Bethany finally tasted freedom after being held for three days in custody.
Hunter Lovett instructed Gregory to contain the news by all means necessary, but Justin caught wind of
it right away.
âHow did Bethany get off without charges? Donât you have eyes on
Xena? Did Hunter approach her?â Justin pounded the car window with a menacing look.
âMr. Salvador, the issue isnât Xena. Itâs Henry.â
lan was fuming. âOur sources revealed that Hunter met with Henry in secret at the detention center with
Gregoryâs help. I donât know what he said to intimidate Henry, but Henry took all of the blame, so
Bethany is cleared of suspicion.â
âWhat else could he say? Hunter likely exploited something personal about him and threatened his
familyâs safety.â
The top attorney had no qualms about resorting to underhanded tactics.
Justin grimaced, his clenching fits shaking. âNeilâs reputation as a fair judge is ruined by his eldest son.â
âNow that Henry has become the scapegoat, Xena might be in-â
A phone call interrupted lan.
âWhat is it?â
With furrowed brows, lan reported back to Justin after ending the call.
âI have bad news, Mr. Salvador. The police have arrested Xena for defamation and falsifying evidence.
That was to be expected.
Xena had it coming.
Still, Justin saw red.
Meanwhile, Bethany cried on the way back to Tideview Manor for her new lease on life.
Shannon and Bethany embraced each other in tears, playing out the loving mother and daughter in
front of Gregory and Nigel.
Years ago, Shannon could not act to save her life. Now, her acting was the essence of her being.
âMom! Dad! You must avenge me. Bella and Zoe screwed me over real bad.â
Bethany would not miss a chance to put Bella down in front of Nigel. She ran and fell on her knees
before Nigelâs wheelchair. âGrandpa, Bella is trying to ruin me. Sheâs manipulative and wicked. Iâm
lucky
Mr. Lovett got me out, or you wonât be seeing your lovely granddaughter again.â
Nigel did not know what to feel about Bethanyâs accusation.
He did not believe that Bella, affectionately known to him as Anna, was what Bethany described her to
be. But on the other hand, the police mentioned that Anna had filed charges against Bethany.
Nigel was once again caught between a rock and a hard place.
The last time he was in that position was during Salvador Corporationâs rapid development over twenty
years ago.
In a rapid bid to dominate the market and expand Salvador Corporation, Nigelâs two sons, Gregory and
Gary, became embroiled in a bribery scandal involving land acquisition. Ultimately, Gary shouldered the
blame entirely due to Nigelâs bias towards the eldest, Gregory, and Gregoryâs ill health. Gary was
sentenced to four years in prison.
To Nigelâs dismay, Gary died of a heart attack in prison six months into his sentencing.
Nigel mourned the loss of his youngest son, but the death drove
Nigelâs wife to despair, and her health succumbed to the weight of her sorrows.
âGrandpa, I told you Bella doesnât mean well. She must have ulterior motives to marry into our family.â
Bethany leaned against Nigel, bawling her eyes out. âBella shows kindness to get something out of
you. She probably wants to sc you out of the company shares.â
âThatâs right, Nigel.â