Chapter 366
Hearing Kenneth agree, Ophelia let out a sigh of relief.
Maybe because he was the president of a nation, Ophelia was still willing to trust him. "Mrs. Sinclair..." Caleb didn't want to leave.
"Don't make me angry," Ophelia's voice was cold and stern, and her eyes were so deep. Seeing Caleb unwilling to leave, she suddenly struck the back of his neck with great force.
Caleb passed out before he could even react.
"Could you please send him out, Mr. West?" Ophelia's tone was calm and composed all the time, which made Xander view her with newfound respect, though he disliked her strong-willed demeanor. Originally, he could have just agreed, since keeping Caleb here wasn't necessary.
But he just didn't want to be led by a young girl.
He said, "Once we finish our conversation, I'll let him go."
Ophelia thought, 'Once we finish?'
She smiled, but her eyes remained cold.
It seemed she had trusted the wrong person.
Her indifferent expression made Xander feel uncomfortable.
Xander furrowed his brow and glanced around the airtight interrogation room. The oppressive atmosphere made him uncomfortable, so he glanced at Ophelia and instructed, "Bring her to the front."
A few minutes later, they sat across from each other on a spacious sofa, surrounded only by guards holding long rifles. Ophelia's face was a bit pale, but she sat with her back as straight as ever in front of Xander. She said, "You must have already thought of a solution, Mr. West.
Ophelia got straight to the point, not wanting to waste any time
"Do you have any suggestions, Ms. Spencer?" Xander replied with a question.
Ophelia said, "I wouldn't dare to suggest anything, but I think you must have realized that this matter isn't that simple."
The presidential campaign was coming up the next month. Such an issue happened in Heloria before that would surely impact Xander's campaign.
Xander pursed his lips and thought, 'She has sharp insight./
He said, "Go on."
Ophelia said, "Your current solution is just to try to persuade me to take all the responsibility for now and give the public an explanation, right?"
This wasn't the best solution, but it was the fastest way to calm the public and deal with the uproar.
Xander chuckled and looked up at the girl across from him.
He thought, 'Can't she understand what's really going on? Persuade her? Do I have to do that?'
Ophelia raised an eyebrow, and her face looked pale but beautiful.
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She said, "Sorry, I used the wrong word. It's not persuading me; it's ordering me. Or maybe locking me up all night was just an intimidation tactic. Whether I want it or not, I have to agree. Isn't that so?" Xander lowered his eyes to avoid her gaze. Sometimes he didn't really like people who were too clever.
He said, "You have no choice because you're already involved in this from the start. Since you know what I'm going to do, I won't waste any time."
Xander turned to look at the butler at the door, who then brought over an agreement and placed it in front of Ophelia.
Ophelia picked up the agreement and read through the terms. If it were ancient times, it would probably be a confession of guilt.
After reading it, she let out a chuckle.
When she looked up at Xander again, her gaze had completely changed.
She said, "Then what?"
"What?" Xander furrowed his brows, not understanding her meaning.
Ophelia closed the file and said, "If it's really my development of the slums that's caused this outcome, I can take responsibility. But if you're just trying to calm the public by blaming me for a groundless crime, I won't accept it." If she admitted to the charge in the agreement, she would basically be dead.
She couldn't admit to it.
Kenneth was still unconscious, and many things had yet to be clarified."
Xander's expression turned cold, and his white hair contrasted with his tightly furrowed brows. His sharp eyes met Ophelia's clear and bright eyes.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room froze.
Ophelia knew it wasn't the right time to confront head-on, especially since she didn't have the strength to do so.
She could only soften her stance and pleaded, "Mr. West, please give me a little more time. I'm already looking into it. This matter is not that simple..."Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
Before Ophelia could finish her words, Xander picked up the remote from the table and turned on the TV
The news sounded, "Now for the latest virus update. According to our report, the number of confirmed cases has risen to 2,753 overnight, with ten patients currently in our city, and the death toll is still being calculated..." "Breaking news, a terrorist attack at the Gloomhaven of Dellanex has drawn attention..."
"Latest updates, a severê stampede has occurred at the Dellanex train station. All transportation has been shut down, and the number of casualties is still being confirmed..."
All the news was conveying the same message
Dellanex had fallen.
Xander said, "As a major city, in Dellanex, Heloria is a key transportation hub. If it gets disrupted, the economic impact on all of Heloria will be significant.
"The national pharmacological research institute is already working tirelessly to develop vaccines and control the spread of the virus as much as possible.
"But the buzz on social media is spreading panic among the citizens. Those who have experienced that disaster back then can't help but be afraid! We don't have time to wait anymore." Ophelia fell silent.
What Xander said made sense. She watched the scenes on the TV and clenched her hands tightly on her lap.
The silent butler suddenly lifted his head and said from the side. "Ms. Spencer, I assume you don't want to get others involved in this, do you?"
Ophelia thought, 'What does he mean?'
She quickly raised her eyes to meet the butler's narrowed ones, and a bad feeling arose in her heart.
The butler said, "Sharon Campbell, James Guinnes, Thomas Collins, and a screenwriter named Kevin Brown. They've all spoken up for you online. Kicking them out of their industries is easy.
"And also the companies you own. Your evening gown design company is gonna get listed soon, isn't it? And also the real estate company. Everyone who was involved in the development of the slums will bear the consequences. If you don't want them to take the blame..."
The butler didn't finish his words, but Ophelia understood what he meant.
Emotions suddenly surged in her calm eyes. Her jaw tightened, and a chilling aura spread around her.
She thought, "They asked me to come over the phone and promised no harm, but now they're forcing me to make a decision.'
Xander stared at her silently.
He thought, "This girl seems strong with no weaknesses, but in fact, her vulnerability is already exposed. S. Can't remain indifferent to the people around her. Actually, I quite admire that. 'Unfortunately, whether publicly or privately, I can't afford to be soft-hearted!
Ophelia's teeth trembled slightly, and the chilling aura around her gradually dissipated. She was like the lamb to the slaughter now. She couldn't say no at all.
No matter whether she wanted or not, she had no choice but to agree.
"Ms. Spencer, being selfish is human nature. I understand that, so it's up to you," the butler added.
Just as he finished speaking, a loud explosion sounded in front of the presidential palace
A guard holding a rifle walked in and said seriously, "Mr. West, the palace has been surrounded." Xander said, "What? By who?"
Xander stood up from the sofa, and Ophelia furrowed her brows as well.
She thought, 'Could it be a terrorist attack?"