Chapter 37: "Someone's Going to Suffer"

Chapter 37: "Someone's Going to Suffer"
Mia's POV
Gavin frowned, looking at me like I was an idiot.
"Mia, what the fuck are you talking about?"
He pointed at Ashlyn huddled in the corner, her expression vacant. "This is the fastest and best way to solve the problem."
"If she admits she's the one in the video, all the public opinion will flip instantly, and you can walk away from this mess."
I took a deep breath. "I know, Gavin, but I don't want to ruin Ashlyn's future."
"She's been tormented by drugs for so long, barely surviving by dancing at strip clubs. Her life is already hard enough."
Gavin sneered.
"Look at her now." He ruthlessly laid out the brutal truth. "Her life is already completely ruined. What future is there left to speak of?"
"That's exactly why!" I interrupted him, my emotions running high.
"That's exactly why I can't expose her to the public eye. It would cause her unimaginable harm."
I grabbed Gavin's arm, pleading with him. "There must be another way, right? Gavin."
Gavin yanked at his tie irritably. He didn't continue, but the murderous look in his eyes softened a bit.
I breathed a small sigh of relief, seeing that Gavin had compromised.
"Let's get Ashlyn and her mother settled first, okay?" I suggested.
I turned to Anna. "How's the apartment situation?"
Anna nodded. "I've had it ready for a while. Come with me."
We took Ashlyn and her mother from the slums to a small apartment.
After leaving the strip club, I hadn't completely forgotten about Ashlyn.
I'd specifically asked Anna to help me find a safe place for Ashlyn and her mother to live.
The apartment wasn't large, and the furniture was old, but at least it was clean and tidy.
"Come in," I said, helping Ashlyn into the apartment.
"From today on, this is your home."
Ashlyn's eyes went wide.
She muttered to herself for a moment, then covered her mouth, almost bursting into tears.
"My God, Mia, I never... I never imagined I'd have a home again in this lifetime."
Watching her like this, my heart ached.
"Ashlyn, I've contacted a drug rehabilitation center for you. If you're willing, I'll arrange for you and your mother to go there for treatment."
I looked earnestly into her tear-filled eyes.
It took Ashlyn a long time to fully calm down.
She sobbed. "You know what, Mia? I've tried so many times to quit on my own, but I always failed."
"But this time, no matter how much pain I have to endure, I'm willing to try."
I hugged her, comforting her. "That's good, Ashlyn."
After we got Ashlyn and her mother settled, Gavin had just finished his phone call and came back inside.
I walked over and touched his arm.
"Gavin, you'll support me, right?"
I felt a bit anxious. After all, I'd just rejected his "best plan" and caused him a huge headache.
Gavin frowned and sighed.
"Of course, I've always known my Mia is a saint."
I knew he was mocking me. I blushed a little.
"Gavin..."
He rubbed his temples. "Fine. Since you won't let her come forward, we'll have to use a slightly more troublesome method."
"What method?" I looked at him expectantly.
"I had David find the most professional technicians. We'll use professional technical means to compare the differences between you and the woman in the video."
"Once we have the technical identification report, it can serve as direct evidence proving that woman isn't you."
I felt relieved. "That's great. I think this is a good approach."
Gavin narrowed his eyes.
"Now the most important thing is to find out who posted that video! That damned bastard!"
Gavin's words seemed to remind Ashlyn. She stood up from the couch.
"I just remembered something. The club's privacy standards are very high. Customers can't even bring their phones inside."
"But I know the owner records videos of us dancing, then sells these videos through secret channels at high prices."
I was somewhat surprised. "So the owner deliberately sold the video to someone else?"
Anna cursed under her breath. "Damn it!"
She kicked the nearby coffee table hard.
"Before I left, I specifically warned her not to leak any information about you! She dared to ignore my warning."
Anna's face turned red with anger. Gavin's expression darkened completely.
He clenched his fists. "What are we waiting for then? It's time to teach that old bitch a lesson!"
We drove to the strip club, only to find it closed.
"Damn it! Where would she be?" Anna kicked the car door.
Ashlyn spoke from the back seat. "When the club isn't open, she usually goes to the bar to drink and gamble. We could try our luck there."
As soon as we walked in, we spotted the club owner, Harper, at the bar.
She was wrapped around a young man, holding a wad of cash, laughing disgustingly.
"Harper!" Anna shouted and rushed forward.
Harper turned around and saw us.
The smile froze on her face, then she burst out with a curse.
"Fuck!"
She pushed away the man in her arms and turned to run toward the back door.
Gavin gave David a look.
David rushed forward, grabbed Harper by the hair, and dragged her back.
"Let go of me! What do you want?" Harper screamed, struggling desperately.
Gavin kicked open a nearby room door. David threw Harper inside.
We followed, locking the door behind us.
Harper cowered in the corner, her eyes full of terror.
Gavin asked directly, "Tell me, who did you sell that video to?"
"I... I don't know what you're talking about..." Harper was still trying to play dumb.
Gavin pulled out a knife and lifted her chin with it.
"If slicing up your disgusting face would help jog your memory, I don't mind giving it a try."
She trembled all over. "The buyer offered too much... a full five hundred thousand! I had no reason not to sell!"
"Who did you sell it to?" Gavin repeated the question.
"I don't know his name... really! We did everything online!"
"The transaction records?"
"They're... they're on the computer at the club."
Gavin put away the knife and kicked her.
We forced Harper to come back to the strip club with us.
Harper pulled out her computer with shaking hands and brought up that day's transaction records.
David immediately worked on the computer for several minutes.
"Sir, the buyer's address is the same as the one used to post the video on the forum. It uses encryption technology, a virtual address."
"Tracking down the real address will take some time."
Gavin growled: "It must be cracked tonight!"
David didn't dare delay and continued typing code.
We didn't have to wait long. After about one hour, David cracked the address.
"I found it!"
On the screen, the red dot finally locked onto a specific location.
"Sir, this is the exact address."
Anna's expression grew somewhat excited.
"Looks like someone's going to suffer."
Yes, we all knew that was a fact.