An Unexpected Invitation

If you show me respect, I’ll show you respect.

This was Lake’s consistent style. Since the California FBI chief had shown him respect, Lake wouldn’t hesitate to reciprocate when the time came.

Initially, the California FBI chief’s call was to tell Lake not to hold back, to investigate thoroughly, and that he guaranteed no one would be protected.

But…

That’s what he said, but Lake wouldn’t actually do that. If he did, their relationship would undoubtedly plummet to an all-time low.

However, Lake stated that he wouldn’t let anyone involved with his stolen vehicle off the hook.

So.

After telling the California FBI chief the name of the African-American federal agent, Billy Kings, Lake directly stated his demand: how the FBI handled it was their business, but he didn’t want to see this African-American in any capacity.

The California FBI chief immediately agreed.

After all, if Lake were to investigate Billy Kings on thirty-two federal charges, it would be a huge embarrassment for the FBI, not to mention the involvement of the wife of the state senator, Ms. Dek, who was also the director of the Los Angeles Women’s Protection Agency.

Thus.

When Lake returned to his hotel that evening, the case of his stolen vehicle was successfully concluded.

Of course.

It wasn’t a perfectly concluded ending.

His car had been spray-painted, but fortunately, the general agent for Porsche in California had gotten wind of the situation and had the Los Angeles dealer call Lake, stating that their company was willing to replace his car with a custom-ordered version for free. Of course, it wasn’t entirely free.

Porsche hoped to get Lake’s permission to use this story, modify it, and see if it could be made into a movie or something.

Lake considered it and agreed, but with the condition that he had to review the script first.

The other party readily agreed. After taking down Lake’s customization requests, they said that by the time Lake finished his vacation and returned to New York, his new car should have arrived from the headquarters.

Only then was Lake satisfied.

This also proved Lake’s point: it wasn’t just about the car.

But…

On the third day.

Lake’s mouth twitched as he looked at the headline in a third-rate Los Angeles tabloid: "A Shocking Case Triggered by a Car!!"

It wasn’t about the car.

Lake gritted his teeth. If he wasn’t planning to leave for Santa Barbara with Rachel and Josie for vacation today, he would have definitely found the anonymous author tonight to have a chat.

The Sun, where Rachel worked, had also put the Los Angeles human trafficking case on its front page yesterday morning.

The news caused a huge sensation as soon as it was published.

After all, Rachel’s report not only reconstructed the crime scene from the moment it happened but also was the first to obtain testimony from the rescued women at the hospital.

It was a story that made people feel like hell was empty and the devil was in the human world.

And this devilish father and son were actually Los Angeles City Council members?

Was this a joke?

The Governor of California was troubled.

The Mayor of Los Angeles was besieged by local women’s protection agencies, and countless Hollywood actresses gave interviews directly targeting the Los Angeles City Council members and the Mayor, unleashing a barrage of criticism. The Mayor of Los Angeles’s approval rating instantly plummeted to freezing point, and his chances of re-election this year were likely completely dashed.

As for Billy Kings?

He had disappeared.

Within half an hour of Lake’s call with the California FBI chief, the FBI’s internal affairs department had already taken him away.

With Billy Kings’ arrest, all operations led by him were naturally halted. The California FBI chief even issued a directive to freeze all actions without his permission.

Lake discussed with the California FBI chief on the phone about when he would come to New York so he could treat him to drinks, then hung up and tossed the third-rate tabloid aside.

This was the "you help me, I help you" principle.

Although…

Lake hadn’t intended to ask the FBI for help, since they had offered, he didn’t say anything.

After Lake hung up the phone, Rachel walked over and kissed him, saying, "Thank you."

Lake asked curiously, "Thank you for what?"

Rachel replied, "For my useless brother."

Lake responded with an "Oh," and said, "I didn’t say anything."

Rachel nodded, "I know, so thank you."

Lake smiled, stood up, embraced Rachel, and said with a smile, "You are my woman, and undoubtedly, you have the right and the qualification to share everything I have."

Regarding marriage, Lake and Rachel had already discussed it.

The result…

Was acceptable.

Rachel smiled faintly, met Lake’s gaze, and then they kissed passionately.

Not far away.

Eight-year-old Josie, with a dark line across her forehead, coughed and said to the two uninhibited adults in the living room, "Hey, aren’t we going to Santa Barbara?"

Lake and Rachel separated, looked at Josie, exchanged a glance, and then burst into laughter.

Santa Barbara!

Located north of Los Angeles, facing the Pacific Ocean, it ranked fourth among the top ten most livable cities for federal tycoons. Even Tony Stark, who owned a mansion on a mountaintop in Malibu, also had a self-built estate in Santa Barbara.

