Chapter 517
Henrik shut his eyes, a flicker of despair crossing his features.
Earlier that day, after Bright Lights Media had swiftly issued a preemptive clarification, Henrik and his team realized they had fallen into a trap. The studio staff had hurriedly contacted their superiors, who instructed them to evacuate and avoid Cristian at all costs.
Yet, Henrik hadn’t anticipated Cristian’s quick response, tracking him down effortlessly. He recalled the multiple proxy servers he’d used when posting the news. How had Cristian still traced it back to him? Clearly, Cristian had some exceptionally skilled people on his team.
“Tell me the truth, and I’ll let it slide just this once,” Cristian said, his dark eyes piercing through Henrik. His voice was a steady murmur. “Name the mastermind behind this, and you’re free to go.”
Henrik’s lips pressed into a thin line, his fear palpable. He knew all too well that Cristian was not a man to be trifled with—dark-hearted and unyielding. Now, Henrik realized another trait to add to that fearsome reputation: decisively quick.
Noticing Henrik’s hesitation, Fernanda intervened. “You don’t need to spill anything. We have other ways to find out—through your colleagues, your call logs, your transaction records. It might take longer, but we’ll uncover it all. Think about the defamation charges you could face. What about your family? What happens to them if you’re behind bars?”
Henrik visibly flinched, meeting Fernanda’s gaze with alarm. She knew she had struck a chord. Just moments earlier, Henrik had been a devoted grandson, reminding his grandmother to take her medicine. People who cared deeply for their family were often the easiest to sway.
“Your grandmother needs someone to take care of her, doesn’t she?” Fernanda added softly, her smile gentle but calculating. “If you tell us who’s pulling the strings, they can take the fall. You’re just a pawn—why should you suffer for their schemes?”
At that moment, Cristian lit a cigarette. The sharp click of his lighter cut through the night’s silence, startling Henrik. Cristian’s features, illuminated briefly by the flicker of the lighter’s flame, were marked by an impatient ruthlessness.
“Is it true, Mr. Reed? If I tell you, will you really let me go?” Henrik stammered, his voice trembling.
“Yes.”
“I don’t know his full identity. Just that he goes by Sammy Archer,” Henrik confessed.
Henrik confessed in a hushed tone.
Cristian’s expression remained unmoved as he casually held the cigarette between his fingers. “Understood.”
Relieved, Henrik asked, “So, I can go now?”
“First, hand over any information you have on your company.”