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The Chief walked in leisurely with his hands behind his back and glared at the deputy chief, his voice icy. “If you can’t handle even this minor issue, you can forget about ever getting promoted.” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
The deputy chief’s face turned ashen. After years at the grassroots level, the position of chief was almost in his grasp, just one official document away, and now this had to happen.
He swallowed hard and began, “Chief, there’s been a misunderstanding, these two are father and daughter.”
“Father and daughter? I heard from the front desk he was here to pick up Tabitha?” the Chief questioned.
The deputy chief desperately signaled to Marc.
“Chief, the thing is, her mother and I are divorced, but she is indeed my daughter.”
Camila scoffed, “For over twenty years you’ve ignored me, never paid a dime in child support, what kind of father–daughter relationship is this?”
“Camila, you keep quiet and do not stir up trouble at this crucial moment.” Marc glared at Camila angrily.
The Chief stepped beside Camila and faced Marc. “Watch your tone. This is a police station, not your house. You assaulted someone in public. Do you have no regard for the law?”
Marc forced a smile. “Chief, let’s talk over there.”
“Speak here.”
Left with no choice, Marc whispered, “I own the Sherrill Supermarket, and we have several large stores in the city. Do me a favor, and let’s discuss this privately.”
The Chief flicked his ear, his expression one of disdain. “Even your grand talks don’t matter to me. The law treats everyone equally.”
Marc stood awkwardly in place.
“Ha! Just a grocery store owner, what’s so great about that? The retail economy is struggling, and many have shut down, right?” Erica couldn’t help but mock.
“You!” Marc glared at her furiously.
Janet interjected, “Yeah. My company’s annual revenue is many times that of your store and you think you’re all that. It’s laughable.”
“You have a big enterprise, so what? You still don’t have a son!” Marc, humiliated and angry, hurled the ugly insult.
Camila just smiled. “Marc, what age are you living in? Are you even sure your son is your son?”
Marc, enraged, turned blue and clenched his fists. If not for the Chief’s presence, he would have thrown a punch. He gritted his teeth, “Camila! What the hell are you blabbering about! How did your mother raise you!”
The argument escalated.
In the surveillance room, Connor watched the video, his veins popping and an intimidating aura about him, making the young officers too afraid to breathe.
“Where is she now?”
“In the mediation room. I’ll take you there.” The young officer immediately led the way.
The young officer didn’t know who this man was, but this man was accompanied by a member of the city committee, clearly someone influential.
Connor followed the young officer toward the mediation room. Even before reaching the room, they could hear various voices mixing together in a noisy clash.
“Silence! This isn’t a market!” the Chief couldn’t help but shout.
Everyone immediately fell silent.
“Mr. Tanner,” the young officer knocked on the door.
The Chief looked towards the door, his eyebrows slightly raised, “Mr. Connor, you’ve arrived.”
Mr. Connor? Could it be the Mr. Connor she knew?
Camila’s pupils shrank, her heart skipping a beat.
She turned abruptly. It was that familiar figure, the person she knew.
As she met those cold, undisturbed eyes, Camila’s breath caught, her heart suddenly pounding violently. Quickly, she lowered her head, fiddling with her hair to hide the emotions on her face.