Chapter 236
A few days later, PineTech's legal department formally filed the lawsuit with the court.
In the conference room, the head of legal spread a thick stack of documents across the table. "This is everything we've gathered — Kaelen's bank transfer records, encrypted emails with Moore Corporation, file access logs, and statements from three Moore Corporation employees."
Jessica stared at the data, her face blank, her voice cold. "Send it to the prosecutor, and release it to the media. I want everyone to know that Moore Corporation's so-called 'revolutionary AI technology' is nothing but stolen garbage."
"Understood." The legal head nodded. "Also, we've reached out to several investment firms that were misled by Moore Corporation. When they found out that the hundreds of millions they'd put in was for abandoned code, they were ready to file a joint lawsuit."
"Good." Jessica stood up. "Let the law teach Lydia a lesson."
---
That afternoon, when the news broke, the media exploded.
Every major financial outlet ran the same headline: Moore Corporation Tech Fraud Exposed: Hundreds of Millions in Investments Gone
On social media, the hashtag #MooreCorporationFraud shot straight to the top of trending.
People dug up footage of Lydia's speech from the product launch a month earlier and held it up against the evidence now coming to light. The mockery was relentless.
Remember when she said 'this is the result of ten years of R&D at Moore Corporation'? Sounds more like ten years of stealing.
Where are all those influencers who said Jessica slept her way to the top? Feeling a little embarrassed now?
Moore Corporation's shareholders are probably crying in the bathroom right now.
Moore Corporation's stock collapsed. It hit the limit-down within half an hour of opening, then triggered the circuit breaker repeatedly. By close, it had fallen 80%.
Outside the company's headquarters, angry investors gathered in protest, demanding their money back.
Lydia sat in her office, watching the crowd outside waving banners, her face drained of color.
"Ms. Lydia." Her assistant pushed the door open, voice shaking. "The court has issued a subpoena. The prosecutor is requesting a freeze on all company assets and a travel ban pending investigation."
"What?" Lydia shot to her feet. "On what grounds—"
The assistant kept his eyes down. "Kaelen's transfer records, the emails, and... three employees from inside the company gave statements. They all admitted to being involved in the theft."
Lydia sank back into her chair.
The business empire she had so carefully built had collapsed overnight.
The assistant hesitated. "Ms. Lydia, maybe... maybe you could ask Mr. Smith for help? After all—"
"Right." Lydia's eyes lit up, like someone grabbing the last lifeline within reach. "Stanley. He can't just leave me to drown."
With trembling hands, she picked up her phone and called Stanley.
---
Stanley was doing rehab exercises in his apartment.
The wound on his back had scabbed over, but the doctor had told him to ease back into movement gradually. He had just finished a round of stretching when his phone rang.
He saw the name on the screen and frowned, but answered anyway.
"Stanley." Lydia's voice was clearly panicked. "I need your help."
Stanley said nothing and waited for her to go on.
Her voice grew more urgent. "Nicole saved your life. You promised her you'd look after me—"
"Lydia." Stanley cut her off. His voice was flat and cold. "There's nothing between us anymore."
"But—"
"You've used my guilt over Nicole to push way past every line too many times." There was no warmth in his tone at all.
Lydia went silent.
"That debt ends here." Stanley said.
"You'd throw away everything Nicole meant to you — for that woman?" Lydia's voice turned sharp.
"It's actually the opposite." Stanley answered, calm. "It's because of Nicole that I finally understand what real love looks like."
He stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the city. "Nicole taught me with her life to hold on to the person in front of you — not to treat love like a bargaining chip the way you do. Lydia, you've never understood what love is. All you know is how to use people."
"Stanley, you'll regret this—"
Stanley hung up.
He stared at the screen for a few seconds, then blocked her number.
From here on, he didn't owe anyone anything.
The debt he owed Nicole for saving his life — he had paid it back through three years of patience and help.
His future belonged to one person only.
---
What Stanley didn't know was that his assistant had secretly recorded the call.
That assistant had already been turned by the police and was cooperating as a witness, feeding them evidence of criminal activity inside Moore Corporation. Once the recording hit social media, it set off a whole new wave of public outrage.
People heard Stanley's blunt, unsparing response and cheered for him and Jessica.
Mr. Smith has his head on straight.
Lydia's trying to play the emotional card? She's got some nerve.
Where are all those accounts that were smearing Jessica? Come out and take what's coming.
The accounts that had been paid to spread the rumor that Jessica had slept her way to the top deleted their posts and issued apologies under the crushing weight of public pressure.
More dirt on Moore Corporation started surfacing — tax evasion, commercial bribery, false advertising, tech fraud. The "self-made powerwoman" image Lydia had spent years building fell apart completely.
A week later, the prosecutor filed formal charges.
The court issued an arrest warrant for Lydia on charges of commercial fraud and trade secret theft. Moore Corporation declared bankruptcy and entered liquidation.
---
Back at PineTech headquarters, the team held a celebration.
"Congratulations, Ms. Watson!" A board member raised a glass of champagne. "We didn't just win — we recovered thirty million dollars in damages."
The room broke into applause.
"This was a team effort." Jessica raised her glass, though there wasn't much of a smile on her face.
She paused. "HR — I want you to set up an employee hardship fund. If anyone on the team is dealing with a serious illness or a family crisis, I want the company to step in immediately."
The room went quiet for a moment, then the applause came back louder than before.
---
At the Smith family estate.
Stanley had heard what happened to Lydia. He knew this was the best outcome possible.
He opened his laptop to a detailed set of architectural drawings — a renovation plan for the estate.
He remembered something Jessica had said offhandedly three years ago: "If I ever retire, I want to build a studio somewhere quiet. Roses everywhere. Just doing research I actually care about."
At the time, he had given a vague reply and forgotten about it almost immediately.
But now he remembered every detail.
He wanted to make that dream real.
Whether or not she ever chose to accept it, he at least wanted her to know — he had heard every word she'd ever said.
Everything she had ever wanted, he was willing to spend the rest of his life making happen.
Stanley picked up his phone and called the architect. "The plans I sent you — you can break ground."
"Understood, Mr. Smith. Per your requirements, the full project will take six months."
"Make it as fast as you can." Stanley said. "Money isn't the issue. I want the best."
After he hung up, he stood at the window and watched the sun go down.
Six months.
In six months, whatever answer she gave him, he would accept it.
If she was willing to give him a chance, this estate would be the beginning of something new for both of them.
If she still said no, then let it be his final gift to her.
Either way, he would have no regrets.