the sunlight of a garden.

But the sight was heartbreaking, her frail body seeming as if it could disintegrate into ashes under the warm rays and be carried away by the breeze.

"Mr. Iverson, your mother's condition is very bad," the attending doctor said with a worried expression, shaking his head.

"She's in the late stages of Alzheimer's. It's not just her memory-her ability to speak is also deteriorating. Moreover, your mother has a heart condition, which only increases the risk in this advanced stage."

Christopher sighed heavily, pressing his dry, pale lips together.

"There's no cure for Alzheimer's disease. My advice is to spend as much time with her as you can. Make her remaining days as comfortable and happy as possible."

"Who said that there's no cure?" The man's voice was raspy, as if burned by fire, muttering under his breath.

"Excuse me? What did you say?" The doctor was taken aback.

"Who told you there's no cure for my mother's condition? Who told you she's beyond saving?!" Christopher's eyes turned red as he suddenly erupted, his voice hoarse and desperate.

His emotions were clearly spiraling out of control.

"There is a cure. There will be a cure soon.... It's not cancer. Why can't it be treated?!"

Christopher grabbed the doctor by the collar, his grip so tight that it nearly lifted the man off the ground.

The doctor was terrified, but fortunately, Taylor arrived just in time to pull Christopher away.

"Mr. Iverson, please calm down. He's just an ignorant fool who doesn't know anything. He understands nothing!"

Christopher's chest heaved as though it were on fire. He took slow steps toward his mother. Waving the caregiver away, he knelt beside Sophie and tended to her with the utmost gentleness. "Mom... I'm here to see you. Christopher is here."

After a while, Sophie slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at Christopher as if frozen in time. "Mom..."

"Lance... What will it take for you to believe me?" Suddenly, a faint light flickered in Sophie's eyes, though it was fragmented and weak. She spoke slowly, each word laborious, "I've never... Had anyone else... I only ... Have... You..."

Christopher was stunned, tightly gripping his mother's frail, stick-like hand, inadvertently leaving

crescent-shaped marks on her skin with his fingers.

"Mom! Look carefully at who I am! I'm your son, Christopher! Mom!"

"Lance... Take me... Home..."

Tears welled up in Sophie's eyes as she raised her hand to gently caress Christopher's cheek.

Christopher felt as if he had been struck by lightning, the blood in his veins turning cold. His teeth clenched so tightly they ground together.

She had mistaken him for her husband. In these final days of her life, she had forgotten her own son, yet she still remembered the man who had hurt her so deeply.

The excruciating pain he felt in that moment. How could anyone else understand?

"Mom... Lance is already dead."

Christopher's once gentle gaze turned dark and icy, forming a hard, cold shell. "I killed him. I avenged you."

"From now on, I'm all you need."

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2042-"You… Who are you… Who are you?!" Sophie's eyes were wide with shock as she flailed her hands wildly in the air, her nails raking two deep scratches across Christopher's fair, handsome face.

"You're not my son… My son, Christopher, would never be so cruel! He would never be this cruel!"

Christopher knelt on one knee, his face composed and resolute, as he watched his mother descend into madness.

He felt as if he had gone mad too-just a very quiet kind of madness.

Hearing the commotion, two caregivers rushed over to restrain the trembling, struggling Sophie.

"Call the police… Call the police…. He's a murderer… A murderer!"

But who would believe the words of a late-stage Alzheimer's patient?

Sophie's frantic cries finally died down as the caregivers escorted her away.

"Mr. Iverson… Please don't be upset. Madam Sophie isn't in her right mind anymore. Don't take her words to heart," Taylor continued comforting him, but seeing the distressing scene was heartbreaking enough. He could not imagine how much harder it must be for Christopher.

"How much longer… How much longer do we have to wait?" Christopher shut his eyes tightly, his breaths quickening with frustration. "He can wait, but my mother doesn't have time to spare!"

Taylor bit on his lip and spoke softly. "Mr. Iverson, perhaps… Perhaps you should let Madam Sophie try this drug? Who knows, it might just work out by some lucky chance?"

