After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 122: The Mercer Family Really Went Bankrupt?

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: The Mercer Family Really Went Bankrupt?

While setting a trap for the Mercer Family, Chester Lawton’s Horizon Group also suffered a heavy blow.

An insider reported that Chester Lawton himself was involved in multiple crimes.

For instance, he was suspected of bribery, sexual bribery, organizing gambling rings, and raping underage girls.

Furthermore, his company was suspected of tax evasion, money laundering, and involvement in various black-market dealings.

After receiving the report, the relevant authorities immediately launched an in-depth investigation into him and Horizon Group.

Chester Lawton hadn’t heard a whisper about it.

He was still preoccupied with how to catch the man who had broken into his building and given him a savage beating.

He was racking his brains, trying to figure out how to torture the man to within an inch of his life.

But before he could come up with a method of torture, the police showed up at his door.

"Chester Lawton, you’ve been reported for suspicion of multiple crimes. Please come with us."

Staring at the uniformed officers before him, Chester Lawton was a bit dazed.

’What’s going on?’

In all the years he’d been involved in shady industries, the police had never once come for him.

’What’s happening now?’

’Suspected of multiple crimes?’

’Didn’t I pay all my protection fees?’p>

’What kind of act is this?’

’Was the payment not enough?’

’These officials are all heartless and corrupt.’

’I give them so much protection money every year, and I even find them so many young, beautiful women to serve them.’

’And they’re still not satisfied?’

Chester Lawton was certainly not going to be taken away just like that.

His style had always been brazen and ostentatious.

Now that the police wanted to take him in for questioning, how could he possibly submit obediently?

So he started throwing a fit. "Officers, I’m a good citizen."

"Why are you arresting me? You must have made a mistake."

The officer stared at him, his expression grim. "We’ll know if there’s been a mistake once you come with us."

With that, before Chester Lawton could argue again, the police grabbed him by the arms and hauled him away.

What he didn’t know was that his protector had already been taken away before him.

"Did you get Director Sterling’s permission to arrest me?"

"Director Sterling?"

’So it really is him.’

The lead officer snorted coldly.

"So he’s been your protector all these years?"

Chester Lawton wanted to take back his words, but it was too late.

It was all his own fault for his moment of panic.

With just one slip of the tongue, he’d accidentally given up his protector.

His gaze flickered evasively, and his words sounded hollow.

"Protector? I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Even if you are the police, you can’t just slander me without evidence."

"Save it for the station. Conserve your energy for now."

"What exactly did I do? You have to give me a reason for arresting me."

"Don’t you know perfectly well what you’ve done?"

"I’ve always been a law-abiding citizen. I never engage in any criminal activities..."

The officer gave a cold laugh and didn’t bother responding, simply taking him directly to the police station.

This Chester Lawton didn’t seem like a complete idiot.

And yet, before they had even started the interrogation, he’d eagerly incriminated himself.

’This works out well. It saves us the trouble of trying to trick the truth out of him.’

With Chester Lawton taken in for questioning, the investigation into Horizon Group followed swiftly.

The investigation was so sudden, and because Chester Lawton believed he had a protector, he hadn’t destroyed any records of his illegal transactions.

The company’s top executives received no warning and had no time to prepare.

Faced with the sudden investigation, Chester Lawton’s confidants were trembling with fear.p>

This was especially true for those who had acted on his behalf to carry out his dirty work; they were filled with anxiety.

With Chester Lawton, its backbone, gone, Horizon Group had no one to steer the ship.

Furthermore, with some top executives also taken in for questioning, many of the company’s projects ground to a halt.

Horizon Group was plunged into total chaos.

News of Chester Lawton’s arrest spread like wildfire, and the higher-ups at Horizon Group were also put under investigation by the relevant authorities.

Some of the officials who had colluded with Chester Lawton were so scared they couldn’t even eat.

For a time, panic swept through their ranks.

The officials who had dealings with Chester Lawton were terrified he would expose them.

Consequently, some wanted to bail Chester Lawton out so he could continue lining their pockets.

Others, however, wanted him to die quietly, afraid he would expose them.

Suddenly, Chester Lawton found himself in a very precarious situation.

*

Claire Mercer was still unaware that Adrian Sutton had already begun secretly dealing with the Mercer Family and Chester Lawton.

These past few days, she had been focused on preparing for the design competition.

Besides working on her own designs, she also had to visit the modeling academy to check on Stella Thorne’s training progress.

So lately, she had been running back and forth between home and the modeling academy every day.

It was a bit hectic, but her days felt fulfilling.

That day, just as Claire Mercer was leaving the modeling academy after parting ways with Stella Thorne, she unexpectedly ran into Scarlett Jewel at the entrance.

Her wedding was less than half a month away.

’What is she doing at the academy instead of being home preparing for her wedding?’

’But that’s none of my business.’

She decided to ignore Scarlett Jewel. After all, they had nothing to say to each other.

Who would have thought, however, that Scarlett would approach her?

She had lost the arrogant air she always had whenever she saw her.

Her eyes, as she looked at Claire Mercer, held a deep, probing look.

She walked up to Claire Mercer and, without beating around the bush, asked directly:

"Claire Mercer, you must be feeling pretty smug right now, aren’t you?"

The out-of-the-blue question left Claire Mercer baffled.

"If you’re sick, go to a hospital. Why are you coming to me with your crazy act?"

’Smug about what?’

’What do I have to be smug about?’

’I’ve just been in a better mood lately, that’s hardly the same as being smug.’

With that said, she moved to walk past Scarlett Jewel and leave.

But Scarlett stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"The Mercer Family has gone completely bankrupt and is saddled with hundreds of millions in debt. You knew that, right?"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Claire Mercer hadn’t had time to pay attention to the Mercer Family’s affairs recently.

She truly didn’t know what had happened to them.

Scarlett’s face was cold as she asked, "What are you pretending for?"

"I don’t believe you haven’t been paying attention to the Mercer Family. That you know nothing about what happened to them."

"Why should I pay attention to the Mercer Family?" Claire Mercer retorted irritably.

"The people of your Mercer Family aren’t worth a single minute of my attention."

"Whether you live or die, whether the Mercer Group makes a comeback or goes bankrupt, it has absolutely nothing to do with me."

After speaking, she asked Scarlett with genuine curiosity, "But still, has the Mercer Family really gone bankrupt?"

Scarlett didn’t answer, her eyes fixed on her.

The surging hatred in their depths seemed to give her the answer.

"Looks like the Mercer Family really did go bankrupt," Claire Mercer said with a smile. "That’s great."

She was smiling from the heart.

The Mercer Family had tried to use her for their own gain time and time again.

Whatever shred of affection she had left for them had long since been exhausted.

Now, hearing that the Mercer Family was completely bankrupt and saddled with hundreds of millions in debt...

Claire Mercer could barely stop herself from clapping her hands in applause.

No wonder today’s Scarlett Jewel wasn’t as arrogant and aggressive as before.

’So she’s been reduced to a bankrupt heiress.’

Scarlett said, "Not only did the Mercer Family go bankrupt and get saddled with hundreds of millions in debt."

"Even Chester Lawton’s company is facing enormous fines and claims from all sides."

"And Chester Lawton himself has been arrested by the police..."

"Claire Mercer, all of this... it was you pulling the strings behind the scenes, wasn’t it?"