Chapter 306 Chapter 306

Chapter 306 Chapter 306
Chapter 306

By noon, the raw footage of Richard Castellan being led out of his own corporate headquarters in handcuffs dominated every major social media platform and news network. Videos recorded by board members and journalists circulated rapidly across the internet, racking up millions of views within hours. Right beside those clips were the dramatic shots from the tarmac outside Monterey, showing federal tactical units tackling Sam Keystone on the loading ramp of his escape plane.

As Agent Miller released the full contents of the metallic flash drive to the public, the online narrative flipped completely. Bank receipts showing Sam’s massive bribes to the university dean were published online, alongside Sam’s personal voice recordings confessing how he had spent years attempting to destroy Ethan out of jealousy. The fake disciplinary files and fabricated suicide reports were officially wiped clean by federal authorities. 

Online comment sections, social media platforms, and news forums exploded with public posts acknowledging the truth. Millions of people admitted they were wrong, flooding public forums with messages agreeing that the world owed Ethan Castellan a massive public apology for believing the lies pushed by Sam for two long years.

Inside the quiet office at Maria’s estate, Ethan sat behind the desk, scrolling through his laptop screen with a calm, relaxed expression. For the first time in years, the black cloud hanging over his name was completely gone. His full legal authority over the Castellan estate, his personal bank accounts, and his corporate holdings were officially restored.
He closed the laptop and picked up his phone, dialing a private number he had prepared earlier that morning. 

"Is everything arranged?" Ethan asked into the receiver.
"Yes, Mr. Castellan," his private representative replied from France. "I am standing outside the farm property right now with the deed, the legal transfer papers, and the bank documents."
"Good," Ethan said, leaning back in his chair. "Make sure they understand it comes directly from me."

Far across the Atlantic, in the quiet countryside near the French border, Jean was sitting on a wooden bench outside his small, aging farmhouse, mending an old leather harness. Colette was inside the kitchen, wiping down the wooden counters after preparing lunch.

A sleek black sedan pulled up the gravel driveway, kicking up a small cloud of dust before coming to a stop near the barn. A sharply dressed man in a grey business suit stepped out of the back seat carrying a thick leather briefcase.
Jean set his tools down slowly, standing up with a cautious look on his face. Colette opened the front door, wiping her hands on her apron as she stepped out onto the porch beside her husband.

"Monsieur Jean? Madame Colette?" the representative asked in fluent French, bowing his head politely as he approached the porch.
"Yes, that is us," Jean said, eyeing the man up and down suspiciously. "If you look for the main road, you took a wrong turn."
The representative smiled gently, unzipping his briefcase and pulling out a thick set of legal documents stamped with official red seals, along with a heavy set of brass keys. "I am not lost, sir. I was sent here on behalf of Mr. Ethan Castellan."
Colette gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth, while Jean’s eyebrows furrowed in utter disbelief. 

"Ethan?" Jean asked, shaking his head stubbornly. "The young man with the bandaged leg who stayed in our barn? He made it back to America safely?"
"He made it back safely, and his name has been completely cleared," the representative explained smoothly, handing the folder directly to Jean. "Mr. Castellan has purchased a brand-new stone estate four miles down the valley in your name, complete with twenty acres of private land, a fully stocked farm, and a permanent monthly allowance that will be transferred to your bank account for the rest of your lives."

Jean held the heavy folder in his calloused, sun-worn hands, staring at the French legal seals in total shock. He looked at his wife, then back at the suit-wearing representative, utterly bewildered by what he was hearing.
"No, no, this is a mistake," Jean said quickly, trying to push the folder back into the man's hands. "We do not help him for money or land. He was an injured man hiding from bad people. We just gave him a bed and some bread. We cannot take this."

"It is not a mistake, Monsieur Jean," the representative insisted, placing the folder firmly back into Jean's hands and setting the brass keys on the wooden porch table. "Mr. Castellan specifically told me to tell you that he owes his life to both of you. He said if you refuse to take it, he will simply buy the entire town and put it in your name anyway. He insists."
Colette looked down at the keys, tears springing to her eyes as she looked up at her husband. Jean stood frozen on his porch, holding the heavy papers as he stared out across the valley, unable to process the incredible generosity of the young injured man they had sheltered in their barn just days ago. 

Back in Monterey, Ethan set his phone down on the desk as Isabelle walked into the study. She had a light, relaxed smile on her face, holding two mugs of warm tea. She set one down beside his arm and pulled up a chair right next to him.
"Was that your representative in France?" Isabelle asked softly, leaning her head against his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Yeah," Ethan replied with a small laugh, kissing the top of her hair. "Jean tried to refuse it at first, just like I knew he would."

"They deserve every bit of it, Ethan," Isabelle said, looking up into his eyes. "They kept you alive when nobody else could reach you."
Ethan nodded, his expression turning thoughtful as he squeezed her hand gently. "I just wanted to make sure they were taken care of before anything else. Now that the news is out and the police are handling Richard and Sam, we can finally take a breath."

Isabelle looked at him for a moment, seeing the absolute peace in his eyes that had been missing for so long. She smiled warmly, resting her chin on his shoulder. "No more running, Ethan."
"No more running," Ethan agreed softly, holding her close as they sat together in the quiet room.