"Absolutely not!" Christopher rejected the dangerous suggestion without hesitation. "The drug has only been in trials for less than six months, and it's already killed several people healthy, living people! It's clearly potent and highly unstable! I can't… I can't let my mother take that risk!"

"But right now, you have no other choice. You have to try anything that might save her!" Taylor couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out the diagnosis he'd overheard from the doctors. "The doctors said that if we continue with conservative treatment, Madam Sophie has, at most… just six months left! Maybe even less!"

Christopher had expected this, but hearing it still felt like a blow to the back of his head, leaving him struggling to maintain his composure.

"If that's the case, why not take a chance? If it could prolong her life, it's worth it!"

At that moment, Taylor's phone rang.

He pulled it out, and his eyes suddenly widened in response.

"Mr. Iverson! There's been an incident!"

Christopher's expression darkened as he pulled out his phone and checked Twitter. He saw a trending topic causing a stir online. "Human Drug Experiment!"

A Twitter post from the official Savrow Daily account had gone viral, being reposted over a million times. After all, everyone in Savrow knew that the Salvador Corporation was one of the newspaper's major shareholders.

The Twitter post boldly declared that a mysterious blue pill, spreading like a virus in the black market, was being marketed as a medicine. However, in actuality, the pill was being secretly used for human drug experiments.

Not only that, the Twitter post included a video showing a member of the Southern Star Syndicate violently reacting to the drug. The footage was incredibly disturbing.

Public outrage over the post was intense, causing the news platform to crash. The consequences were severe.

Taylor was stunned. His phone suddenly felt like it was burning a hole in his hand. "Savrow Daily must be out of their minds! How could they post that news publicly? Are they crazy or something?"

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2043-"The Savrow Daily is backed by the Salvador Corporation. Apart from Justin, who would have the nerve to release something like this?"

Christopher slowly lifted his eyes, his gaze clouded by a deep shadow of darkness behind his gold-rimmed glasses. "So, they've stirred up the public opinion, huh? Not bad."

Taylor quickly realized something. "The most frustrating part is that we can't even get rid of this trending topic. Otherwise, wouldn't that be falling right into their trap and causing a disaster for ourselves?"

At that moment, a call came through.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Christopher glanced down and noticed the name "Ms. Amaryllis" on his phone. He clenched his jaw and picked up the call.

Clarice spoke in a stern tone, like a prosecutor demanding an explanation. "Chairman Iverson, the commotion on your end has gotten so big that it's reached the Boss. What on earth is going on?"

"It's Justin's fault. He wanted to blow things out of control. He used the public to try and shut me down and keep me from taking any action."

Christopher was already fuming with rage, and Clarice's accusatory tone was the final straw that sent him teetering on the edge of an explosive outburst. "I'll personally call the Boss and explain everything in a moment!"

"Hmph, don't bother. He is furious right now and has no patience for your nonsense!"

Christopher's fair, delicate face slowly contorted with rage.

He wanted nothing more than to fly to Meridan and tear this woman's vile mouth apart.

"You'd better resolve this mess quickly!" Clarice's tone was laced with mockery, "I hate to say this, but have you gotten so full of yourself since becoming the chairman that you're making such a rookie mistake?"

Recently, Christopher had been overwhelmed with many things-from planning his father's funeral to restructuring the company and handling the situation involving Southern Star. This gave his opponents the opening they needed.

"Enough! I'll take care of it. Even if this blows up into a full-fledged crisis, even if I'm left with nothing, I won't let it mess up the Boss' big plan!"

"Chairman Iverson, I know you're enjoying your newfound power, but watch out. Pride always comes before a fall!"

That afternoon, the sun's warmth and gentleness created a peaceful, pleasant atmosphere.

Bella and Justin were once more at the old diner, sitting side-by-side on the bench, absorbed in their food. Although Justin lived a poor life when he was a child, he later entered the Salvador family.

His grandfather meticulously raised him as an upper-class nobleman, instilling in him the importance of table manners: no talking while eating.

But Bella, the beloved daughter of the Thompson family, did not follow those rules.

In public, she was the epitome of elegance and grace. But in front of Justin, she disregarded her image. She was slurping her soup noisily and picking up the bowl.

