Chapter 69
"Pull up the club's surveillance footage for me. David, call the police. You guys, stop her." Michael spoke in a low voice, glancing at the time. "You have two minutes to figure out what you saw today, what you should say, and what you shouldn't say."
The manager nodded frantically, quickly warning the onlookers around to stop watching and leave immediately!
In an instant, everyone was afraid of getting into trouble and ran off.
Savannah breathed a sigh of relief and whispered in Nora's ear. "Nori, I was the one who called Mr. Smith."
Nora said nothing, keeping her head down, staring at the ground.
"Mr. Smith, look at these." David took the phone from an employee and gasped.
Pearl had actually posted the video of bullying Nora from five years ago online.
Michael glanced at the phone, his eyes sharply sweeping over Pearl.
Pearl backed up a step in fear. "Michael, what's the meaning of this? Why are you helping her? I'm leaving."
Pearl already sensed the danger and wanted to run.
But David reached out and blocked Pearl. "Ms. Clark, hitting people is against the law, plain and simple. What's more, you were stupid enough to personally post evidence of your crime from five years ago."
David sneered. "Picking quarrels and provoking trouble, serious circumstances."
Pearl's face went white, looking at Michael in horror. "Michael, what do you mean? I hit her because she deserved it. She was seducing my man."
"I'm Walter's fiancée. Michael, you're stopping me from leaving and calling the police—aren't you afraid of tarnishing Silverlight City's reputation and ruining the relationship with the Wood family!" Pearl was somewhat shocked, only now coming to her senses.
Michael had no reason to sacrifice his relationship with Walter for a Nora.
The Smith Group and Mountain Construction Group were business partners, mutually beneficial.
"You think I care?" Michael asked coldly.
Taking off his jacket, Michael draped it over Nora, signaling Savannah to help her rest on the side. "Sharing videos, spreading rumors and slander, malicious defamation, invasion of privacy, shared over five hundred times, evidence is solid, multiple crimes combined."
Michael held the phone, methodically warning Pearl. "You put the evidence out yourself. Prison—you can't escape it."
Tossing the phone to David, Michael spoke again. "Get the best lawyer in Emerald City."
"Michael... Michael, what kind of joke are you making? You think you can scare me and I'll be afraid? Michael... for a Nora, you don't even care about the Wood family's reputation?" Pearl was already trembling with fear, her voice shaking.
She frantically stepped forward, trying to beg Michael.
She realized she'd done something incredibly stupid—posting Nora's video, which was basically making her own evidence public.
Pearl had dared to do this initially because she assumed Nora wouldn't dare pursue it and would only be scorned by others. But she never expected Michael would actually help Nora!
"Michael, stop messing around, don't scare me. You and Aria have that kind of relationship, everyone in the Clark family knows you'll get engaged and married sooner or later. We're all family, Michael. Just teach me a lesson this time, I won't dare do it again."
In the distance, Nora sat on a bench, numbly watching Pearl begging for mercy so humbly.
So even people who lead bullying campaigns have people and things they're afraid of.
With a mocking laugh, Nora looked up, wiping the flowing nosebleed.
But the nosebleed wouldn't stop, dripping onto her clothes.
Nora looked down, her eyes reddening.
She owed Michael another suit.
This time she really couldn't pay it back.
Roughly wiping her face, Nora sat there disheveled and frail, like a soulless rag doll.
You see, that's how this society works—one layer pressing down on another.
When someone's status is higher than Pearl's, she goes from being high and mighty to humbly begging.
"Nori." Savannah crouched beside Nora, speaking softly. "You can't keep enduring like this. These people won't let you go. Five years in prison—haven't you figured it out yet?"
Nora looked at Savannah numbly, roughly wiping the nosebleed again.
"She touched my son. This time, I won't compromise." Nora took a deep breath, as if making some decision.
Savannah nodded, hugging Nora with some heartache. "No one can protect us for a lifetime, but Nora, in the early stages you need to use everyone you can use. Even if these men only give us benefits and help temporarily, you need to hold on tight and climb up step by step."
Savannah's voice was very soft but hoarse.
Over these years, her experience from the bottom had taught her that you need to have some power in your hands.
People with power are high above, while people like them can only beg humbly.
But people can't be willing to stay at the bottom their whole lives.
"Your debt has long been paid. You're a mother, you have a son. Even for your son's sake, you need to become stronger." Savannah's eyes reddened as she gripped Nora's hand tightly.
Nora lowered her eyes, sitting quietly, her body gradually going numb.
The police arrived quickly to take Pearl away.
Only then did Pearl truly realize the seriousness of the situation.
"Michael, you can't do this to me, you can't do this to me." Pearl shouted out of control, looking at Michael in fear. "Michael, six years ago you and Aria at the hotel..."
Michael's cold eyes looked at Pearl, his gaze carrying a warning.
What should be said and what shouldn't—Pearl wouldn't be stupid to that degree.
Sure enough, Pearl frantically covered her mouth. "Michael, I know I was wrong, I spoke without thinking. Don't call the police, make them leave."
Michael glanced at Nora's position. "She's the victim."
Pearl instantly understood and rushed over, wanting Nora to withdraw the report. "Nora! Tell the police this was a joke, it was all a joke, tell the police!"
Pearl had no intention of reforming at all. She was still threatening.
Nora looked at Michael numbly, then at the police. "My left ear—I can't hear anymore."
The police paused, stepping forward to check Nora's injuries.
Nora lowered her eyes and spoke again. "She hit me. Five years ago, she led people to hurt me, slander me. She drove me to attempt suicide multiple times. Emerald City Prison has records."
Nora rolled up her sleeve, revealing the hideous scars on her arm.
Slowly standing up, Nora spoke again. "I want to report this."
The police looked at Nora's arm in shock, then at Michael. "Take her away first."
"The evidence is here, we've already prepared it for you." David walked over, handing the surveillance footage and videos to the police. "Our lawyer will arrive as well."
The police nodded and had someone take Pearl away.
Michael looked at Nora with complicated eyes, frowning, silent for a long time.
"Let go of me, I'm not going to the police station! I didn't do anything wrong!" Pearl was still shouting.
Outside the door.
Walter walked in with his assistant, his voice low. "What's all this commotion about?"
Pearl looked at Walter with delight. "Walter, save me. They're taking me to the police station, they want to put me in prison! Walter, save me."