96: Chapter 96 David

David hung up the phone and slumped into his chair.

The family had completely abandoned him, and his escape route had been completely cut off. David felt cold all over, and a wave of despair surged from the soles of his feet straight to his head.

He looked at the mess in his office, then thought of the mountain of ironclad evidence in Chen Xi's hands, along with that family crest that could directly seal his fate. All the fight instantly drained out of him.

His previous arrogance, irritability, and ruthlessness had all turned into panic and helplessness.

He knew that if he didn't find a way out, what awaited him wouldn't just be ruin, but imprisonment.

Trembling, David picked up the shattered phone from the floor, barely managed to unlock the screen with his fingerprint, and after flipping through his contacts for a long time, finally found Lin Chen's number.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the unwillingness in his heart, and with trembling fingers, pressed the call button.

The phone rang several times before it was answered, and Lin Chen's cold voice came through: "What is it?"

Hearing those words, David's throat tightened. He could no longer put on any airs of being a boss, and his voice was full of obsequiousness and humility: "Brother Chen, Brother Chen, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong!"

Lin Chen didn't speak, just listened quietly.

David hurriedly continued to beg for mercy, his tone humble to the extreme: "I was blinded by greed before, I didn't know what was good for me. I shouldn't have targeted Chen Xi, and I shouldn't have sent people to ambush you. Everything is my fault. Please, Brother Chen, show mercy, withdraw the evidence, and don't drive me to a dead end!"

A cold sneer curled the corner of Lin Chen's mouth, and his tone remained cold: "Know fear now, do you?"

"I'm scared, I'm really scared!" David nodded hurriedly, as if Lin Chen were right in front of him. "Brother Chen, I'm willing to pay compensation, any amount! I'll give you the cars, houses, and company shares under my name. As long as you are willing to let me go, I will agree to any condition!"

Lin Chen was silent for a moment before giving his reply: "The twenty-four-hour cafe on the outskirts of the city. Half an hour from now, meet me in the corner seat."

After saying this, without waiting for David to speak again, Lin Chen hung up the phone directly.

David was stunned for a moment, then realized what happened. A trace of wild joy appeared on his face, thinking that Lin Chen was willing to negotiate. He hurriedly tidied up his wrinkled clothes and scrambled out of the office.

On the other side, Lin Chen put down his phone and looked at Li Wei beside him: "David can't hold out any longer; he wants to make peace with me. Come with me."

Li Wei immediately straightened his body, his eyes alert: "Brother Chen, this David is cunning. Could there be a trap? Should I bring a few more people?"

"No need." Lin Chen waved his hand. "He has no way out now and can't make any waves. Just come with me, and stay alert the whole time."

"Understood!" Li Wei replied and followed closely behind Lin Chen.

Half an hour later, at the cafe on the city outskirts.

The location was remote, and it was already late at night. There were very few customers in the shop, and the lighting was dim, with only a few small lights on. It was so quiet that one could hear the ticking of the clock.

Lin Chen and Li Wei sat in the corner seat. There were two cups of coffee on the table, the steam long gone, and the coffee was slightly cool. The atmosphere in the corner was stiff and oppressive.

Not long after, David rushed in hurriedly. He spotted Lin Chen in the corner at a glance and quickly ran over, keeping his posture extremely low.

"Brother Chen!" David bowed his body, his face full of obsequious smiles, looking like a completely different person from the irritable and crazy one before.

Lin Chen raised his eyes and scanned him, not letting him sit, nor speaking. His aura made David feel completely uncomfortable.

David swallowed his saliva, bent over, and spoke in a subservient manner: "Brother Chen, I really know I was wrong. I shouldn't have gone against you, and I especially shouldn't have touched Chen Xi. Please spare me this once. I will be your servant in the future, and I will never dare to cause any trouble again!"

Lin Chen picked up the slightly cool coffee and took a sip, his tone indifferent: "Why didn't you think of that earlier?"

David's face stiffened, and he hurriedly apologized with a smile: "I was muddled; I was blinded by greed! Brother Chen, I am really willing to pay compensation, any amount will do. You name a price, and I will transfer it to you immediately. I only ask that you withdraw the evidence from the court and give me a way out."

"A way out?" Lin Chen put down the coffee cup, his eyes turning cold instantly. "When you sent people to stalk Chen Xi, wanting to snatch the evidence and destroy the documents, why didn't you think about leaving others a way out? When you arranged for people to ambush Sophia, wanting to kill her, why didn't you talk about leaving a line of retreat?"

The series of questions left David speechless, his face turning alternately green and white.

Li Wei stood behind Lin Chen, staring fiercely at David. Seeing that he still wanted to pester them, he immediately shouted angrily: "Enough nonsense! My Brother Chen has already made it clear. You have to bear the consequences of the rotten things you've done yourself. Get lost!"

David shuddered at Li Wei's imposing manner, but he was still unwilling. He reached out to grab Lin Chen's arm: "Brother Chen, don't be like this. Let's discuss this again. I really cannot afford to have anything happen to me..."

Lin Chen sidestepped to avoid him, his eyes firm and decisive, and his tone left no room for discussion: "There is nothing to discuss. The evidence has been submitted, the process is underway, and it is too late."

This sentence completely shattered David's last shred of fantasy.

The obsequiousness and humility on his face faded bit by bit. His body trembled slightly. With his head lowered and his long bangs covering his eyes, his gaze became incredibly sinister. Malicious thoughts of unwillingness surged in his heart, but he dared not act out on the spot.

David knew that begging further would be useless. Lin Chen was determined to fight him to the end.

He slowly straightened his body. There was no longer any humility on his face, replaced instead by a grim look of someone who had nothing left to lose.

David stared fixedly at Lin Chen, took two steps back, his voice hoarse and cold.

Before leaving, David threatened mutual destruction.