In the aftermath, neither Dalia nor the Qin family helped Damian. The Qin Corporation, like many others, relied heavily on bank loans, leaving little liquidity. There was no way they could spare a billion yuan to bail out Damian, and the heads of the Qin family were unwilling to do so. The third branch of the Qin family barely scraped by each year, unable to cover Damian's debts. They had hoped the Lin family, particularly Dalia, would assist. But with Dalia washing her hands of the matter, Damian was left to fend for himself.
The Lin Corporation, after the initial shock, took decisive action. They sued and reported the matter to the police, accusing the investors of slander, defamation, and disturbing the peace. Faced with the Lin Corporation's strong stance and Damian's inability to provide solid evidence linking the incident to the Lin family, the investors quickly lost ground. Left with no other option, some investors sued Damian for illegal fundraising and fraud, leading to his arrest and investigation.
The investigation revealed enough evidence from Damian's bank accounts and investor testimonies to secure a conviction. The third branch of the Qin family saw their properties and assets frozen by the court. A half-month later, Damian was sentenced to death, with a one-year reprieve, for illegal fundraising involving a billion yuan. He was also stripped of political rights for life and fined five million yuan, with all illegal assets confiscated. The news caused a sensation, not just in Oceanic City but nationwide. Although the Lin family distanced themselves from the scandal, their stock prices continued to fall, and the Qin Corporation suffered even more.
During this turbulent time, Dalia treaded carefully around Aaron, fearing his wrath. The atmosphere in the Lin household was tense, with everyone walking on eggshells, except for Zuri, who seemed unaffected and continued her life as usual.
One afternoon, Zuri joined Arianwen in sorting peanuts.
"Miss Zuri, you shouldn't be doing such dirty work. I can handle it," Arianwen said.
"It's fine. I've done much dirtier work before," Zuri replied, skillfully sorting the peanuts.
Arianwen looked at Zuri with a soft expression. "You've had a hard life, Miss Zuri."
"It's nothing," Zuri dismissed, then casually asked, "Arianwen, how did they find out Saira wasn't a Lin?"
"It was during a medical check-up. The blood type on the test results didn't match either Mr. or Mrs. Lin. Mrs. Lin then had a paternity test done, revealing the truth," Arianwen explained.
"Oh," Zuri nodded in understanding. "Did both my parents take the test?"
"Yes. Yours was done there too."
The details had faded over time, but Zuri remembered the significant points without recalling the specific testing center or other details.
"How did they find me so quickly?" Zuri inquired.
Arianwen thought for a moment. "Mrs. Lin was very anxious once she knew her daughter was switched. She immediately sent people to find you. It was like a miracle; they found you within half a month."
Finding her so quickly seemed almost unbelievable. Zuri's eyes narrowed.
"Arianwen, which center did the paternity tests?" she asked.
"Why do you ask?" Arianwen looked at her curiously.
"I'm asking for Azura. She always feels she doesn't belong to the Ye family and wants to do a paternity test."
On Lake Heart Island, Azura sneezed.
She rubbed her nose, muttering, "Who's thinking about me?"
Back at the Lin residence, Arianwen, suspecting nothing, smiled. "I'm not sure, but I can ask Uncle Wang for you."
"Thank you," Zuri replied with a smile. "Arianwen, who was it that found me? I should thank them."
"Your kindness is appreciated, but it's not necessary. They were just doing their job," Arianwen said.
"Still, I'd like to meet them. When I first returned, everything was a blur. Now that things have settled, I'm curious," Zuri insisted.
"I'm not sure, but the third uncle from the Qin family visited frequently during that time," Arianwen recalled.
"Damian's father?" Zuri asked, surprised.
"Yes."
After helping Arianwen store some of the peanuts in the kitchen for planting, Zuri was approached by a maid.
"Miss Zuri, Mr. Lin wants to see you in his study."
Entering the study, Zuri found Christian already there. Aaron gestured for her to sit and handed her a document.
"Take a look," he said.
Zuri skimmed through the pages. "The Harbor District is up for auction? Didn't you try to secure it beforehand?"
Aaron sighed. "We did everything we could. Sent gifts and bribes, but then there was a personnel change. The new person in charge is strict and insists on auctioning it."
The Lin family's previous investments, including villas, were now at risk, leaving them with nothing to show for it. This outcome didn't surprise Zuri. She remembered how a well-known real estate company in Oceanic City had almost secured a similar deal, only to lose everything due to a last-minute shake-up.
Zuri had hoped Aaron would make a foolish mistake, but he hadn't. However, that wasn't her primary concern. She had other plans.
"Father, why did you call me?" Zuri asked, feigning confusion.
"I want you and Christian to participate in the auction. Look over these properties and decide which is most suitable for the Lin Corporation," Aaron instructed.
Christian, eager to outshine Zuri, quickly suggested, "The plot near the seaport is ideal. It's perfect for villas or residential buildings, with a prime waterfront view."
Aaron listened without comment, then turned to Zuri. "What do you think, Zuri?"
After a moment's thought, Zuri pointed to a central location on the map. "I think this plot is the best."
Christian snorted. "You probably think it's the best because it's the largest. Women can be so short-sighted."