Chapter 369: Why Did You Have to Provoke Her?

Chapter 369: Chapter 369: Why Did You Have to Provoke Her?

Everyone in the shop turned in unison toward the sound, their eyes landing on two young men in police uniforms standing at the entrance.

When no one answered, the taller of the two officers furrowed his brow and repeated the question.

"Cassandra Lynch? Who is Cassandra Lynch?"

Realizing the two officers were here for her, Cassandra Lynch’s heart skipped a beat. She recalled what Arabella Donovan had said earlier, and lowering her head, she turned to sneak away.

However, her sudden movement made her stick out like a sore thumb compared to the other customers, who were still frozen in stunned silence.

Someone quickly noticed her furtive actions and shouted, "That’s her! She’s Cassandra Lynch!"

The two officers at the door also noticed her attempt to flee. They strode forward, ready to catch her as she walked right into their hands.

"You’re Cassandra Lynch, correct? We’ve received a report that you’re a suspect in a murder-for-hire plot. Please come with us to assist in the investigation."

The moment he spoke, the cafe erupted in an uproar. Arabella Donovan and her companions were just as surprised as everyone else.

’Which champion of justice called the cops? A brilliant move! I just wonder which is stronger: the heroine’s plot armor or actual laws? In the car crash back then, the driver who caused it had a terminal illness. The whole thing was ruled a tragic incident of a dying man lashing out at society. It’s hard to say that wasn’t the heroine’s plot armor at work.’

’I hope this report makes the police look into Cassandra Lynch’s bank transfers and chat logs with the hitman, as well as the business with her biological father. They need to uncover the truth and bring justice for the deceased.’

The Lynch and Donovan families wore grave expressions, especially Eloise Donovan. Many of the unfortunate victims had been her friends and classmates. She had grieved them once, believing their deaths were an accident. Now, knowing they had died because of her, in a way, and that their killer might get away scot-free due to some unstoppable force, Eloise was filled with a suffocating sense of frustration.

She resolved that if the police investigation stalled, she wouldn’t hesitate to give it a nudge herself. She would not allow those innocent victims to be unable to rest in peace.

"No! I didn’t do it! It wasn’t me!"

"We’ll know whether you did or not after a full investigation. Until then, please cooperate with us."

The other officer stepped forward and grabbed Cassandra Lynch’s arm. His words were polite, but his actions were firm.

With the only exit blocked, Cassandra Lynch couldn’t have escaped even if she tried. In the end, she was reluctantly escorted away under duress.

Once the subject of all the drama was gone, the crowd that had gathered began to disperse.

A few people, however, recalled how Arabella Donovan had exposed all of Cassandra Lynch’s dirty laundry the moment they met. They were itching to go over and cozy up to her, but none dared to be the first to step forward.

Arabella Donovan didn’t notice any of this. She was looking through the cafe’s glass window, watching from afar as Cassandra Lynch was put into a police car. Only then did it slowly dawn on her what had just transpired.

’Wait, the heroine just got arrested? That feels so surreal. It really goes to show, no matter what you’re facing, using the law to protect yourself is always the right move. The plot has officially gone so far off the rails even its own author wouldn’t recognize it, right?’

Everyone: *Pfft...* Honestly, why did you have to provoke her? Now you’re totally screwed, aren’t you?

Now that they had confronted Cassandra and cleared the Lynch Family’s name, they noticed that while the main crowd of gawkers had dispersed, a smaller group was still gathered around Arabella Donovan. For her safety, the others exchanged a glance and decided it was best to escort her away first.

But just as they stepped out of the cafe, they ran right into a familiar face.

"Mr. Rhodes, what are you doing here?"

Caspian Rhodes looked her up and down, only breathing a sigh of relief after confirming she was unharmed.

"I saw you guys on someone’s livestream and found out what was happening. I called the police and rushed over immediately. I’m just glad you’re all okay."

"You called the police?" Arabella’s ears perked up. "So you’re the champion of justice who reported it, Mr. Rhodes."

The others behind Arabella also stared wide-eyed at Caspian Rhodes, their faces full of astonishment. ℴ

The "champion of justice," Mr. Rhodes, couldn’t help but smile. "Is it really that surprising that I called the police? It was murder-for-hire, a manufactured car crash... and a lot of people actually died. Any normal person who learned about something like that would think to call the police, wouldn’t they?"

Everyone: "..." He had a point. They were speechless.

"You have a point, Mr. Rhodes. It’s just that most people in this situation would prefer to mind their own business, or maybe just try to use public opinion to push the matter in front of the authorities and let them figure it out on their own. Someone who chooses to call the police right away, like you, is definitely in the minority."

Of course, many people are probably just being cautious, unsure if what they see online is real. If it turned out to be fake, they could be tricked into filing a false report, and the consequences wouldn’t be worth it.

Caspian Rhodes had no such concerns, because he knew Arabella Donovan never lied, especially not about something so serious.

"So, you’re truly upright and very brave, Mr. Rhodes."

"I just trust that the police won’t let a single villain escape, nor will they frame an innocent person. It’s best to leave this kind of thing for them to investigate and handle."

"Mhm!"

’Mr. Rhodes is as upright, kind, diligent, and good-natured as ever... (and a string of other compliments).’

The corners of Caspian Rhodes’s lips curved upward; he was clearly enjoying the praise.

The members of the Donovan Family, however, scowled. The two men, in particular, stared at Caspian Rhodes as if their eyes were X-ray machines, trying to see through him and expose every one of his hidden motives.

As one of the few people there who knew the truth, Zane Lynch’s mouth twitched. ’Dude, seriously,’ he thought, ’can you wipe that smile off your face? Can’t you see her entire family looks like they want to murder you? Don’t push your luck.’

Perhaps because it contained all the elements people loved—a "real vs. fake heiress" drama, a struggle for a wealthy family’s inheritance, and a high-profile criminal case with severe consequences—the news about Cassandra Lynch blew up.

The young woman who had been livestreaming was a rich second-generation scion herself, from a family on par with the Lynch Family. Since her older brother had already been designated as the family heir, she had no grand ambitions. She was content to be a lazy "salted fish" heiress, happy to just collect dividends and coast through life.

Her days were typically spent enjoying fine food and drinks, and she would occasionally post about her lavish daily life online—showing off her mansions, luxury cars, jewelry, designer clothes, and handbags.

Thanks to her unabashed flaunting of wealth, combined with her refreshingly unpretentious and straightforward personality, she quickly attracted a large number of fans.

As a result, whenever she went live, a huge number of fans would tune in to support her. And because the content of this particular stream was so explosive, it shot to the top of every major trending list, attracting a swarm of media attention and reporters.

With all these factors combined, the story of Cassandra Lynch and her crimes spread like wildfire across the internet, moving with the speed of a thunderclap. It eclipsed all the celebrity gossip and scandals, becoming common knowledge overnight!