My Ex-husband Begs Me Back
Chapter 848: Scapegoat

Chapter 848: Scapegoat

Jeremiah knew deep down that Austin might be feeling guilty andwanted to escape. But if Austin ran away, it would confirm theaccusations, and Jeremiah himself might also be implicated.

That's why Jeremiah didn't want that to happen. Protecting Austinmeant protecting himself.

After Jeremiah's words, Austin fell silent for a moment.

Then he instructed Jeremiah to drive to the police station. Mr. Davalosand Mr. Moya were already waiting there. When they saw Austin, theyimmediately asked, "Austin, what's going on? Why are there suddenlyso many slanderous rumors about us online? And the accusationsagainst you in the company's internal chat group, it must be someonedeliberately causing trouble, right?"

Mr. Davalos's face was filled with concern, and his brows furrowed withanger and dissatisfaction towards the situation, as well as angertowards the rumor-mongers.

After his words, Mr. Moya quickly chimed in, “There have been toomany incidents involving the Norman Group recently. After discussing,we decided it would be best to report it to the police as soon aspossible. You've sacrificed so much for the Norman Group, let us takeresponsibility for this. You still need to focus on your other projects forthe company. You don't need to worry about this; we will handle it untilthe end.”

Both of them nodded, determined to take action.

Austin scanned their faces, his gaze warm yet indifferent. He calmlysaid, "Uncle Davalos, Uncle Moya, it's late, and it's tiring for you both tocome to the police station. Let me handle this. You're both getting older,and it's not good for your health to exert yourselves. I'll take care of it."Mr. Davalos immediately objected, "How can that be? Let us handle it.After all, we are also part of the Norman Group. We can't just pusheverything onto you."

Austin looked at them with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Before hecould speak, the police arrived.

The police had already started their investigation. Although it involvedthe Norman Group and the three people present, if there were anypotential legal violations, the police would thoroughly investigate. Noone would escape the consequences of the law.

The three of them underwent questioning at the police station for nearlyan hour. When they finished and left the station, it was already past 11p.m.

They headed towards their respective cars.

When they reached Mr. Davalos and Mr. Moya's cars, Austin's stepscame to a halt. He looked at the two with a faint smile and asked, "Didyou arrange for those accusations against me?"

Austin's expression immediately turned serious. He had previouslythreatened the two when the incident first came to light, forcing them toissue statements and clear his name. In his heart, he even planned toshift the blame onto them. He had even tried to sow discord betweenthem.

Now, as he saw the two showing no signs of conflict and even comingtogether to report the incident to the police, he realized hismiscalculation.

Mr. Davalos and Mr. Moya stared back at Austin, their facesexpressionless. They showed no guilt or panic in response to Austin'squestion. Instead, they calmly locked eyes with him and said, "Austin,what do you mean by that? Why would we arrange for someone toslander you? Besides, if we were the ones behind it, wouldn't reportingit to the police be shooting ourselves in the foot?"

The words of the two didn't ease Austin's expression at all. Hecontinued to stare at them with a heavy look.

Mr. Davalos and Mr. Moya quickly changed the topic, "Austin, werethose words you said in the meeting room just a way to deceive us?You didn't actually do those things, did you?"

Austin didn't answer; he simply snorted indifferently and said, "WhetherI did them or not, we are in the same boat. If something happens to me,you won't escape either."

After saying that, Austin walked towards his car without looking back.Mr. Davalos and Mr. Moya didn't say anything and simply exchanged aglance before getting into their own car.

The events of this night were unpredictable. The online rumors werespreading rapidly, and the heat surrounding them was increasing. TheNorman family was also worried and eager to contact Austin to replace outwhat was going on.

But Austin's phone was unreachable; he couldn't be contacted at all.After Jeremiah dropped Austin off at his seldom-used villa, he wasdismissed. Jeremiah tried to ask how to handle the situation but wasdirectly scolded by Austin.

Jeremiah had no choice but to leave. No one knew what happened toAustin afterward.

The next morning, the police arrived at the Norman Group headquarter,requesting to see Austin. Their reason was, "We suspect that Austin,the General Manager of the Norman Group, is involved in illegalactivities. We have sufficient evidence to prove that the accusationsagainst Austin are not false. We need him to come with us forinvestigation.”

The police's words quickly spread throughout the company. Severalcompanies that were in competition with the Norman Group and had anunfriendly relationship also joined in, insinuating that the Norman Groupwas involved in illicit transactions.

If everything before was just speculation, now the police's arrivalhalfway confirmed it.

The Norman family, as well as the entire Norman Group, becameanxious and fearful.

Everyone tried to contact Austin but couldn't reach him.

Since Austin was absent, Jeremiah, as his secretary and the personclosest to him, was taken away for questioning by the police.

No one knew what happened to Jeremiah after the police took himaway. All that was known was that later that morning, the police, alongwith other departments, issued a search warrant for the Norman Groupand launched a citywide search for Austin.

Austin's situation became the talk of the town in Campole, and thenews also spread to Hance City and Flento City.

When Preston saw the news, he didn't react much or show anyemotions. Quintus, who was beside him, couldn't read his thoughts andasked softly, "Mr. Baxter, fortunately, you were prepared in advance.Otherwise, we would have been implicated by the Norman Group inthis situation.”

Quintus knew Preston's identity. He was currently Benjamin, butpreviously, he was known as Preston. Since Preston now presentedhimself as Benjamin to the public, Quintus addressed him as Mr.Baxter.

Preston just let out a light sigh, his gaze warm and detached. He said,"Why should the Norman Group implicate us? This is Austin's ownaffair. What does it have to do with us? Besides, what he did has noconnection to us. I gained nothing from him, so naturally, it has nothingto do with me."

Quintus nodded slightly, and then Preston asked, "Any news from theHance City police? Why hasn't Sean been found yet?"

Quintus shook his head. "The police have been all out investigating, butit's as if Sean has vanished into thin air. There's no trace of him at themoment."

"Have you deployed your people to investigate?" Preston interruptedhim and asked.

Quintus looked at Preston and nodded, responding, "We have alreadyinitiated the investigation, but we haven't found any results yet."

As soon as Quintus finished speaking, his phone rang, and he glancedat Preston before saying, "It's the person investigating Sean."

"Answer it," Preston said indifferently.

Quintus immediately answered the call and put it on speaker.

The voice on the other end of the line spoke, "Quintus, we found outthat the driver who came from Campole with Austin had dinner withSean last night. They were cautious not to be discovered, so they ate ata simple street stall.”

They slowly traced it back, and after confirming it, they immediatelyinformed Quintus.

Quintus responded quietly on the phone, his eyes locked on Preston,waiting for his response.

Preston didn't say anything; his face turned grim, showing extremedispleasure.

These words were enough to prove where Sean went after leaving him.Everything that was happening to Austin now was self-inflicted. Did hethink he could use Sean to keep him Preston in check?

Huh.

Preston looked at Quintus and said, “There's no need to continue theinvestigation. Austin is not reliable for Sean."

Austin was in a precarious situation, and his whereabouts wereunknown.

Ayan and Camille also arrived in Dane City. Sophia personally drove tothe airport to pick them up, but they encountered someone familiar atthe airport.