"Bella… Eat a little slower." Justin gently rubbed her soft, delicate back. He wanted to remind her to be quieter, but he did not dare do so.

Oh well, his little foodie was adorable no matter what, and he would pamper her. Who cared what others thought?

"I'm already eating slowly!"

Bella set down her bowl with satisfaction, her clever eyes narrowing playfully. "Look at how many shares and comments we've got!"

"Over a million comments and over ten million shares." Justin wiped her lips with a napkin in his left hand while scrolling through his phone with his right.

Bella grinned. "But we can definitely make this even bigger. Time to turn up the heat!"

She stared at the old chef who was focused on chopping vegetables, and suddenly her eyes grew misty." Christopher thinks that standing at the pinnacle of the Iverson Group's power means he can control everything. He can silence people and even eliminate them, but he'll never be able to cover the eyes of millions of people who seek the truth!"

Upon hearing Bella's words, Justin's heart filled with fervor as he pulled her close, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

Just then, lan sent them a message, interrupting their peaceful moment.

[Mr. Salvador, bad news! The president of Savrow Daily just called, saying they can't handle the volume, so they need to take down that post and remove the trending topic.]

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2044-Justin's eyes were clouded with a somber, troubled expression as he readied himself to call the president of the Savrow Daily. However, just as he was about to dial the number, Gregory interrupted him with a call. Something seemed off. Justin wanted to step away from Bella to answer the call, but he was afraid she would think that he was keeping secrets. So he turned slightly and answered the call in a hushed tone. "Dad, what's the matter?"

"Was the news about the human drug experiments on Savrow Daily's official Twitter account your doing?" Gregory's tone was stern.

"Yes,"

"I've already issued orders to have it taken down. As for the trending topic, if I don't take it down, someone else will!"

Justin furrowed his brows, and his temples pulsed. "No, you can't take it down!"

Bella's bright eyes observed Justin calmly.

"This decision isn't in my hands. The higher-ups have demanded that the news be taken down. There are doubts about the credibility of the information, as it was published without official confirmation. This has caused a significant public backlash and concern. If this issue isn't addressed properly, the Salvador Corporation could face serious trouble."

In contrast to his usual practice of harshly scolding his son, Gregory spoke in a much more measured tone this time, outlining the potential upsides and downsides for Justin.

"First of all, this isn't unverified news-the video is real, and the human experiments are a known fact. The police have been secretly investigating the source of this illegal drug. If the media doesn't speak out now, when will they?"

Justin was so angry that his voice became hoarse. "If the media chooses to stay silent, more people will suffer, and more will go astray! Hiding the truth would be the biggest mistake!"

Bella's eyes fluttered as she breathed deeply, trying to compose herself.

There was silence on the other end of the line.

After a long pause, Gregory spoke again, his tone unusually earnest.

"Justin, as your father, I'm not a heartless man. When I was young, I too had a passion for my career, a desire to contribute to society, and a heart for charity. But all of that is secondary to safeguarding the Salvador Corporation and the Salvador family. Before I am a philanthropist or a social activist, I must first be a businessman seeking to prioritize the family's interests."

Justin was taken aback and pursed his lips, his eyes conveying a mix of emotions.

"This news has really stirred up the public and could cause some major problems for the Salvador Corporation. We can't afford to go against the higher-ups here. That would just be unwise. The more sensitive the situation, the more important it is for us to stay under the radar and stay low-key."

י Justin's instincts, honed from years of experience, told him that something was off about Gregory's tone. "Dad, are these really your words, or is this something someone told you to say?" he asked.

He knew his father too well.

Gregory had spent a lifetime in the limelight, courted by people in the business world. He was never one to be so detached or indifferent.

Gregory hesitated, then sighed.

"After the incident, Grant called me. Justin, he means no harm. He just wants to protect the Salvador Corporation from falling into chaos."

"So, it's Grant." Justin felt a tightness in his chest as he looked at Bella next to him.

Bella's eyes were downcast, a paper cup pressed against her flushed lips. She appeared to be drinking, but she had not taken a sip in a long time, clearly lost in thought.

"Well, that's the bottom line. The higher-ups are shutting down that trending topic today. You just stay out of it. Even if such an inhumane issue exists in Savrow, it has nothing to do with you or the Salvador Corporation!"

