Chapter 92 Professional Techniques
Selena's POV
I walked over to my desk, sat down, and turned on my computer. On the screen was the interface of that gambling website, designed with flashy colors and full of cheap temptation.
I entered the account Levi had given me.
The website's backend structure wasn't complicated, but the money flow paths were designed like a maze, passing through countless overseas shell companies and virtual currency trading platforms, changing hands layer by layer, ultimately pointing to an untraceable endpoint.
Professional work.
This wasn't something a few small-time thugs could pull off. Behind this, there had to be a huge, professional money laundering team.
Looks like I'd caught a much bigger fish than I'd imagined.
I worked until very late before driving home.
The massive iron gate slowly opened, and I parked my car in front of the main building.
The living room was brightly lit.
My father and mother were both sitting on the sofa, their faces serious, as if they were waiting for me.
"Selena, you're back." When Mother saw me, she immediately stood up and walked quickly toward me, her face showing unconcealed worry.
"Dad, Mom, you don't need to worry," I walked up to them, "it's just some small matters. I've already handled them."
"Small matters?" My father's voice carried a hint of anger, "I heard about it. Those people not only embezzled money, they also wanted to tamper with the production line, trying to make you have an accident!"
His hand slammed heavily on the armrest of the sofa.
"And you call this a small matter? Selena, do you know that you're now in the middle of a pack of hungry wolves! Every one of them wants to tear a piece of flesh from you!"
"I know." My voice was calm.
From the day I decided to return to this family, I knew what I would be facing.
"You don't know!" Father stood up, pacing back and forth in the living room, "You're alone in the company, without any trusted allies. You've been sidelined! Robert is down, but his cronies are still there! They're deeply entrenched. You have no idea who's human and who's a ghost!"
His worry wasn't without reason.
"I'll root them out, one by one." I said.
"How? By yourself?" He looked at me, "Selena, you need help. You need your own people, placed in various departments of the company, to be your eyes and ears."
"I'll hire from outside."
"Outside people—do you know their backgrounds? Can you trust them?" Father shook his head, "I'm planning to select a few trustworthy young people from the family's branch lines and send them to your side to help you."
"Thank you, Dad."
Just then, a voice came from the direction of the stairs.
"You're all underestimating Selena too much."
It was Uncle.
He was wearing pajamas, slowly walking down from upstairs.
"Selena is now the sole heir of Hart Group, the future queen. She's already very capable. You should trust that she can handle it."
"She must be very tired. Let her go upstairs and rest first." Uncle said to my parents.
Back in my room, I took a shower and changed into pajamas.
Just as I was about to get into bed, my phone vibrated.
It was a link from Anna.
I clicked on it.
It was a live streaming platform interface.
On the screen appeared Taisia's face with elaborate makeup.
She had set the live stream background in her bedroom, decorated like a tacky princess room.
She was facing the camera, her eyes red, as if she'd just been crying.
"Hi, everyone..." Her voice carried a hint of choking, "So late, I'm sorry to disturb you all..."
The number of viewers in the live stream was rapidly increasing.
"I... I just... can't sleep. I'm very worried about my sister, Selena."
She began her performance.
"You all probably know that a lot has happened in our family recently. My sister—she and I switched lives, and we all feel we owe her so much. We want to give her the best to make up for it."
"Now she's become the sole heir of Hart Group. We're all happy for her. Really."
She picked up a tissue and wiped the corners of her eyes, which had no tears.
"But... I'm really worried about her. My sister... because she was suddenly brought back home, so... her personality is a bit... a bit strong-willed, and also quite guarded. She's not used to trusting people."
"What happened at her company today, I heard about it. I'm really scared... I'm afraid she's under too much pressure. One person, managing such a big company, facing so many complicated people and situations..."
"I'm afraid she'll... use some extreme methods to solve problems. I'm afraid she'll accidentally hurt innocent people... I'm really scared she'll lose herself in power..."
Her words were vague but full of malicious implications.
She was telling everyone that I, Selena Hart, was a psychologically twisted, cold-hearted monster who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.
She was stirring up public opinion, trying to portray me as a tyrant who didn't deserve power.
Really... laughably stupid.
Just then, my phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a bank transfer notification.
[Dear Ms. Selena Hart, your account received a transfer at 23:15 New York time, amount: $50,000,000.00. Note: My daughter deserves the best of everything in the world.]
It was from my father.
I froze.
Immediately after, my phone vibrated again.
Another transfer notification.
From the same account.
[Dear Ms. Selena Hart, your account received a transfer at 23:16 New York time, amount: $50,000,000.00. Note: For my baby, to buy all the flowers you love.]
It was from my mother.
Before I could react, a third message popped up.
This time, it wasn't a bank notification.
It was a text message.
From Royce Sterling.
[Open your banking app.]
As if possessed, I followed his instruction and opened my banking app.
The most recent transaction record was displayed prominently at the top of the screen.
A transfer that had just arrived.
In the amount column was a string of numbers that made my breathing stop for a second.
$100,000,000.00.
The note contained only two words.
"I'm here."