Chapter 69
Chapter 69:
The room erupted in chaos as various records flickered across the screen. Those who had mocked and belittled Ashton moments before now felt a deep sense of shame as he presented the evidence.
Although Ashton had resorted to hacking to gather the proof, he did so legally, with the police’s knowledge and in their company. Crucially, he not only proved his own innocence but also swiftly exposed the identities of those who had framed him.
With a multitude of police officers as witnesses, the slanderers found it impossible to deny the truth. Public sentiment, both in person and online, swiftly shifted. Those who had condemned Ashton moments before now turned their anger toward the girl and her father.
“Exploiting our sympathy to tarnish an innocent man? That’s despicable!”
“Remember how you claimed no girl would tarnish her own reputation to falsely accuse someone? What do you have to say now?”
“Revolting! Absolutely no dignity!”
The tide of outrage quickly swelled against the girl and her father, who stood aghast at the sudden reversal. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the girl’s father displayed a hint of remorse.
With a nervous smile, he turned to Ashton and offered an apology. “Mr. Baldwin, we’re deeply sorry. I was unaware of the actual situation. My daughter is still a child. She’s naive and doesn’t fully understand the consequences. Please, don’t hold this against her. I assure you, I will address her behavior.”
Ashton responded with a scornful expression. “You’re not apologizing for the mistake itself. You’re apologizing because you’re scared of being arrested.”
The girl’s father recoiled, exclaiming, “It can’t be that severe! We’ve acknowledged our mistake and apologized. Isn’t that enough?”
Ashton’s gaze was icy as he retorted, “I already gave you an opportunity, which you squandered. You seemed intent on ruining me. Do you really think a mere apology is adequate? I don’t believe it is.”
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Turning to the police officers, Ashton suggested, “Officers, wouldn’t it be appropriate to charge them with defamation for their harmful allegations and spreading misinformation?”
The officers exchanged a look before one of them responded, “It’s difficult to determine the exact charges at this time, but they are certainly under suspicion for defamation. We will detain them for a comprehensive inquiry.” The incident had already triggered significant social disturbance, and a mere apology fell short.
Several agitators among the crowd attempted to slip away quietly. However, Ashton’s keen eye quickly identified them. He called out, “And you there, the man in the red shirt and beach shorts, the one with the buzz cut and glasses, and the woman with the canvas bag and two necklaces. You’ve been riling up the crowd and fueling their animosity toward me. You were likely compensated for your actions. None of you will escape!”
The police swiftly took action, apprehending all the relevant parties involved.
Yet, the drama was far from over. Ashton declared, “And Tristan James, the mastermind. His actions have inflicted severe damage on both my reputation and that of the school. He needs to face the consequences!”
Lloyd concurred instantly, “Absolutely! If we don’t address this properly, it’ll reflect poorly on our school. Such behavior is completely unacceptable!”
With the president’s endorsement, the police approached the matter with full gravity. Officers split up to escort the suspects to the station for questioning, while a group swiftly made their way to Tristan’s house.
At that time, Tristan was comfortably nestled in bed, enjoying a nap. With Ashton’s reputation plummeting amid widespread online and offline criticism, Tristan felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He anticipated that by the time he awoke, Ashton would be incarcerated. His next step was to thoroughly humiliate Ashton, making him realize the price of crossing him.
Lost in his vengeful fantasies, Tristan was jolted awake by an abrupt knock at the door.
Being alone at home, he hesitantly rose to see who it was. Uncertain of who awaited him, Tristan opened the door with impatience.
However, as soon as he did, several police officers swiftly subdued him, pinning him to the floor.
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