Now, that sounded like something Gregory would say.

Justin was ready to argue and hold his ground, but Bella tenderly placed her hand on his arm and gently shook her head.

After hanging up, Justin squeezed her small hand, letting out a bitter, muffled laugh.

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2045-"Look, Bella, it always ends up like this."

Bella looked at him with eyes full of concern, not blaming him nor resenting his father.

Although the enemy needed to be opposed, Justin and Gregory had only recently reconciled due to recent events. She did not want to see them grow apart again.

"Don't worry, even if Savrow Daily removes it, I'll make sure other media continue to report on it. It's just that the influence may not match Savrow Daily."

Justin's heart was reluctant, his eyes ablaze with determination. The fire had just been ignited. He could not let it be extinguished so easily.

"It's not your dad's fault. This is pressure coming from the higher-ups." Bella spoke gently, trying to calm him down. "But what's really surprising is that your older brother decided to step in at this crucial moment."

"I stayed with the Salvador family for three years. The Salvador Corporation has faced numerous business crises before, yet Grant always remained calm and unshaken. This time, it's just a news story from Savrow Daily stirring up some public backlash, and most people don't even think it's related to the Salvador family. Yet he appeared immediately, offering advice to your father."

The heiress of KS Group was a remarkably insightful woman.

Fortunately, the Thompson family was harmonious, so it left Bella with no opportunities to put her schemes into practice. So she turned her cunning toward the Salvador family instead.

Bella observed. "He's being a bit too proactive. It doesn't quite fit his usual indifferent personality."

She then picked up a curly fry and brought it to Justin's lips.

Despite feeling full, Justin happily took a bite of the fry that his loving Bella offered him. His eyes gleamed with joy and fulfillment.

"So, Bella, what are you thinking? Do you think there's something wrong with my brother?"

Bella ate the fries as a bold and terrifying thought formed in her mind.

Could Grant be connected to this drug as well? He had mentioned knowing many people in the pharmaceutical industry in Meridan and possessing rare drugs that ordinary people could not obtain. Could there be some hidden, intricate connections?

But Grant did not lack money. What reason would he have to do such a thing?

Or perhaps she was overthinking it, and Grant's interference was just a ploy to gain favor with Chairman Salvador, paving the way for his own return and quest for power later on.

But regardless of his motives, Bella saw one thing clearly. Grant might have saved Justin's life back then, but that did not necessarily mean they were allies.

There was no chance Grant and Justin would work together. They were destined to go in opposite directions.

Just then, Bella's phone rang. It was Steven calling.

"Ms. Bella, everything has been arranged. Please tune in to the three o'clock news now."

"Thank you for your hard work."

After hanging up, Bella quickly opened the app, turned the screen horizontally, and leaned her head close to Justin's.

At this moment, the three o'clock news began airing, with the lead story about illegal drugs and human experimentation.

"Bella, when did you arrange all this?!" Justin's eyes sparkled with astonishment.

"Actually, I realized that relying on just Savrow Daily was still not enough."

Bella nestled in the man's embrace, her head gently rubbing against his firm chest. "So, your wife had to give you a little push and prepare a backup plan. Don't worry, I'll always be here for you."

Although Savrow Daily had removed the post from their official Twitter, no matter how hard they tried, they could not control the trending topic.

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2046-Even though the keyword "living human experiment” had been banned on online platforms, the public still managed to push it back to the top in a different way, refusing to let it fade away quietly. Thus the topic remained trending.

Aaron, one of the involved parties, was panicking, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles. He immediately contacted Christopher.

"Christopher! What is going on?! Did you not say it was just a popular recreational drug from abroad? How did it suddenly turn into a banned substance that has not passed clinical trials?!"

Christopher was just humiliated by Clarice and had not been able to reach the Boss. Now, with Aaron yelling at him as well, he felt like pulling out a machine gun and firing it in the street. But if he could not control his anger, the grand plan would be ruined.

From being a fragile and abandoned son of the Iverson family, Christopher had fought his way through a bloody path in Sentania, now commanding the respect of thousands. He achieved all of this by being bold yet cautious and by maintaining his composure under pressure.

