After dinner, Jeremiah sent Yvette and Bonnie back to their dorm before he and Andrew returned to their opulent, recently acquired three-thousand-square-foot condominium in the city center. They arrived home at midnight. Andrew, exhausted, fell into a deep sleep, undisturbed even by a storm.

The mansion stood in serene silence, broken only by the soft glow of the study lamp where Jeremiah stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at Seacrity's towering skyline. His eyes were as dark and unfathomable as the night sky. The soft cigarette glow illuminated his sharp features, shadows playing across his strong nose, giving him an enigmatic presence. The phone rang abruptly. Jeremiah answered.

"Jeremiah, I traced the email address. Three of the world's best hackers worked on it for three days; we've pinpointed Siren's last known location—Seacity," the caller informed him.

Jeremiah's voice remained icy. "Noted. No need to dig further." He ended the call.

Jeremiah had come to Seacrity at James's request to investigate Siren. At the Night Bar, he recognized her—the girl from James's picture—fending off persistent men. She was Siren's only known connection, so Jeremiah discreetly followed her into the alley behind the bar.

Jeremiah had a clear vision of his own path from a young age. His mother envisioned him inheriting the family business, while his father pushed for a government job. He chose neither, opting for the army, where he served to the present day. He never anticipated falling for Yvette and facing the consequences. A deep sigh escaped the ever-resilient Jeremiah, a man who had never wavered.

The next day dawned bright and clear, the aftermath of a heavy rain shower. Ethan stayed home, waiting for Daniel to return with news about Yvette. He hoped Daniel would confirm she had been taken to the police station and tortured.

Time passed. Ethan was about to leave when the doorbell rang. He opened it excitedly, expecting Daniel, only to be met by uniformed prosecutors and police.

"Who are you?" he asked. The visitors were renowned Seacrity prosecutors, summoned the previous night due to the significance of Daniel's case. They had worked through the night, completing their investigation that morning.

Daniel's case involved three hundred million dollars, excluding embezzled city construction funds—Seacrity's largest corruption scandal in a decade. Headquarters acted swiftly, issuing a search warrant for Daniel's home.

The lead prosecutor respectfully asked, "Is this Daniel's residence?"

Lost in thoughts of revenge against Yvette, Ethan absently nodded. "Yeah, what do you want?" Accustomed to arrogance and bolstered by Daniel's support, he didn't take them seriously.

The prosecutors saw no need for pleasantries. Daniel's time as deputy mayor would end that day, rendering his son insignificant. "This is standard procedure. Here's the warrant. Please step aside," the prosecutor stated.

Ethan examined the document, confirming its authenticity. Disbelief washed over him. He grabbed his phone to call Daniel, but his calls went unanswered.

The prosecutor, growing impatient, repeated, "Please step aside."

Ethan stood frozen, knowing what was hidden inside. "What are you trying to find? Where's my dad? He's Daniel, the Deputy Mayor! Do you know what that means?" he demanded.

The lead prosecutor noted Ethan's stubbornness. "Mr. Ethan Brooks, your father was arrested earlier today. We're just following procedure." The police moved to detain Ethan.

They easily overpowered him, pinning him to the ground. After a futile struggle, he lay gasping. Throughout the morning, the prosecutors removed several large boxes and five safes. By one p.m., they were gone.

Ethan, eventually relenting, watched as boxes and safes were loaded onto trucks. He thought, What happened to Dad? The prosecutors wouldn't dare search the deputy mayor's house without solid evidence.

The prosecutor, leaving, mused, "It's about time. Mr. Brooks has abused his authority for years. Seacrity is finally rid of this corrupt figure."

Alone, Ethan called Daniel, but received no answer. He then contacted government officials close to Daniel, but his calls went unanswered. Even if something happened to Dad, how could they all be in trouble? Dad wouldn't expose these connections—they're his trump cards!

Unbeknownst to Ethan, Jeremiah's influence prompted Wyatt to act decisively. Within an hour of returning to the office, Wyatt ordered everyone connected to Daniel detained for questioning. Seacrity's political landscape shifted; Daniel's party was ousted due to the information Jeremiah provided.

Ethan, clinging to hope, made a final call. The line connected. "Uncle, it's me, Ethan. What happened to my dad?"

He heard shuffling. "Ethan, your dad's finished. He's been reported for corruption. Leave Seacrity immediately."

The call ended. Ethan sank onto the sofa, overwhelmed by confusion and helplessness, struggling to understand what had transpired.