“Let go, Andrew,” came the command. All eyes turned to the door.

Jeremiah strode in, his military uniform accentuating his tall, imposing physique. Sharp features—blade-like eyebrows and a sculpted nose—complemented his cold, emotionless eyes and distant expression. He had just flown back to Seacrity from Betrico on a private jet, still in uniform, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Emmett followed, carrying a black briefcase, his expression equally stoic. He seemed focused solely on Jeremiah, though puzzled by the haste of his return.

As Jeremiah approached, everyone froze. The gold star on his uniform instantly identified him: a major general in his twenties, a powerful figure in Clusia.

“Where’s Yvette?” Jeremiah asked, his words chilling the room. His presence clearly indicated he was here for the recently arrested girl.

But who was she? The university principal, the Chambers family, the mayor—and now a major general—had all converged on the police station. The place was in an uproar.

Andrew released Daniel, who stumbled and fell. The moment Jeremiah arrived, Daniel knew he was doomed. A major general had come personally for Yvette.

“That jerk locked Yvette in the isolation room!” Andrew shouted. “Don’t stop me! I’m going to beat him up!”

Unnoticed, Emmett shot a subtle, unreadable glance at Andrew. Andrew’s outburst confirmed Emmett’s suspicions: Jeremiah had rushed back for Yvette, even deploying his considerable influence on her behalf. Normally, Andrew would have noticed Emmett’s unusual demeanor, but his concern for Yvette overshadowed everything else.

A storm brewed in Jeremiah’s icy gaze as it fell upon the still-sprawled Daniel. Daniel trembled, struggling to breathe and rise. Jeremiah stepped forward, then kicked him back down with his boot. Heads bowed lower throughout the station.

Wyatt felt a headache coming on. Andrew’s impulsiveness was bad enough; now even Jeremiah was losing his composure. Daniel, the deputy mayor of Seacrity, would never recover politically from this. He carefully approached Jeremiah. “Jeremiah, Daniel is the deputy mayor of Seacrity, after all.”

Jeremiah’s cold, disdainful glance silenced Wyatt. Without a word, he headed to the room at the end of the hallway, Andrew and Bonnie close behind.

Zachary, dumbfounded by the sight of Jeremiah kicking the deputy mayor, watched in disbelief. Who was this Yvette, to command such power? The day's events were utterly unbelievable. Even a major general from Clusia was championing her cause. He decided to wait for Yvette's release.

The isolation room was dim and oppressive, a place designed to break down its occupants. Wyatt felt uneasy, fearing he had spoken out of turn.

Jeremiah approached with the briefcase, glanced at the anxious Wyatt, and produced a stack of documents, placing them before him. “Mr. Langford, here’s the evidence of Daniel’s bribery, collusion, and embezzlement. You know what to do.”

Wyatt was shocked. He flipped through the documents, his alarm growing with each page. The extent of Daniel’s crimes, dating back ten years, was staggering. Jeremiah’s efficiency in uncovering this information was equally astonishing.

A cold sweat broke out on Wyatt's back. The Chavez family’s reach and influence far exceeded his expectations. Meanwhile, Daniel remained oblivious to the exchange. He only saw Wyatt’s expression change after reviewing the documents.

Once Jeremiah left, Daniel, regaining some bravado, shouted, “Mr. Langford, I’m still the deputy mayor! Are you just going to stand there while he humiliates me?”

Wyatt looked at the limp Daniel with sympathy. Jeremiah’s evidence was damning. This once-powerful deputy mayor was headed for prison. He had only himself to blame for targeting Jeremiah's love interest.

“Take Daniel into temporary custody,” Wyatt ordered.

The officers exchanged bewildered glances, but obeyed. They helped Daniel up and handcuffed him.

Daniel resisted, yelling, “Even a major general can’t act recklessly! I’ll appeal and sue him! Wyatt, you’re helping the enemy!”

Wyatt’s expression hardened. ‘Still threatening me?’ he thought, then threw the documents at Daniel.

As Daniel read, his face drained of color. Those were his darkest secrets. How had they been unearthed? Realizing the gravity of the situation, he ceased resisting, despair replacing defiance. If this went public, his career and freedom were lost. He understood the full weight of his crimes.

He allowed himself to be cuffed, his posture slumping, aging him ten years in an instant. Pausing as he shuffled past Wyatt, he asked, still defiant, “Who is that man? Even a major general shouldn’t act so…arbitrarily.”

Wyatt saw no reason to conceal the truth. He leaned in, whispering, "He’s Jeremiah Chavez from Betrico.”

Daniel’s eyes widened. Jeremiah Chavez? No wonder he was a major general so young. Only the Chavez family could produce such a man. He should have known. It was too late. He would never again dare to cross Yvette. His greatest regret was having her arrested.

The isolation room door creaked open.