Christopher downed a full glass of whiskey, took a deep breath, and then laughed.

"Why panic? It's just baseless rumors and sensationalist fake news. Did the Savrow Daily not debunk it already?"

"But the topic is still trending! Thoseizens are crazily posting and discussing it. We cannot delete them all!"

On the other end, Aaron was flustered.

"Christopher! Tell me! Are you really using me for drug testing?! Are you trying to set me up and destroy the Larson family?! The Larson Group is a top pharmaceutical group in the country! If the police cannot withstand the public pressure and intensify the investigation, they will soon trace it back to me! When the truth comes out, the Larson family will take the fall, and you will walk away unscathed!"

Christopher narrowed his eyes and sneered silently. This time, Aaron had guessed part of the truth, but it was too late. Aaron was already involved and had no way out.

"If the police do find me, I will definitely expose you! Don't think you can pin this on me!"

"First of all, the chances of that happening are extremely slim. Mywork has infiltrated the entire Savrow political scene. This matter will eventually be swept under the rug. But let's talk about the Larson Group. How is your cash flow holding up?" At those words, Aaron's panic turned to complete despair. He was stunned.

"You! What are you talking about?!"

vels Christopher's gaze was cold and his every movement exuded a sense of superiority. "Over the years, your Larson family has poured everything into developing a new drug to treat Alzheimer's, causing all other projects to come to a halt. You have put all your eggs in one basket. But the past two years have seen significant setbacks in your research. The government is no longer willing to fund your efforts. "Adding insult to injury, some of the net projects Chairman Larson had invested in have repeatedly failed, leaving you with billions in losses. The Larson Group's new drug project is on the brink of being shut down. You naturally do not want years of hard work to go to waste, so you thought of working with me to sell this drug and generate revenue to support the Larson family." But, as the saying goes, there was no free lunch in the world. Moreover, ill-gotten gains would eventually backfire.

"Mr. Larson, making money is not shameful. These days, people despise poverty more than anything else."

Christopher's pupils were like stormy whirlpools, deep and terrifying. "You are already on this ship, so getting off is not an option. You might as well go all in. For your father and the Larson family, you must hold on."

Christopher's words were very persuasive, temporarily calming Aaron.

"This weekend, come to our newly opened resort to relax and hear my next plan."

Currently overwhelmed by the drug testing issue, Aaron did not think twice before agreeing to Christopher's invitation.

After hanging up the phone, Taylor immediately approached Christopher. "It's time to prepare, Mr. Iverson."

"This fire must not reach me. Otherwise…" Christopher, as if plunged into the dead of winter, felt a slight tremor in his broad shoulders. "I have a feeling that if I fail again this time, the Boss will completely abandon me."

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2047-In the following days, Bella and Justin decided to divide and conquer their tasks separately. Although Justin no longer openly defied Gregory, he secretly fueled the public's outrage, determined to use this intense scrutiny to force Christopher out of his dark hiding place.

One day, just as Justin was about to attend a meeting, he unexpectedly received a call from Sasha.

"Aunt Sasha,” Justin greeted, his voice steady, courteous, and approachable.

Sasha, who was usually sharp-tongued and critical, spoke to Justin in a rare tone of warmth and restraint, tinged with a trace of guilt.

“Justin, I still haven't properly thanked you for what you did last time. If you hadn't arrived in time, Southern Star would have been doomed. I'm still terrified when I think about it. If something had happened to Southern Star… I don't know how my father would have carried on. I wouldn't have been able to face Wyatt either."

"Aunt Sasha, you don't have to be so formal. Everything I did was my duty." Without a hint of arrogance, Justin remained as humble as ever. "The fact that you, Uncle Wyatt, and the entire Thompson family were willing to accept me again and allow Bella and me to reconcile that trust alone is something I'll spend my life repaying."

Nearby, lan could not help but marvel at his boss.

Justin's sweet words and flattery used to be somewhat awkward, as if he were borrowing Ryan's words. Now, though, they flowed naturally, as smooth as silk.

"Justin, don't say that. You're making me feel even worse."

