Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 788

"Watch your words, Owen. We are a strictly regulated, legitimate brokerage firm. We have never defrauded anyone," Mr. Whitaker stammered.

He was completely blindsided. Weren't they debating the merits of the Financial Association? How did he suddenly end up accused of running a scam?

"Why not? Fraud in the financial sector is highly lucrative, isn't it?" Owen's lips curved upward into a faint, chilling smile.

Whitaker's tongue tied, completely failing him. "This..."

He wasn't an idiot. He instantly realized he had just walked straight into a trap.

"Don't give me any self-righteous nonsense about your conscience. Tell me the actual truth."

Checkmate. Every single escape route had just been sealed off.

Whitaker internally cursed himself for opening his mouth. None of the other bosses had dared to stand up. Why did he have to play the hero?

"Because... because we don't want to be sanctioned by the regulatory commission.

Minor infractions lead to strict operational limits and the revocation of licenses. Major infractions mean prison time."

Who in their right mind would dare break the rules?

Whitaker knew exactly what was happening. By admitting this, Owen would seamlessly prove that domestic oversight was ironclad, entirely destroying their grand lie about a 'chaotic, unregulated market.'

But what was his alternative? Admit his own company was a fraud ring? That would trigger a real investigation and completely destroy his business.

Losing face in this ballroom was infinitely better than wearing handcuffs.

Right on cue, Owen delivered the killing blow. "Then do you still believe the domestic financial market is a chaotic mess?"

Owen didn't just look at Whitaker. His cold gaze swept over the other bosses, the 'elites' who had spouted nonsense on stage, and finally landed on Lawrence and Jude.

"Nothing to say? Or are you simply speechless?

Gentlemen. Elites. Mr. Vance. Lawrence. Do any of you have a rebuttal?"

Now, Owen had them pinned against the wall.

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