Chapter 90

Brandon started to have second thoughts.

"Mom, aren't you in a rush to find the kids? Why not let her call the cops?"

Karen's expression shifted. "If we call the police, Caroline might get arrested. What happens to the kids then?"

She shot me a threatening look. "Listen, child trafficking is a serious crime. Don't push us to the edge."

I rolled my eyes and turned to Kathy. "Call the police. I haven't trafficked any kids."

Kathy nodded and dialed without hesitation.

Karen instinctively tried to stop her, but seeing all of us watching, she pulled back and pointed at me menacingly. "Just you wait!"

Outside, Elora was still crying and pleading, strategically positioning herself right under the camera, bowing wherever it pointed.

The visual impact exploded online, trending with the headline: "Mother bows to human trafficker to find her child!"

The comments were brutal: "Who is this woman? How can she be so bold, snatching a child in broad daylight? Is there no law anymore?"

"I heard she has three kids of her own, yet she traffics others'. Disgusting!"

"Call the police, arrest her! Don't let human traffickers roam free!"

Some comments recalled past events.

"I remember this woman is a mistress, so her kids are...?"

This comment was quickly countered: "So what if she's a mistress? Right now, she's just a mother who lost her child!"

The private messages were even worse, cursing not only me but also Kelly and my kids.

I could handle the insults directed at me, but not at Kelly and my kids.

I blocked Karen and her group. "If you push me too far, I will fight back. If it's not me, I will find out who is spreading these rumors and make sure you go to jail."

Karen glanced at Earl behind her.

Earl avoided eye contact, pretending not to see.

Soon, the police arrived.

The reporters outside shouted, "The police are here! The police are here to take the human trafficker away!"

I stood inside as three officers came in and asked, "Who is Caroline?"

I raised my hand. "They say I'm a human trafficker and that I kidnapped that crazy woman's child outside, but I've been in Suncrest City these past few days. I have surveillance and flight tickets as proof. They're all slandering me. I request to preserve the evidence chain."

Hearing that I hadn't been home these past few days, Karen and her group's faces changed instantly.

In their minds, I had been home all along. They never expected I wouldn't be.

The police looked at Karen. "Then you come with us too."

Karen's legs went weak immediately. "Sir, even if she wasn't in Suncrest City, she could have instructed someone else to steal the child. You must not let her go!"

I rolled my eyes. This self-righteous fool still thought she could frame me at this point.

"We need evidence. You say she stole the child, where's your evidence?"

Karen was speechless, and Renee didn't dare step forward.

She was most afraid of encountering police who could smell drugs, so she stayed far away.

Earl, fearing being implicated, also didn't dare come over.

In the end, only Karen was taken away!

I followed the police, walking leisurely.

The reporters outside saw the door open, and as Karen and I walked out together, they pointed their cameras at us.

Elora saw me come out and rushed over like a madwoman, "Officer, it's her! She stole my child!"

"My child has been missing for a long time. I'm worried sick about her."

She spoke so movingly that many people cried on the spot.

The police said, "If you have evidence, please submit it to us. If not, please wait for the investigation results."

Elora fell silent, as she only had her words to accuse me.

Karen had never been in a police car before, and feeling guilty, she was terrified, crouching under the seat, wailing.

The police helped her up, but seeing the gun on the officer's waist, she fainted from fear.

So the police car changed course halfway and took Karen to the emergency room.

I contacted Brandon and Earl, asking them to take care of Karen while I went to the police station to give my statement.

At the station, I followed the officers, truthfully recounting my activities over the past few days. After that, they let me go home to wait for the investigation results.

When I got home, Kathy was still there, sitting on the couch.

The reporters outside had all left.

"You're back? I saw your family rush off after a phone call. What happened?"

I laughed, "Karen was so scared she almost wet herself in the police car, so she ended up in the emergency room."

Kathy was stunned, then burst into laughter.

"Serves her right. Karen has done too many bad things."

I smiled and said nothing.

That evening, Brandon came home, looking exhausted, loosening his tie.

I asked, "Is your mom okay?"

Brandon shook his head, "She's fine."

I snorted, "You shouldn't have gone."

Brandon suddenly opened his eyes, staring at me.

"Caroline, I think you're too hostile towards my mom. She's still our mom. Can't you calm down a bit?"

I rolled my eyes, "Haven't you figured it out yet?"

"I was speaking up for you today."

Brandon was taken aback, frowning at me, "What do you mean?"

I said, "Don't you find it strange? Why did Elora's child go missing just as you were about to open up the overseas market?"

Brandon still didn't understand, "It's not uncommon for a child to go missing, but what does that have to do with my overseas business?"

I shook my head helplessly, "It's not common for a child to go missing, but have you ever seen such a big fuss made, yet the person involved refuses to call the police?"

Brandon finally recalled the oddities of the day, slowly standing up, "What do you mean?"

"You're about to have your funds verified, right? This will determine whether you succeed. Now, there's a massive smear campaign against you and me online."

"You're caught in the mistress scandal, and I'm accused of child trafficking. Do you think Joanna will be happy about this?"

Brandon froze, "You mean to say?"

"Think about it. If your overseas business fails, who benefits the most?"

Brandon stared at me, "Earl!"

"Could this be their setup?"