Sasha took a deep breath, her tone firm. "I called to thank you but also to pass on a message from my father. Tonight, he's holding a press conference where he'll reveal everything about the illegal drug abuse Southern Star Syndicate has been subjected to."

Justin's expression turned to shock. "This is no small matter. Please, you and Chairman Jenkins must think it over carefully."

"My father knew you would say that. Because exposing Southern Star Syndicate's situation would be like laying bare his weaknesses and inviting investigation by the police and prosecutors. But my father is tired, Justin. He's truly exhausted. He'd rather be summoned by the police and even risk going to prison than keep silent. He wants everyone to know just how terrifying this drug is. Besides, given Southern Star's current condition, only by completely overhauling everything can we hope for a brighter future.” Justin nodded solemnly. "If that's the case, Bella and I will respect Chairman Jenkins's decision. Tonight, I'll also increase security at the press conference to ensure his safety."

…

Later that afternoon, at a nursing home in Savrow, Owen canceled an important meeting with provincial leaders. He drove himself, ran two red lights, and arrived drenched in sweat.

“What happened?! How could my wife try to commit suicide?!" Owen frantically grabbed the nurse's arm, his face drenched in sweat.

"This afternoon, after lunch, Mrs. Hopkins suddenly said she wanted to see her son…"

Owen's heart plummeted into an icy abyss. His wife was in her early forties. She had suffered a miscarriage in the second trimester when she was 29 years old. The unborn baby was a boy.

More than ten years had passed, but now, for her to suddenly become hysterical over their lost child, even to the point of attempting suicide, could only mean that her condition had worsened drastically, leading to severe memory loss and confusion. "A young nurse who didn't know what was going on mentioned that Mrs. Hopkins didn't have a child. Mrs. Hopkins broke down immediately, shoved the nurse aside, and ran out of the room. She e 1 even knocked down selderly people in the hallway… Then she climbed onto the rooftop…" Owen's pupils contracted violently, and his heart felt as if it were being crushed.

"But… Who would have thought that the Thompson family's heiress would come out of nowhere in the nick of time? She grabbed Mrs. Hopkins off the rooftop railing. We all watched with our hearts in et throats!" The nurse, Bella's heroic rescue, spoke with wn admiration, turning what was a tense and heavy moment into one filled with awe and excitement.

Owen's eyes widened in disbelief. "Did you say the Thompson family's heiress?"

"Yes! The girlfriend of the Salvador Group's president, the daughter of Hatchbay's richest man, Wyatt Thompson-Ms. Bella Thompson!"

The nurse could not praise Bella enough, giving her a thumbs up. "I must say, Ms. Thompson has incredible strength! Even I couldn't have lifted Mrs. Hopkins, but she did it with ease. She must work out regularly and eat well!"

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2048-Owen's mind buzzed, leaving him frozen in place. It was not until the nurse called out to him that he managed to move. His steps were heavy as he walked toward the hospital room.

Inside, his frail and emaciated wife leaned weakly against the headboard, her eyes wide with fear, clutching Bella's hand as if it were a lifeline. Bella stood by the window, gently stroking the woman's back and whispering soothing words to calm her.

Owen stood in the doorway, utterly astonished. His wife, tormented by her illness to the point where even the nurse who had cared for her for nearly a decade sometimes struggled to control her, was now calm and composed in Bella's presence.

They had only just met, yet they seemed to get along so well. What was even more incredible was that Bella had managed to stabilize his wife's emotions without the need for sedatives.

"Darling!" Owen, his face ashen, hurried over and pulled his wife into his arms, holding her tightly.

"Mrs. Hopkins, didn't you keep asking where your husband was? He's here now," Bella said softly, her voice as refreshing as a cool spring.

Mrs. Hopkins stared blankly at her husband's face for a long moment before her lips moved sluggishly." Owen… You're here? Have you eaten?"

Owen's eyes were filled with deep love, surging like ocean waves. He gazed at his wife intently before looking in shock at Bella, who was smiling warmly.

"My wife… She…"

"The nurse mentioned that your wife hasn't recognized you for quite some time," Bella said, her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze tender as she looked at Mrs. Hopkins. "But you see, no matter how much the illness torments her, as long as you love each other, Mrs. Hopkins will never forget you."

