Chapter 6 Withdrawal

“Miss Sarah, we received a report and suspect you of multiple crimes including endangering public safety, academic fraud, and defamation. Please come with us for questioning.” Suddenly, a strange male voice came through the phone. Naomi's lips curled into the slightest smile. Looked like the police had arrived at the Judd residence. The charges against Sarah weren’t minor. Just the explosion in the school lab alone was enough to have her detained. There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the line— Then all hell broke loose. Sarah’s eyes were bloodshot, her delicate face twisted with rage as she screamed, “No! I didn’t do it! You’re lying! Naomi sent fake cops to arrest me! You can’t take me away! Ahhh! Naomi, I’m going to kill you!!!” Jeremy’s furious voice joined in. “Yeah—yeah! You’re just fakes Naomi sent! Get lost! Get out!” “Impersonating the police? I wouldn’t dare pull something that bold. But I wonder—does obstructing law enforcement add an extra charge?” Naomi let out a mock gasp, covering her mouth with a burst of delighted laughter. “Well, Sarah, don’t worry. I’ll be sure to visit you in prison.” Sarah’s rage gave way to shock, then to despair. Her voice cracked as she screamed. “Naomi! How dare you have me arrested! My mother’s still in a coma because of your family—how can you live with yourself!” “Yeah!” Flynn’s voice joined in, barely hiding his anger. “Sarah’s mother is still unconscious because of you—how can you call the cops on her!” Naomi sneered. “Sarah’s been reckless for too long. Getting hauled in by the police is the least she deserves. Enjoy prison.” And with that, she listened in satisfaction as Sarah’s screaming on the other end of the phone grew fainter and more desperate. “Now that we’re no longer pretending, I won’t bother being polite. When the Judd family’s company goes under, you’ll have no one to blame but yourselves.” “Naomi, you—!” Naomi didn’t bother listening to the rest of Flynn and the others’ nonsense. She hung up the call without hesitation. After years of taking crap from this family, having Sarah thrown in jail wasn’t even close to the end. It was just the beginning. Her face blank, Naomi sent out a mass message to every one of her business contacts. —“Withdraw all investments from the Judd family. Naomi.” The responses came almost instantly. “Received.” Back at the Judd estate, the sound of the line cutting off had Flynn practically seething with rage. “Well, well. Looks like she finally grew some wings and thinks she can fly. Daring to threaten us now!” Jeremy was the first to lash out. “Dad, Naomi’s bluffing! There’s no way she has that kind of power! What can she really do to the entire Judd family?” Harvey quickly chimed in, “Exactly! Without Naomi, you think our companies can’t survive?” Flynn furrowed his brows, thoughtful. He’d always underestimated Naomi—quiet, unassuming, always in the background. What if she was holding something powerful? Could she really have access to the Judd family’s core secrets? His expression darkened, a sinking feeling growing heavier in his chest. Suddenly, Jeremy’s phone rang. It was his company’s finance department. He answered with a frown. “What happened? What? The investors pulled out? Do you know why? Got it. I’m coming now.” Flynn and the others had gone pale listening to him. Naomi! They thought she was just bluffing— But she’d actually gone and messed with their funding! “Dad, I’m heading to the office. I refuse to believe Naomi has that kind of power! If it really was her, I swear she won’t get away with it!” Jeremy growled. He rushed to the company in a cab— And chaos greeted him. Phones ringing nonstop. People running around in panic. No one even noticed him walk in. “What the hell is going on!” Jeremy’s veins popped at his temples as he yanked a junior employee aside. “Sir, it’s bad! Ms. Naomi pulled all her sponsorship and funding. Our investors are bailing out—fast. Our stock prices are crashing!” Before the employee could even finish, the complaint line rang again, and he rushed off to handle it. Naomi! How could she have this much influence? Jeremy’s fists clenched, his body trembling with rage, eyes blazing with fury. He called Naomi—again and again— But no matter how many times he tried, no one picked up. Where the hell did she go! She blew up the company and just disappeared? This was all Naomi’s fault! Jeremy’s lips curled into a twisted, vicious smile. Fine. You want to hide? He had plenty of ways to drag her into the light. Decision made, he called the head of the PR department and barked out an order. “I need an emergency release. Spread rumors across every major media platform that Naomi faked her academic papers and pinned her crimes on her sister Sarah. Now go!” “But sir, all the investors are already pulling out because of Ms. Naomi’s announcement. We’re barely holding things together as it is. If we slander her now, I’m afraid—” “I said do it!” Jeremy’s face twisted in rage as he roared. “Y-yes, sir!” The moment the news hit the web, it went viral. Public opinion erupted. People, easily stirred, began to attack Naomi online. Her social accounts were flooded instantly. “I saw Sarah got detained. You mean she was covering for Naomi?” “She looked so helpless when they took her away… Poor girl. She’s just a foster kid. No way she could fight the real daughter. She probably had no choice but to take the fall.” “Sarah’s always been so sweet in our department, and her grades are amazing. No way she faked her research…” “Naomi is disgusting. Rich and ruthless, bullying the weak…” The narrative of a rich heiress abusing a poor adopted girl was an easy one for people to latch onto. And in terms of background alone, Naomi looked like the villain. A few people did try to defend her— But their voices were drowned in the flood of hate. Jeremy watched it all unfold, beyond pleased. He had even paid several entertainment PR firms to boost the post’s visibility. There was no way Naomi hadn’t seen it. And if she had, she’d have no choice but to come out and defend herself. Naomi’s inbox filled with hateful messages. Someone even mailed a razor blade to her door. Others found her building and started throwing eggs at her from the shadows. One hit her square in the face. The sticky mess of egg white slid down her cheek, and her rage flared to the max. Her hands clenched into fists. Enough is enough. If I swallowed this injustice now, I’d be the idiot. She picked up her phone and dialed the CEO of Ramsay Group. “Mr. Ramsay? Yes, it’s me. I need a favor...” At that same moment— Jeremy was sitting smugly at his desk, sipping tea as he watched the online frenzy. “Hah… Naomi pulled funding? I don’t know where she got that kind of cash, but let’s see how long she can keep up this little act. Sooner or later, she’ll realize she messed with the wrong person.” Suddenly, the sharp sound of leather shoes echoed from the hall. The largest investor in Judd Group—Mr. Ramsay of Ramsay Group—walked in. “Mr. Judd, because of your decision to spread malicious rumors and defame Ms. Naomi online, I’ve decided to pull out all investments from Judd Group.” “What?” Jeremy was completely stunned.