Chapter 4: Following the Money

The restaurant lobby fell into complete silence.

No one dared to move after the finance director's confession.

Dennis stared at him as if he had misheard.

"Repeat what you just said," he ordered.

The finance director swallowed hard.

"Those additional charges... they've been appearing on customer bills for almost a year."

"Not every customer questioned them."

"Most assumed they were luxury service fees because of our Michelin rating."

"Some VIP clients even tipped on top of them."

Dennis slowly lowered the invoice in his hand.

"Who approved them?"

"I... I don't know."

"The fees appeared in the billing software after one of the system updates."

"Manager Jessica handled most customer complaints herself."

"She always said the owner had approved the changes."

Jessica immediately shook her head.

"That's not true!"

"You're trying to blame me!"

"Am I?" Dennis asked coldly.

"Then explain why this invoice contains charges I've never seen before."

"I... I..."

She couldn't answer.

Theresa quietly watched the exchange.

Her expression remained calm, but inside she was deeply disappointed.

When she invested in Dennis's dream five years ago, she hadn't simply given him money.

She had trusted him.

She had believed he would build a business founded on honesty.

Instead, someone had quietly turned it into a machine that deceived customers.

"Dennis," she said softly.

"This isn't just about today anymore."

"Your restaurant may have committed consumer fraud."

Those words landed like a bomb.

Several employees exchanged nervous glances.

The guests who were still recording immediately looked even more interested.

Dennis took a slow breath before turning to his finance director.

"Bring me every financial report from the last twelve months."

"Every invoice."

"Every refund request."

"Every customer complaint."

"I want everything."

"Yes, sir."

The finance director hurried away.

Jessica suddenly grabbed Dennis's sleeve.

"Dennis, please listen to me!"

"I only wanted the restaurant to earn more money."

"Our profits increased because of those fees."

"Customers who can afford to eat here won't miss a few thousand dollars."

"Do you hear yourself?" Dennis asked quietly.

"You stole from people."

"That's not business."

"That's fraud."

"But everyone does it!"

"No."

"Not in my restaurant."

Theresa folded her arms.

"Actually... that's no longer the biggest problem."

Everyone looked toward her.

"The problem is that those fake charges were added to an accounting system connected to White Capital."

"Which means..."

She looked directly at Dennis.

"As the majority investor, I'm legally responsible to disclose possible financial misconduct."

Dennis's expression darkened.

"You mean..."

"If we don't report this ourselves, regulators will."

"Exactly."

"And the penalties will be much worse."

Jessica's face turned pale.

"No..."

"You're not actually going to report this?"

Theresa looked at her without emotion.

"You weren't worried about consequences when you locked me in that storage room."

"Actions have consequences."

Before Jessica could respond, the restaurant's front doors opened again.

This time, two uniformed police officers walked inside.

"We received a report regarding unlawful detention and assault," one officer announced.

"Who made the call?"

Jessica instinctively stepped backward.

Dennis walked forward instead.

"Officer, I'm Dennis White, owner of this establishment."

"I'd like to file an official complaint against my former manager."

"Former manager?"

"She was terminated five minutes ago."

The officer nodded.

"We'll need statements from everyone involved."

"Of course."

For nearly two hours, employees, customers, security guards, and Theresa each gave detailed statements.

Several guests willingly handed over videos they had recorded.

One businessman even provided footage showing Jessica ordering security to grab Theresa before any attempt had been made to verify her identity.

"This will help a great deal," the officer said.

"Thank you."

Meanwhile, another officer questioned Jessica.

"Did you order your staff to physically detain Ms. White?"

"Yes... but..."

"Did you verify her identity first?"

"No..."

"Did she physically threaten anyone?"

"No..."

"Did she attempt to leave without discussing payment?"

"She... she wanted to call someone..."

"So your answer is no."

Jessica lowered her head.

"Yes."

The officer calmly wrote everything down.

"Based on the evidence presented today, you're under investigation for unlawful detention, assault, attempted extortion, and possible financial fraud."

Jessica's legs nearly gave out.

"Please... there has to be some misunderstanding..."

"You can explain everything at the station."

The handcuffs clicked around her wrists.

Gasps spread through the restaurant.

Only an hour earlier, Jessica had been proudly giving orders.

Now she was being escorted out by police officers.

As she reached the entrance, she suddenly turned toward Theresa.

"You're doing this because you're rich!"

"You think money makes you better than everyone else!"

Theresa calmly met her gaze.

"No."

"Money didn't put those handcuffs on you."

"Your choices did."

Jessica was led outside.

Camera flashes from reporters waiting near the entrance immediately illuminated the sidewalk.

Someone had already leaked news of the incident.

Inside, Dennis remained standing in the lobby, staring silently at the empty reception desk.

"I'm sorry," he finally said.

"I failed you."

Theresa sighed.

"You didn't fail me."

"You failed yourself."

"You built this restaurant with passion."

"Then you became so busy expanding your business that you stopped paying attention to what was happening inside it."

"A good owner delegates responsibilities."

"A great owner still verifies them."

Dennis lowered his head.

"You're right."

"Can you forgive me?"

Theresa looked at her younger brother for a long moment.

"That depends."

"On what?"

"Whether today's lesson changes you..."

"Or whether you're only sorry because you got caught."

Dennis didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he walked toward the finance office.

"Call every customer who dined here during the last twelve months," he instructed the finance director.

"Audit every bill."

"Refund every fraudulent charge with interest."

"Even if it bankrupts this restaurant."

"We'll earn our reputation back honestly."

Theresa smiled faintly.

For the first time that day...

She saw the younger brother she had believed in five years ago.

But before she could say another word, Amelia's phone rang.

She answered quickly.

Her expression changed instantly.

"Ms. White..."

"White Capital's legal department just discovered something."

"The fake service charges weren't only added to this restaurant."

"The exact same billing software has been installed..."

"In all twenty-three restaurants owned by the White Dining Group."