Her words were simple, yet they touched Owen deeply. His voice was hoarse as he spoke. "Thank you for saving my wife, Ms. Thompson."

"It was nothing, really," Bella replied, her lips curving into a slight smile, though her eyes took on a more serious tone. "Deputy Chief Hopkins, may I have a word with you in private?"

The warmth that had briefly filled Owen's heart was instantly chilled again. The two walked out of the room, where Steven, full of concern, quickly approached them.

"Ms. Bella…"

Bella instructed firmly, "I need to speak with Deputy Chief Hopkins alone. Steve, stay by the door and keep an eye on Mrs. Hopkins. If anything happens, contact us immediately."

Owen was slightly taken aback. The simple phrase "contact us" seemed to create an invisible bond between two strangers.

On the sunlit rooftop, the early winter wind blew fiercely. Bella stood tall and graceful against the wind, her long, jet-black hair billowing around her. She closed her eyes slightly, lifting her face to feel the sun's warmth on her cheeks.

Though the weather was cold and her clothing thin, she felt no chill, for her heart was ablaze with passion. "Ms. Thompson, if you have something to say, please make it quick. I need to get back to my wife," Owen said, his gaze fixed on her elegant silhouette, his tone cold and distant.

"I believe that, as a decorated officer with a background in narcotics enforcement, you must be someone with a strong sense of justice and a heart that yearns for the light," Bella said as she opened her eyes and slowly turned to face him. "Surely, more than anyone, you despise drugs. Am I right?"

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2049-The wind howling across the rooftop felt like a series of invisible blades, slicing through the space between them.

"Of course," Owen replied, his voice deep and reserved, choosing his words carefully.

After years in government service, he knew all too well the importance of speaking cautiously, especially to someone as formidable as the woman before him.

Bella was no ordinary person-she possessed both the bravery and the wisdom of a seasoned strategist. After all, she was the woman Christopher loved deeply.

"In that case, Deputy Chief Hopkins, we are kindred spirits. We should not be enemies. Instead, we should be allies, fighting side by side." Bella's eyes curved into a smile, serene yet unwavering.

"Ms. Thompson, I don't see any reason for us to fight together," Owen said, his gaze growing colder. "You are a powerful magnate, while I am a servant of the people. Our paths should not cross. Nevertheless, I am grateful that you saved my wife. I will repay this debt someday. If not in this life, then in the next."

Bella's brows furrowed tightly.

"I must return to care for my wife. I'll take my leave now. Feel free to stay as long as you wish." Owen's face remained impassive as he turned to leave. But before he could take a step, Bella's cold voice cut through the air.

"You claim to be a servant of the people, Deputy Chief Hopkins, but why do your actions betray that claim?"

Owen paused but did not turn around.

"I know the person behind you is Christopher Iverson," Bella said, her gaze as cold as ice, her hair whipping wildly in the wind.

Owen's pupils contracted sharply. "Ms. Thompson, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'm not here to threaten you. Your rights and wrongs are not for me to judge, but for the people and the law," Bella said, not afraid of alerting the enemy. She laid her cards on the table, speaking openly. "I'm here to tell you that allying with Christopher is digging your own grave. You're playing with fire. Even if you're willing to risk your own life, what about your wife?

"Everything you've done is for her. But her safety doesn't that matter to you? Christopher is ruthless. He's killed and betrayed his own flesh and blood. To him, you're nothing more than a disposable pawn. Once you've outlived your usefulness, he won't hesitate to silence you. His promises mean nothing. Your family, too, won't be spared.

"The Thompson family has a long history with the Iversons and I've crossed paths with him countless times. Who knows his schemes better than I do?"

Despite her earnest warnings, Owen remained unmoved. To Bella, it seemed he was even more consumed by illness than his wife. He was completely under Christopher's control, thoroughly brainwashed.

As Owen reached the door, Bella's sharp voice rang out again.

"Everything you've done has been for the development of that new drug, hoping it would cure your wife's illness. But have you ever considered that this so-called new drug is nothing but a scam? The drug cannot be developed! If it were possible, why has Larson Group, with government backing, failed after years of research? Are they lacking data? Are they lacking samples? This project was a fantasy from the start-at least for now!"

