"Prepare some hush money for the workers. Deal with the tomb tonight, and be quick about it. Understand? This must be kept secret, not a word leaked."
Secretary Zhang also understood the stakes. If word got out, Lin Group would face severe consequences.
"Yes."
Sitting in her classroom, Zuri felt her phone vibrate. She glanced at the message and put her phone away. The show was about to begin! Aaron's actions were predictable, but he seemed to have forgotten that "secrets can't be kept forever" and "walls have ears."
Zuri was in no rush to expose anything yet.
While Zuri orchestrated her plans, Dalia was falling apart.
"Third Brother, I spent a lot of money and finally found someone willing to help. Xiao Yu's death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment, with a one-year suspension. After a year, it can be reduced to life imprisonment, and then gradually shortened. He could be out in four to five years."
"How long is 'not long'?" Jonah was not satisfied with this outcome.
"The other party said it would take at least four to five years to make it happen; otherwise, it's impossible."
"Four to five years?! You want my son to stay in prison for four to five years? He's not your son, so you don't care, do you?" Jonah couldn't wait even a minute. When he visited his son last time, he saw the bruises on his body and heard his desperate pleas for help. How could he, as a father, bear to see his son suffer?
Dalia held back her anger. "Four to five years is the fastest possible time."
He didn't consider the severity of Damian's crime. Four to five years to go from a death sentence with reprieve to release was a remarkable feat.
"The fastest possible time?" Jonah sneered. "Someone told me they could get Damian out within a month. It seems you never intended to help. You're just stalling."
"Who told you that? It's impossible. They must be lying to you." Dalia's heart sank with a sense of foreboding.
"You don't need to know."
Jonah hung up and immediately called Zuri.
Zuri's phone vibrated in class. She glanced at it and, seeing it was Jonah, stood up and said to the teacher, Jason, "Mr. Dou, may I go to the restroom?"
Jason waved her off. "Go ahead."
Zuri took her phone and walked out of the classroom to a secluded corner.
"Have you made up your mind?"
"Can you really guarantee Xiao Yu's release within a month?" Jonah was still doubtful.
"Of course." Zuri sneered. There was no way she would let him out, but she had to keep up the pretense.
"But I can't trust you."
Zuri responded calmly, "It's actually quite simple to get your son out. Just buy back the shares from the defrauded investors and get them to withdraw their lawsuits. At the same time, hire the best lawyers to appeal. With these two steps, he'll be out."
Jonah was momentarily stunned, then laughed. "Do you have that kind of money?"
If he had had a billion back then, his son wouldn't have ended up in prison. It all came down to not having enough money.
"If I dare to say it, I have the means to back it up. If you don't believe me, ask your son if I have the money."
Her confidence swayed Jonah. Spending a billion to buy his secret was audacious.
"Alright. Once you buy those shares, I'll reveal all the secrets, including your true identity."
"Agreed."
After hanging up, Zuri went back to class.
Through the detective agency, Zuri obtained contact information for all the defrauded investors and invited them to a tea house.
Today, Zuri had reserved the entire tea house. As the investors arrived, they exchanged confused glances.
"Did you get the invitation too?"
"Yes. Did everyone get one?"
"Everyone."
"Do you think what they said on the phone is true?"
"I don't know."
"Many didn't come."
"I wasn't going to come either, but I wanted to see if it was real. If it is, I could recoup my losses."
Most who came had this mindset.
The group chattered, but the host was nowhere in sight.
"Are we being played? Why hasn't anyone shown up?"
"I knew it wasn't reliable."
Just as they were about to leave in disappointment, the tea house door opened. Zuri walked in, unfazed by their suspicious stares.
"Please, have a seat. I'm the one who called you. I'm here to buy your shares," Zuri said directly.
"You really want to buy our shares?"
"Yes," Zuri confirmed.
Some were wary. These stocks were essentially worthless. What was she planning?
"What's your motive?"
Zuri produced a document. "Sign this, and I'll buy your shares."
The document was passed around. Everyone understood her intention.
"You want to free Damian."
Zuri nodded. "You willingly gave him your money to invest. You know in your hearts whether he deliberately defrauded you. Now I'm offering to repay you, and in return, you release him. It's a fair deal."
Some agreed immediately. After all, keeping Damian locked up didn't benefit them; the money was more important.
But there were always those who wanted more.
"I disagree. You can buy my shares, but for a 10% premium, or I won't sign," a middle-aged man demanded.
A 10% premium on a billion meant an extra hundred million. If others followed suit, the price could balloon to two or three billion.
Seeing the man's stance, other investors fell silent, waiting.
Zuri wasn't angry. She calmly scanned the room. "Is that everyone's decision?"
No one responded, the atmosphere tense.
The middle-aged man smirked. "Our money has been tied up for so long. We deserve some interest. It's not unreasonable. If you want us to sign, show some sincerity. You won't get these shares at the original price."
Zuri looked around and stood up. "Then keep your shares and enjoy your lives."
She walked out.
The investors were stunned, not expecting her to leave so decisively.
Wasn't business about negotiation? How could she just walk away?