A Dangerous Atrophy

"It wasn’t me. You gotta believe me!” Jane Dunn stared stubbornly at the person in the car. The roaring rain had splashed across the car window, but she could still vaguely see that cold hard face beyond the wet window. Jane’s body shook as she stood outside the door, shouting at him past the car window, “Sean! At least hear me out!”

The car door opened suddenly, but before Jane could rejoice, she was yanked into the car ruthlessly. She fell onto his body, instantly drenching his crisp white shirt.

“Sean, I wasn’t the one who hired those thugs to hurt Rosaline...” As soon as Jane said that, a long and slender finger pinched her chin mercilessly. His uniquely deep and mesmerizing voice spoke above her head.

“Do you really like me that much?”

His cold voice, and that faint scent of tobacco—his scent.

“What?” Jane was a little dazed. Everyone and their mother knew that she liked him, so why was he suddenly asking her that now?

The man held Jane’s chin with one hand, while his other slender and strong hand stretched toward her. His finger landed gently on her cheek, wet and cold from the rain. Jane drowned in his warm tender eyes, losing herself completely. She could almost hear him asking her, “Are you cold?”

However, the man suddenly emanated a cold and cruel air, saying without any warmth, “Jane Dunn, do you really like me that much? So much that you would even kill Rosaline?”

A chill crept up from the bottom of her heart, spreading to her limbs. Jane woke up in an instant, and she could not help but smile wryly to herself… Of course, of course he would never treat her so tenderly. That was not warmth at all, only a satanic smile.

“I didn’t mean to kill Rosaline…” She wanted to defend herself.

“That’s right. You didn’t mean to kill Rosaline, you just hired some thugs to rape and defile her.” Fury and impatience began to shine in the man’s eyes. Without giving any time to explain, he simply reached over and tore off her clothes.

“Ah~!”

With a scream, Jane was violently pushed out of the car. She fell into the rain painfully, as the man's cold voice by her ear sounded especially loud in the rain.

"Jane Dunn, oh, Miss Dunn, I'll do to you exactly what you did to Rosaline. How does it feel like to be half-naked?"

Swoosh!

Jane raised her head abruptly, looking into the car in disbelief. The man was sitting inside and looking down on her from above. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his fingers slowly, saying, "I'm really tired right now, Miss Dunn. Please leave me."

"Sean! Hear me out! I really didn't…"

"If you want me to hear you out, sure." The man raised his gaze coolly and gave her a glance. "If you're willing to kneel in front of Stewart Manor all night, Miss Dunn, I might consider giving you ten minutes of my time. If I'm in a better mood, of course."

The car door slammed to a shut, and a handkerchief was tossed out of the car, drifting to the ground in front of Jane and getting drenched in the rain.

Jane lowered her head and picked up the handkerchief in the rain, clutching it tightly in her hand.

The car drove into Stewart Manor, and the ornate metal gate closed right in front of her without a single hint of mercy.

In the rain, Jane looked pale. She stood there for a long time before raising her head determinedly, walking to the main gate of Stewart Manor. Her lips were pressed tightly together, then she fell to her knees with a smack.

She was kneeling!

But not to atone for a crime!

It was only because Rosaline Summers was her friend! Since her friend was dead, it was only natural for her to kneel. It was not because she had killed Rosaline like everyone thought!

She was kneeling!

She was begging this man to give her ten minutes, to hear her out!

Her clothes were ripped to shreds. She covered her body with her hands, but her spine was straight. She was proud and she would stay proud even on her knees! She had her pride and her dignity; she was Jane Dunn of the Bund!

She got onto her knees stubbornly, all for a chance to explain. She never did what they accused her of doing, and she was not going to admit to something she did not do!