Volume 1: Fallen from Grace
Summary: Jack is fired, and his girlfriend Emily also leaves him, adding insult to injury. He begins to suspect those around him, unaware that the mastermind has already set a trap.
Chapter 2: Night of Betrayal
The piercing siren of a police car shattered the quiet night of New York, tearing apart Jack Ryan's last defenses. He was shoved into the cold backseat of a patrol car, his wrists bound by glaring silver handcuffs that felt like an icy serpent, tightly restraining his freedom.
Outside the window, neon lights flickered, shadows interlacing, familiar yet alien landscapes rushing backward. He had once cruised these streets countless times in luxury cars, basking in the city's opulence and hustle. Now, he was being escorted like a criminal toward an unknown abyss of darkness.
"Mr. Ryan, it's best you cooperate with us," said an FBI agent sitting in the front seat without turning around, his tone cold and emotionless.
Jack remained silent, knowing any defense would be futile. They had gathered "evidence" sufficient to ruin him. But he knew the evidence was fabricated, part of a meticulously planned conspiracy.
The car sped through the night, finally stopping at the FBI headquarters downtown Manhattan. Jack was led into a chilly interrogation room containing only a table and two chairs, the walls adorned with harsh white lights that induced a sense of oppression and suffocation.
Two agents sat opposite him, launching into a prolonged interrogation. They took turns questioning him, their tone stern and relentless, aiming to break down his mental defenses.
"Mr. Ryan, we have concrete evidence showing that over the past year, you repeatedly engaged in stock trading using insider information, making illegal profits amounting to millions of dollars."
"No, I didn't!" Jack defended himself hoarsely, his voice strained from hours of questioning, "I never did such things! This is a setup!"
"A setup? Mr. Ryan, are you questioning our investigative capabilities? We have evidence including your bank records, transaction logs, and even testimonies from informed sources." The agent sneered, his tone laced with mockery.
Jack's heart sank to rock bottom. They were too well-prepared; there seemed to be no loopholes. His bank statements had been tampered with, transaction records maliciously altered, and even people close to him had turned against him, testifying to his alleged crimes.
He realized this was a carefully orchestrated plot, and he was merely a sacrificial pawn. But he couldn't fathom who would go to such lengths to frame him or whom he had offended.
The interrogation lasted all night. Jack repeated his defense over and over again, but to no avail. The agents didn't believe him; they just wanted to convict him swiftly.
By dawn, when the first rays of sunlight pierced through the window into the interrogation room, Jack was utterly exhausted, feeling both physically and mentally on the brink of collapse.
"Mr. Ryan, we're giving you one last chance. If you confess, we can consider leniency," the agent said, his tone carrying a hint of temptation.
Jack lifted his head, staring at the agent's indifferent face, filled with despair. He knew admitting guilt meant conceding defeat, losing everything, and possibly facing imprisonment.
"I won't confess!" Jack roared, his voice brimming with defiance and anger, "I haven't done anything illegal! I will uncover the truth and clear my name!"
The agent shook his head and sighed. "In that case, Mr. Ryan, we must proceed formally."
Jack was officially arrested on charges of financial fraud and insider trading, detained in Manhattan Jail awaiting trial.
The detention center was grim, reeking of sweat and urine, with inmates looking menacing, ready for conflicts at any moment. Jack, once a Wall Street elite, had never experienced such filthy and brutal conditions.
Huddled in a corner, head in hands, he tried to stay calm. He knew he couldn't be defeated so easily; he had to find a way to uncover the truth and prove his innocence.
He needed a lawyer, someone trustworthy. But now penniless and disgraced, who would be willing to defend him?
Just as he felt utterly hopeless, a figure appeared before him—his lawyer, a young man named Daniel Green.
Daniel looked youthful but possessed eyes full of wisdom and determination. He told Jack he believed in his innocence and was willing to defend him.
"Mr. Ryan, I know you may not trust me, but I'm here to help. I believe you were framed, and I'll do my utmost to ensure you receive a fair trial," Daniel said sincerely and firmly.
Jack looked at Daniel, a glimmer of hope igniting within him. Finally, he found a ray of light, a lifeline to hold onto.
"Thank you, Daniel," Jack said hoarsely, his voice filled with gratitude, "I'll cooperate fully. I will uncover the truth and make those who framed me pay!"
However, just as Jack began to feel hopeful, he received a call—from Emily.
"Jack, I'm sorry, I… I've also been implicated. The company has fired me, and my bank account has been frozen," Emily's voice trembled with despair, "I… I don't know what to do."
Jack's heart sank further. He realized Emily had also become a victim of the conspiracy.
"Emily, don't worry, I'll find a way to help you," Jack comforted her, his voice laden with guilt.
"Jack, you… you should take care of yourself first," Emily choked out, "I know… I know you're innocent, but… I no longer have the courage to continue with you."
"Emily, what are you saying?" Jack asked incredulously.
"Jack, we… we should break up," Emily cried, "I… I don't want to be with you anymore. I need to start a new life."
With that, Emily hung up. Jack stared blankly at the phone, feeling his world completely shatter.
He lost his career, his reputation, and now, his love. He had nothing left.
Anger and despair surged within him, nearly overwhelming him. Clenching his fists tightly, his nails dug deep into his flesh.
"I won't give up!" Jack raged inwardly, "I will uncover the truth, and I will make those who framed me pay! Even if it costs me everything, I will exact revenge!"
That night, Jack Ryan swore he would return to Wall Street, reclaim what was rightfully his. He would make those who looked down on him, betrayed him, kneel before him, begging for forgiveness.
This was just the beginning. He didn't know how difficult the road ahead would be, but he knew he had to persist—for revenge, for justice, for everything he had lost!
That night, outside the jail's iron bars, the rain fell harder, seemingly lamenting Jack Ryan's fate. And this night of betrayal became an indelible scar in his life.