Though Owen did not turn around, his rigid posture betrayed his inner turmoil.

Bella's eyes darkened as she revealed her final card. She pulled a prepared drug analysis report from her suit pocket and unfurled it before him.

"This is the lab report on that so-called new drug. It has no definitive or effective treatment for Alzheimer's. At best, it's a sedative with strong addictive properties. Do you think Larson Group couldn't develop something like this? If this were something that could be done overnight, it would have been on the market long ago. Christopher has been using you to clear obstacles, but even if the drug were eventually developed, would your wife live long enough to benefit from it?"

"Ms. Thompson, are you cursing my wife?" Owen's voice was hoarse, laced with a murderous edge.

"I'm trying to make you see Christopher for who he really is to see the truth!" Bella's voice was also hoarse, but her eyes burned with intensity. "If you were deceived by Christopher in the past, I could understand. But now that I've told you the truth, if you continue to side with that devil, you'll only be lying to yourself!"

She knew that grand, righteous speeches about serving the people would no longer have any effect.

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2050-Bella knew that the only way to reach Owen was by appealing to his own interests. She approached him, step by step, and slipped the report into his suit pocket before walking away without looking back.

In the biting cold wind, Owen's hands trembled as he pulled out the piece of paper. After reading it, he slowly tore it to shreds, letting the pieces scatter in the wind.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He brought it to his ear.

"Taylor."

"Deputy Chief Hopkins, Mr. Iverson has ordered that the operation proceed tonight."

Owen took a deep breath, his eyes clouded. "Understood."

At 7:00 p.m., Watson Jenkins, accompanied by Sasha and Lane, dragged his ailing body to the KS World Hotel for a press conference.

With unwavering resolve, Watson revealed everything-how the members of the Southern Star Syndicate had been controlled and tormented by the drugs. He warned everyone to stay away from these horrific substances, as they were life-threatening.

"I am willing to fully cooperate with the police investigation," Watson declared. "I support a thorough search of the Southern Star Syndicate. Anyone found hoarding these drugs will be severely punished. As Chairman of the Southern Star Syndicate, I cannot escape responsibility. I am prepared to accept all consequences and face legal judgment."

As he finished speaking, Watson, supported by Lane, shakily rose to his feet. Facing the cameras, he bowed deeply.

The flash of cameras lit up the room like daylight. Whether they were present in the room or watching the livestream online, everyone was profoundly moved.

The public outcry reached a fever pitch after the Southern Star Syndicate's press conference.

The entire internet was abuzz, denouncing the mastermind behind this horrifying human experiment and demanding a thorough investigation.

The public insisted that the authorities could not stand by and whitewash the situation for the sake of maintaining peace.

While the storm raged outside, Aaron was drowning himself in alcohol and pleasure within the comforts arranged by Christopher, numbing himself with the last revelries before the inevitable downfall.

In the presidential suite, Aaron drank glass after glass of alcohol, fed to him by the women around him. He grew increasingly intoxicated, his mind slipping into a haze. At some point, perhaps egged on by someone, he found himself on top of a girl, injecting her with a syringe.

He could not remember much of what happened next.

In the early hours of the morning, Aaron awoke with a splitting headache. He found himself lying naked in bed, with an equally naked woman beside him.

Initially, he thought nothing of it. Over the years, as he accompanied his father on business dealings, people would occasionally try to curry favor by sending beautiful women to his bed, and he had never refused.

So, Aaron nudged the woman with his foot, rubbing his throbbing temples.

"Hey… Wake up. If you want to sleep, go sleep somewhere else!"

But the woman did not move. Frowning, Aaron reached out to shake her awake. The moment his hand touched her skin, his expression froze.

Her body was cold-ice cold!

Panic surged through him as he quickly turned on the bedside lamp to check her condition.

Despite abandoning his medical career for business, Aaron came from a family of doctors and still retained some basic medical knowledge.

Two minutes later, he let out a terrified scream, leaping from the bed despite being stark naked, and curled up in a corner of the room.

The woman lying on the bed had purple marks on her skin-livor mortis! She was dead!