Chapter 14: The Arrest

"Didn't you hear, Henry?" Leah Mitchell's voice rang out sharply. "Bow down and apologize now!" Choruses of agreement swelled around them. "Just do it," one voice cried. "It's not like it'll cost you anything." Rowan Erickson, having held her tongue till now, finally intervened. "Mr. Smith, aren’t you pushing it a bit too far?" "Ms. Erickson," he smirked, "this is an internal Mitchell family affair. And really, he's just a waste of space. Wouldn’t want you getting your hands dirty." Joseph Mitchell, looking for approval, jumped in. "Exactly, Ms. Erickson. We need to set a precedent. Business with the Mitchell family is always strict and seamless." Henry turned to Sophie, searching her eyes. They shimmered with tears, her mouth opened and closed, unable to find words. Henry chuckled, a laugh tinged with melancholy and despair. He strode to Theo, who eagerly anticipated Henry's prostration. But to everyone's shock, Henry's hand connected with Theo's face. The force sent Theo sprawling. Everyone was stunned. Theo, from his undignified position on the floor, howled in pain and humiliation. Joseph Mitchell's face was a mask of fury. "Surround him," he barked, and Henry was immediately encircled. But with an air of indifference, Henry simply returned to his seat and continued sipping his tea. Three police officers soon entered the hall. Ella Mitchell, who had been waiting for this, eagerly stepped forward. "Officer Wang, Henry and Sophie Mitchell are behind the fake makeup scandal and he assaulted someone. Arrest them." Before they could respond, a voice called out from the entrance. "Stop!" Everyone turned to see who had intervened, and Officer Wang visibly paled. "Chief! I didn't expect you here." "Chief Campbell! Perfect timing! Arrest him!" Theo cried, struggling to his feet. But Henry, with a calm demeanor, interjected. "Maybe wait a minute before you regret this." The captain's anger flared. "Regret? Arrest them!" Yet as the cuffs were about to close around Henry's wrists, the chilling command echoed again. "Hold!" Everyone's eyes darted back to the entrance. The chief, with an imposing aura, walked in. The room was dense with tension, everyone eagerly anticipating the next move. Theo Roberts recognized the newcomer instantly and clung to the hope that their shared history would rescue him from this situation. But the stern Chief Campbell seemed averse to any favoritism. Just ten minutes earlier, a mysterious phone call had informed him of Theo's shenanigans, and now he was all business. Before Theo could plead, Campbell landed a stinging slap across his face. "That's for your father's sake, for not keeping you in line. You've got the audacity to cross anyone?" Campbell barked. "Arrest Theo Roberts and Ella Mitchell. They're behind the counterfeit makeup scandal that caused several hospitalizations due to allergic reactions, and they tried to frame others," Campbell declared. "Uncle Campbell, maybe there's been some mistake. Should I call my father?" Theo tried to negotiate. A second slap silenced him. Campbell's stern demeanor wasn't just for show - it was intended for a specific audience: Henry. "Grandfather..." Ella Mitchell, panicked, turned to Joseph Mitchell for support. "There must be some misunderstanding," Joseph said hurriedly, trying to defuse the situation. "My granddaughter and her husband couldn't have done this." Campbell, unfazed, countered, "Let the investigation decide that. Take them away!" As he left, Campbell paused briefly to glance at Henry, whose mysterious smile acknowledged the unspoken understanding between them. Daniel and Amanda Mitchell, once gleaming with pride, were now a mess of nerves and fear. Amanda, in tears, begged Joseph for help. Joseph, his face a shade of stormy gray, turned his frustration towards Henry and Sophie. "Because of your blunders, as the head of this family, I hereby expel you both and your parents from the Mitchell clan!" "Papa..." "Grandfather..." "Silence! Family law stands firm," Joseph thundered. The room fell into an eerie quiet. To Joseph, what was meant to be a celebratory feast had been completely ruined by Henry's antics. "Bill, please," Joseph said tersely, eager to leave the scene and start working on freeing Ella and Theo Roberts. "Dad, the celebration was for Ella; we'll cover the bill," Daniel said quickly, hoping to gain some favor. Joseph's stern face softened slightly at the gesture. "Your total comes to 9.8 million," the waiter announced. "What?!" Daniel nearly keeled over. Even the worldly Joseph Mitchell couldn't mask his shock at the astronomical bill.