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Chapter 149
Jessica gulped, her voice barely steady. “Wait… you mean this is really my money?”
“Yes,” the caller repeated. “The money Mr. Smith scammed from you. On top of that, additional compensation was added on behalf of the Langstone family, for the trouble you went through.”
Jessica could not believe what she was hearing. Her eyes welled up, and for a moment she simply stood there, phone pressed to her ear, feeling the weight of relief crash over her all at once. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice cracking. “Thank you so much. I am so grateful, really.”
The call ended, and Jessica lowered the phone slowly, still staring at the screen as if the number might vanish. She turned to Travis, her face lit with disbelief and joy. “You… you were right. Smith has been caught, and my money has been sent back to me.”
Travis’s eyes went wide. He had not expected any of this to actually be true. For a second he just stood there, stunned into silence,.
Jessica stepped closer, searching his face. “So it really was you. You are the one who called people to come and arrest him.”
Seeing the chance to make things right between them, Travis swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes. Yes, it was me.” He hesitated, then let the guilt he had been carrying spill out. “Jessica, I know I wronged you before. I pushed you into that investment, and it cost you everything. I am truly sorry. I hope you can forgive me for that.”
Jessica’s expression softened. She shook her head slowly, tears still shining in her eyes. “I trusted you completely, Travis. And even after everything, you still made sure I got my money back.”
Before he could respond, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. “Thank you. I am so grateful.”
“I am also sorry for scolding you and shouting at you also”.
Travis stood frozen for a moment, arms hanging awkwardly at his sides, before he finally hugged her back, relief washing over him that his lie had somehow turned into something real.
Nearby, the officers exchanged a few final words among themselves. Once they confirmed that Smith had been taken into custody, there was nothing left for them to do at the dock. The lead officer signaled to his team, and one by one, the patrol cars pulled away, sirens fading into the night.
Travis and Jessica lingered a moment longer on the dock, the chaos of the night finally settling into quiet. Then, without another word, they turned and began walking home together, side by side.
Jessica felt her heart still racing, a warmth spreading through her chest that she had not felt in a long time. After everything, the fear, the loss, the uncertainty, she finally felt safe again. And for the first time in weeks, she let herself feel truly happy.
XXXX
The next morning, news about Mr. Smith’s arrest was already everywhere. Television stations ran the story on repeat, and social media buzzed with people sharing the details, how a scammer who had built an empire on stolen money had finally been caught. Along with it came confirmation that all recovered funds had been returned to their rightful owners.
The effect on Jessica’s company was immediate. Investors who had pulled out during the scandal started reaching out again, eager to reinvest now that the truth had come to light.
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Shareholders who had distanced themselves quietly returned, some even apologizing for doubting her. Jessica’s corporation, which had been on the verge of collapse, began bouncing back within hours. She had recovered not just her personal funds, but the company’s money as well, and with it, the trust of everyone who had once believed in her vision.
That afternoon, Jessica sat in a high end restaurant with Travis and her mother, Mrs. Morgan, celebrating everything that had happened. The table was filled with laughter and good food, the kind of relief that only comes after weeks of stress finally lifting.
Mrs. Morgan could not stop praising Travis, going on about how brave and clever he had been, how he had saved her daughter when no one else could. Travis sat there soaking it in, a proud grin plastered across his face.
After finishing his cup of beer, Travis stood up to get another. He walked toward the bar, weaving between tables, still riding the high of the compliments. On his way back, he turned a corner too fast and bumped straight into someone. The beer slipped from his hand and hit the ground.
Smash!
Glass shattered across the floor, beer spreading in every direction. Travis glared up, ready to snap at whoever had gotten in his way, and froze when he saw it was Marcus. Marcus, who had already begun to bow slightly out of habit, straightened when he noticed it was Travis standing there.
Travis’s face twisted with anger. “Hey, you fucking blind? Watch where you are going, the fuck. Look what you have cost now.”
Marcus let out a slow sigh, staring at him for a moment before speaking. “You bumped into me.” His voice stayed calm, almost bored. “Look, I don’t want to argue about something like this. It already happened before. Just call the cleaner and stop yapping.”
Travis’s jaw tightened. “What, I am yapping? Do you know how much that cost? Fifty thousand dollars.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow but did not argue further. “You want your money? Fine. I will pay.”
Travis stood there, annoyed. He had wanted a reaction, wanted Marcus to get angry, to argue back so he could feel justified in his outburst.
Instead Marcus just brushed it off like it meant nothing, like fifty thousand dollars was pocket change to him.
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