Chapter 499 Michael Will Go to Jail

Chapter 499 Michael Will Go to Jail

Scanning the various news reports online, Alice keenly sensed that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes—and it wasn't just Serafina acting alone.

The four major families appeared to coexist harmoniously, but in reality, each harbored their own ulterior motives.

Now that there was an opportunity to bring Michael down, someone like Harlan would be the first to seize it.

Thinking of Harlan, Alice's expression turned cold.

The Torres family—not a single decent person among them.

But she also knew she couldn't contact Michael. All she could do was check on his situation online.

Thinking of Michael's capabilities, she felt slightly relieved. Michael wasn't someone just anyone could bully.

Since he'd managed to get her out safely, he must have other plans.

Alice gently caressed her belly, which had begun to show a slight curve.

Perhaps for the sake of their child, he would fight back properly.

At the thought of the baby, her expression softened considerably. She too needed to become strong for their child's sake.

If she were still the old Alice, she'd probably have no chance of turning things around, let alone protecting her child and family.

Soon after, Ivy arrived in Marigoldia.

She'd also assumed a new identity and would be living in Marigoldia permanently.

Michael had chosen the most authoritative medical team to perform her surgery. Day by day, Ivy's body recovered while Alice's belly grew rounder.

Though she was pregnant, Zaid insisted she have a place in the company, directly arranging a position in her area of expertise.

The construction industry differed somewhat between domestic and international markets, but it was still within Alice's comfort zone. Within just a few months, she'd become a core team member, and no one questioned her abilities anymore.

Seven months later, she finally gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with a perpetually serious expression.

While other babies cried at this age, her daughter had already learned to express her needs through tiny hand gestures and eye contact.

Looking at her daughter's face, so remarkably similar to Michael's, Alice felt both amused and exasperated.

"I must have owed you two in my past life. First, I had to take care of your dad, and now I have to take care of you, you little ice queen!" Alice gently tapped her daughter's nose, feeling a pang in her chest.

These past months, she'd thrown herself into work, subconsciously avoiding domestic news.

The more she watched, the more anxious she became, yet she couldn't help. It only affected the baby's development.

After the doctor strictly forbade her from becoming agitated, Zaid started monitoring her phone. The moment she tried logging into domestic apps or websites, she'd face immediate criticism.

She constantly worried about Michael but had no opportunity to learn about the situation.

Zaid had naturally assumed the role of doting uncle, carrying the little girl around with pure joy every day.

Life seemed to pass by pleasantly until Alice's first day back at work after maternity leave.

In the break room, several colleagues from back home were chatting.

"Did you hear? The Johnson Group's CEO got drugged by a prostitute."

Alice had only come to pour coffee, but hearing this, she instinctively slowed her movements.

"I heard about it. Didn't he have an allergic reaction and end up in the ICU?"

"These prostitutes are really going crazy trying to climb the social ladder, aren't they? Now someone's life is at stake."

"I heard that woman jumped off a building and killed herself that same day. Probably couldn't afford the compensation—who could afford to pay for damaging the Johnson family heir's health?"

Before the group could finish talking, Alice hurried toward her office.

Several people greeted her along the way, but she didn't hear them.

She quickly opened her computer browser and logged into the secondary account she'd been afraid to access.

The moment she saw the news content, she felt like her head might explode.

Michael had suffered a severe allergic reaction and had been in emergency surgery for hours before being barely saved.

The next day, Vaughn had died in a car accident on his way to a medical checkup—killed instantly.

The news was full of reports about the Johnson family's bizarre incidents.

Many netizens were saying that with so many things happening to the Johnson family, someone must be orchestrating it deliberately—there had to be a conspiracy.

But these comments were quickly deleted.

With Michael incapacitated and Vaughn dead, the Johnson Group had completely fallen under Serafina and Rachel's control.

Ultimately, if Michael died, the primary heir to his estate would be his mother, and his stepmother would also receive a share.

Alice's hand trembled as she gripped the mouse.

A conspiracy—it was all a conspiracy!

But how could Serafina possibly have such extensive reach?

Considering a certain possibility, Alice quickly searched through the Johnson Group's partnership projects from the past year.

Sure enough, she found irregularities!

Many of the Johnson Group's projects had begun shifting toward the Savage Group, and companies belonging to the Torres family and Allen family had also received portions of various projects.

"Alice, I told you not to look at domestic news!" Zaid rushed in, his tone rather helpless.

But seeing Alice's pale complexion, he immediately asked, "You know everything now?"

Alice nodded seriously. "Zaid, the Johnson Group is going to be the second Ascend Global Group."

Everything was exactly the same as what had happened to Ascend Global Group back then.

Except Michael wasn't in prison now—he was in a coma.

Zaid stared at her intently, then finally nodded. "The situation isn't entirely clear yet. The King family will help him. You don't need to worry too much."

"The King family can't handle the four major families either, can they?" Alice asked hoarsely.

The King family couldn't do it back then, and now that they'd fallen from power, they certainly couldn't do it now.

Zaid's brow furrowed deeply before he finally dropped a single sentence.

"Regardless, you can't return home. If you go back, everything he did before will have been for nothing."

Alice sat in her office, her gaze fixed on Michael's photo on the computer screen.

It was somewhat ironic—after being together for so long, they had precious few photos together.

She hadn't even saved the wedding photos used at their ceremony.

Come to think of it, they'd never actually gotten married.

Just as she was hesitating about whether to call Stefan, her phone rang. Looking at the unfamiliar number, Alice frowned but eventually answered.

"Hello."

"It's me, Aurora." Aurora's voice came through, and Alice was slightly startled.

"Alice, Ms. Johnson would like to meet with you. Do you have time?"

Ms. Johnson?

Alice's eyes widened slightly as she immediately realized who this Ms. Johnson was—Michael's biological mother.

"Send me the address. The sooner we can meet, the better."

After Alice hung up, Aurora sent over the address.

This would be her first time meeting Michael's mother, though she'd never imagined it would be under these circumstances.

Arriving at the coffee shop across from her company, Alice immediately recognized Michael's biological mother, Amelia Johnson.

She bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Michael, and also looked quite similar to her daughter.

Amelia nodded slightly upon seeing her, then gestured for Aurora to leave first.

Aurora gave Alice a strange look but obediently complied.

"Ms. Johnson, hello." Alice felt somewhat awkward.

Amelia waved her hand dismissively. "Let's skip the pleasantries. Michael's situation is very bad right now."

"Can't he wake up?" Alice asked anxiously.

Amelia shook her head. "No, he's awake. That makes it even worse."

Alice looked at her in confusion, while Amelia let out a bitter laugh. "The police have found Michael. He's now a murder suspect and will be imprisoned soon."

"What?"