Chapter 96: Seven years ago? Again?

"Madam, you can hide in here," the woman said, pointing at a garbage cart that had already been cleaned. "I’ll take you out."

Hana stared at the garbage cart for a few moments.

Seeing her hesitation, the woman smiled. "The Sexa family’s residence has a strict security system. There’s no way we can get out of here easily unless we use this method. Besides, they won’t simply let a woman their master has been searching for over the past five years leave."

"I understand," Hana replied before climbing into the cleaned garbage cart.

Her life was indeed difficult, but no matter how difficult her circumstances were, Hana had no intention of shifting the blame for her own actions onto someone else. Especially not onto the father of one of her sons, whom she had only just met and who was most likely capable of taking better care of Sean and her two other sons than she could.

The woman covered the garbage cart with several pieces of worn-out cloth, then pushed it out of the room.

The Sexa family’s residence had many guards stationed at various points. However, because of Brandon’s actions, the number of guards on duty had now been reduced by almost half.

The woman continued pushing the cart through one corridor after another toward the exit. A garbage collection vehicle should already be waiting outside.

However, as soon as they reached the residence’s gate, a guard stopped her.

"What’s the matter?" the woman asked calmly, without showing the slightest sign of panic.

The guard frowned as he looked at her. "You’re not the servant assigned to collect the garbage today."

The woman nodded casually, then took out her identification card and showed it to him.

"I’m a replacement servant. I was supposed to be on duty next Tuesday, but the servant scheduled for today couldn’t come. So I was asked to take her place earlier."

The guard took the identification card and gave it a quick inspection.

"Wait a moment," he said.

He touched the intercom in his ear and spoke to someone. After that, he compared the woman’s face with the photograph on the identification card again. His forehead creased briefly before he finally nodded.

"You can leave. But I have to inspect your garbage cart first."

Inside the cart, Hana bit her lip tightly.

Was the security at the residences of wealthy people on the Melvin Continent really this strict?

Her family had also been quite wealthy in the past. They had servants responsible for collecting garbage and guards who watched over their residence. However, she had never imagined that the security here would be this strict, so different from the life she had once known.

Hana only wanted to get out of here, confess her crimes before the Supervisory Council of the Melvin Continent, and then clear Sean’s father’s name of the accusations against him. That was all she wanted to do.

The guard began reaching for the cloth covering the garbage cart, intending to remove it. However, before he could do so, another guard’s shout came from behind him.

"Madam is missing!"

The guard who was about to inspect the cart immediately turned around.

"But—"

"Do you think there’s anything more important than this?" the newly arrived guard snapped. "The three young masters are crying and calling for all of us!"

The guard finally nodded. He left the woman without inspecting the garbage cart she was pushing.

Thirty minutes later, Hana and the woman had successfully made it out of the Sexa family’s residence.

They changed vehicles and then headed toward the center of Melvin Capital.

"Put these on," the woman said, handing Hana a set of clothes.

Hana accepted them but didn’t change immediately.

Seeing this, the woman explained, "You’ll disguise yourself as one of the lawyers hired by the Vein family to defend Madam Maya Vein and Young Master Brandon Vein."

She then added, "You don’t need to worry. The Vein family has hired seventy lawyers. You only need to join their group. No one will stop you from entering."

Hana took a deep breath before looking at the woman.

"What exactly is your master planning? I have no intention of going inside and watching your Vein family stand trial before the Supervisory Council. I only want to confess my crimes and clear—"

The woman raised her hand, stopping Hana from speaking.

"You have to see for yourself what your children’s three fathers have actually done to make you end up like this," she said, briefly glancing at Hana.

After that, she turned her attention back to the road ahead.

"Sir wants you to know everything without a single thing being hidden. You have to understand what really happened and see for yourself how good your sons’ three fathers actually are."

"What do you mean?" Hana asked, looking confused.

"You can confess your crimes after you’ve seen everything. Besides, they will be tried in the same courtroom as Madam Maya and Young Master Brandon."

Realizing that the woman wouldn’t give her any further explanation, Hana finally changed her clothes.

The shirt and trousers she wore gave her a different appearance. She then put on the glasses that had been provided, tied her hair up high, and hung an identification card around her neck.

"We’ll arrive in five minutes," the woman said.

Hana nodded.

Five minutes later, she got out of the car carrying a bag and several documents.

A towering building stood before her. The words Supervisory Council of the Melvin Continent were prominently displayed above the entrance, while a statue holding a pair of scales stood beside the building.

Hana stepped inside and walked toward the room the woman had mentioned.

It was still early in the morning, but hundreds of people were already moving about inside the building.

"Unbelievable," a woman walking beside Hana muttered. "Do you know what’s going to happen this time?"

Her friend nodded. "Of course. This is the first time the Head of the Supervisory Council has personally stepped in to handle a case."

The first woman nodded again, then asked, "Do you know what kind of matter could make the Head of the Supervisory Council get involved personally?"

Her friend shook her head.

"My colleague was assigned to prepare several documents for this trial," the woman continued in a low voice. However, Hana, who was walking not far from them, could still hear her clearly. "Who would have thought that four regional rulers of the Melvin Continent would be dragged into this matter?"

"Four regional rulers?" The woman beside her looked at her in disbelief. "Isn’t this just a matter of the Deputy Head of the Supervisory Council’s disobedience? That’s what my colleague told me."

The woman waved her hand. "That’s just a cover-up."

"So, this is related to the incident that happened seven years ago?" she asked again.

Her friend nodded. "I think so."

Hana frowned.

Seven years ago? Again?

She had heard about it repeatedly. Now, four regional rulers of the Melvin Continent were also said to be involved in the same case.

Hana slowly shook her head, trying to dismiss the suspicion beginning to form in her mind. However, the more she heard, the harder it became for her to ignore one question.

What exactly happened seven years ago?