Chapter 5

The three women surrounded Vanessa, scrutinizing and probing, their gazes a mix of shock. They were all familiar faces, but three years had passed, and they had all changed.

Back then, when she was driven away, the Voss family had given her father money, entrusting him to take good care of her.

They had assumed Vanessa had been living well all these years, but they never expected her to end up looking like this.

"Isn't this Miss Voss?" A woman's voice was sharp, mocking in a slow, deliberate tone, before she changed her tune. "Ugh, never mind, I forgot, the one in front of us is just a fake."

After a burst of laughter, another woman chimed in.

"What, did you come looking for Bart, realizing that you can't seduce Julian looking like this, so you're settling for second best?"

"Freda, what are you saying? Looking like her, even hooking up with Bart is a stretch."

"You're reminding me, she's a shameless hussy. Back then, Julian didn't want her, so she hired someone to kidnap Ivy Solace, causing her death..." Freda Moore glared at Vanessa, as if wanting to gouge her eyes out, while loudly proclaiming, "How dare you still be alive?"

Vanessa's lips trembled, a flicker of fear crossing her dim eyes. Julian had choked her neck back then, asking her the same question.

She had cried and said it wasn't her, that she was a victim too.

Julian didn't believe it.

No one believed it.

In court, the kidnappers accused her, her parents suspected her, the lawyer presented irrefutable evidence, and she couldn't defend herself. That was then, and it was still the same today.

"What's the matter, cat got your tongue?"

"Feeling guilty, are we?"

The wind blew rain inside, soaking half of her clothes. Standing in the cold wind, she accepted the accusations. "It's my fault, it's all my fault..."

The words stunned Freda and the others. Someone so arrogant was actually speaking to them so meekly.

Straightening her face, Freda chuckled. "So you know it's your fault now? Why didn't you admit it in court back then?"

Vanessa didn't argue. She was shoved a couple of times, her body falling into the rain, teetering.

Lacking her retaliation, the event lost its appeal. Julian extinguished his cigarette and was about to sit back down when the argument downstairs intensified. Provoked, perhaps, by Vanessa's submissive appearance, Freda raised her hand and slapped her.

Adrian immediately stood up straight, waiting for Vanessa's reaction, but she only covered her face, not moving. Freda grabbed her arm and pushed, and she rolled down the steps. The security guards at the clubhouse were alerted and rushed over.

Fortunately, the injuries weren't serious. A fall and a slap were much lighter than a living life.

Vanessa was drenched, cowering in the back seat of the car. Sitting beside her was Julian, one calm and indifferent, relaxed and detached, the other miserable and defeated, like a stray dog.

They seemed like people who shouldn't be in the same space at all.

There were towels in the car, but Julian didn't offer one to Vanessa. However, if she begged him, he might show some mercy.

Just like before, when she would tug on his perfectly tailored suit sleeve, cooing, "Julian, please help me, just this once..."

But he didn't know.

A plea for help that is not answered for a long time can make a person lose heart.

Even if she had another chance to gain sympathy, Vanessa would not speak again. Hitting a brick wall too many times hurts.

"Adrian went to find Bart. I'll take you back." Julian clarified his position, sitting on the same row as Vanessa, yet appearing miles apart.

Vanessa's tone was even more detached than his. "Actually... I can go back by myself."

So he had made a presumptuous offer?

The corners of Julian's mouth curved into a self-deprecating smile. "This is Adrian's request."

In other words, it wasn't that he wanted to meddle.

"I know."

Julian didn't look at her, but he could feel her face tilt up slightly, a faint gaze being cast toward him. Every word she spoke was with immense courage. "I know you don't want to see me again. In the past, I was ignorant and made many mistakes, causing you a lot of trouble. I won't make those mistakes again."

"Those mistakes?" Julian turned his head. "Meaning?"

Vanessa lowered her head again. "Liking you."