As expected.

Rich people’s houses are measured in estates.

On the way to Santa Barbara for vacation, Rachel, sitting in the passenger seat, hung up the phone and looked at Lake, "Brian is an undercover agent?"

Lake looked at Rachel.

Rachel said, "Mia just called and said Brian confessed to her."

Lake raised an eyebrow.

Rachel said with a bit of amusement and curiosity, "Brian said he likes Mia and doesn’t want to deceive her, so he revealed his undercover identity to Mia himself."

Lake said, "So what if he revealed it? Anyway, the undercover operation is over."

Rachel looked at Lake, "So, you knew Brian was undercover?"

Lake nodded, "I found out when I was looking for a car."

Rachel said, "Oh."

Lake then asked curiously, "What happened next? Did Mia angrily kick Brian out, or did she choose to forgive him?"

It should be the latter.

Rachel shook her head, "I didn’t ask, but judging by Mia’s tone, it seems she’ll probably forgive him. After all, if Brian revealed his undercover identity, doesn’t that mean he was fired?"

Lake nodded, "That’s the normal procedure, but it’s rare. Since his undercover operation was frozen, even if he was exposed, it wouldn’t cause much trouble. However, his supervisor is being investigated, so even if he went back, he’d just be put on the cold bench."

Moreover, given his friendship with the head of the California Federal Bureau, he’d likely be put on the coldest bench of all, even if it was just a cold bench.

Soon.

The full view of the town of Santa Barbara appeared before their eyes.

Lake and Rachel didn’t bother with the story unfolding behind them in Los Angeles anymore; there was nothing worth discussing.

Dominic Toretto’s trouble had been resolved. Before leaving, Rachel gave Dominic a call, telling him this was the last time, and if there was a next time, she swore she would have Lake arrest Dominic.

Lake listened from the side with a helpless expression, but he was also relieved, at least Rachel wasn’t the type to spoil her brother.

As for the downfall of Fast & Furious.

Lake didn’t feel much about it. Let it collapse if it wanted to.

Right.

Lake stopped at the villa entrance. As he got out of the car, he seemed to recall a problem: if Fast & Furious played out normally, it seemed there was a villain named Seifer in the future?

Could it be my Seifer?

Lake blinked his eyes, then shook his head. It was unlikely. That Seifer wanted to destroy the world, while his Seifer was just a simple and ordinary young girl.

Well.

For Westerners, having the same name is very normal.

He opened the villa door.

"Wow."

Josie exclaimed as she looked at the layout of the villa’s main hall, especially the floor-to-ceiling windows opposite, which offered an unobstructed view of the private beach.

Josie ran quickly, opened the floor-to-ceiling windows, and ran out.

Rachel called out to Josie to be careful, then surveyed the surroundings and looked at Lake, "Whose villa is this? Your boss’s?"

Lake shrugged, "The Mayor of New York’s."

Rachel blinked.

Lake said, "My friend, that crime novelist Cassel, is good friends with the Mayor of New York. Coincidentally, he rented it to me at a very favorable price."

Rachel smiled, "I thought he would lend it to you."

Lake shrugged, "Lending it would be a big favor. Renting it is also a favor, but a smaller one."

Initially, the mayor offered to lend it for free, but Lake didn’t agree. It was better to rent it for a smaller amount of money. At least this way, if something happened in the future, he could decide how to handle it.

If it was easy, he could return the favor. If it wasn’t, he could directly decline.

Josie, outside, turned and shouted to the two still looking at the layout in the living room.

A while later.

Lake, wearing a T-shirt and beach shorts, and Rachel, who had changed into a bikini that showed off her figure, also walked out of the living room onto the private beach.

Lake, holding a glass of Bourbon, sat on a lounge chair, facing the sun, and savoring the Bourbon in his hand.

"Mom!"

Josie, who had been walking on tiptoe by the beach, ran over and pointed to a faintly visible manor on the mountain near the sea. "What is that place?"

Josie wasn’t envious, just a little curious.

This was the beach.

If you build on a mountain, how do you get to the beach?

Hearing Josie ask Rachel this, Lake had to admit he was just as curious. You buy a seaside vacation villa, but instead of one close to the beach, you build it directly on a mountain. Is this meant for vacation?

However, it was normal for top-tier rich people to have unusual ideas.

Rachel explained it to Josie using her imagination, then waved the sunscreen in her hand at Lake. "Honey, can you put some on me?"

Lake put down his Bourbon.

Just then.

The doorbell to the villa rang.