Chapter 2738
Regina let out a long, drawn-out “Oh,” her brows knitting together in concern. “But I just can’t shake the feeling that Nolan isn’t that kind of guy. Are we barking up the wrong tree here? What if this plot of land really did just fall into the lap of the Harris Group through legal procedures? Then our whole investigation is off track, isn’t it?”
The seasoned colleague glanced at her with a hint of disdain. “You’re just too green, kid. You haven’t seen the shady side of this town yet. Maybe in your eyes, the big boss of the Harris Group looks too young and dashing to be involved in dirty deals, with plenty of cash to boot. But let me tell you, it’s exactly because he’s loaded that he can easily brush off any dirty business. Do you even know how they got their wealth? And here you are, ready to vouch for his character. You’re a journalist, for heaven’s sake. You should at least approach this with an impartial heart! You’ve already got a soft spot for him – how on earth are you going to uncover the truth?”
Regina’s frown deepened. She had to admit, her few brief encounters with Nolan had instilled a sense of trust in the man, but she wasn’t about to play favorites. If she was being accused of misplaced trust, then the colleague was equally guilty of undue criticism.
His sarcasm was palpable, insinuating that Nolan’s money was all tainted.
Just then, another reporter nudged her colleague’s leg. “Hey, ease up, will you? Both of you should cool it. We won’t know which way to go with this investigation until that homeless guy decides to talk. Everything else is just speculation right now.”
Regina nodded, found herself a quiet corner, and crouched down with her notepad, sketching out a web of relationships.
–
For some inexplicable reason, she felt that Nolan – and by extension, the Harris Group had nothing to do with this mess.
Developers? Local residents? The Harris Group?
She listed these potential players in her notebook, circling ‘developers’ with emphasis.
She needed to dig deeper into this elusive developer. Ever since the scandal broke, they seemed to have vanished without a trace.
Was there really such a thing as a flawless developer?
Regina was skeptical. Yet, so far, all the information she found online showed nothing but praise, which only fueled her doubts.
Meanwhile, the homeless man shuffled back, His sneakers tattered, choosing a spot not too far from Regina under a tree. He spread a grimy, colorless jacket over himself and curled up to sleep on the bare ground.
Regina was taken aback; he hadn’t eaten anything since she’d been watching. Had he been going without food for days? That seemed impossible.
But the next day, as she followed him through the city, she was shocked to her core. He was rummaging through trash bins!
Like Regina, the senior reporter from the previous night was trailing the man as well.
Seeing Regina’s shock and her impulse to intervene, he shook his head. “Better to pretend you didn’t see anything. Even in his state, the man’s got his pride.”
Regina bit her lip, her forehead creased with worry. She didn’t know how to help this man out of his plight. He was so young, yet radiated a profound sense of despair.
Eventually, she couldn’t resist. She found a secluded spot and dialed Nolan’s number.
She had his number in their last encounter, but in a stubborn move, Regina had never called him before.
