Chapter 3

That strike didn't hit a vital spot, so I could still move around.

After Janet helped me sit up, I scrolled through my phone to find the credit card record of the car repair fees and called the cops.

With this police report, I obtained more evidence.

Janet and I worked through the night.

As soon as we finished organizing all the evidence, my phone rang. It was Michael's assistant, saying he wanted to see me to discuss court testimony.

Janet anxiously grabbed my arm and said, "You can't go! You'll be alone! Who knows what will happen?"

I shoved a copy of the documents into her hand and casually touched the miniature camera on my collar. "Don't worry, if I can't handle it, I'll ask you to call the cops."

Janet tightened the grip on her phone, her palms sweating.

-

When I pushed open the meeting room door on the top floor of the law firm, I found only Sarah and a few security guards inside.

When she saw me, she smiled. "You owe me big this time. I brought you a lifesaver."

As she spoke, she opened the back door of the meeting room, and an old man in his sixties rushed in.

He fixed his murky gaze on me and said, "It's all your fault. My daughter died because we didn't have money for her treatment, and my wife killed herself. Give them back to me!"

He was all up in my face. I frowned and retreated, but Sarah pressed against my back and cheerily pushed me forward. "This is your chance to get probation, Jade. He's willing to settle if you give birth to a child for him as compensation!"

I stifled the tremor in my voice. "Does Terry know about this?"

Sarah looked at me with pity like I was a pitiful mouse. "Even if he knows, he'll only think you've sold your body to get probation."

The old man lunged at me and tore my clothes.

I struggled desperately and knocked him to the ground. I tried to run away, but Sarah stood in my way. While I was trying to free myself from her, the old man got back up and slapped me hard.

I was trapped.

"Jade, I'm helping you. Don't be so ungrateful!" Sarah said.

She then ordered the guards to pin me down.

I was thrown to the ground.

While I was shaking from the pain, my clothes were torn away, and that disgusting mouth kissed my neck.

Suddenly, the meeting room door was kicked open.

"Get out!"

Terry strode in and kicked away the man on top of me.

He wrapped his suit around me. I could still feel his warmth on the suit.

His anger made the entire room fall silent.

Sarah quickly stepped forward, looking frightened.

"Terry, Jade offered herself to the man to reach a settlement. You have to talk her out of it…"

She trailed off.

Terry stared at me, his eyes cold. "You're willing to throw away your dignity to avoid prison?"

I was stunned, anger boiling in my chest.

When he wrapped his suit around me earlier, I was about to recount my terrifying experiences to seek comfort from him. Only now did I realize how laughable that idea was.

I drew a deep breath, raised my hand, and gave him a hard slap. "Watch your attitude. I haven't settled the score from last time."

The air froze.

It wasn't until Michael entered the meeting room that the tense atmosphere thawed.

The trial date was approaching, and he repeatedly reminded me to take full responsibility for the crime.

I gripped the nearly ripped-off camera and nodded meaningfully.

-

On the day of the trial, Terry was kinder to me than ever before.

Before entering the courtroom, he even embraced me and gently whispered in my ear, "Don't worry, Jade. I won't let you go to prison."

I pushed him away in disgust, saying nothing.

After the trial began, the judge followed the usual procedures and announced my charges. "Jade Wilson allegedly fled the scene of the crime after causing serious injuries to a minor, resulting in her death. The crime is severe…"

The victim's father screamed at me, calling me an evil woman.

Amidst his outcry, the judge continued, "...but upon investigation, it was found that the above crime was committed by Sarah Horst. Defendants Terry Bolton and Sarah Horst, do you admit to coercing Jade Wilson into taking the blame?"

The audience gasped in shock.

Sarah's smile stiffened. She immediately looked at Terry nervously.

Terry's face hardened. He stared at me coldly, as if he wanted to shred me to pieces right there and then.

"What's the meaning of this, Jade?"

I calmly pushed away the materials Michael prepared for me. "I want to submit three new pieces of video evidence and a police record."

The clerk presented the evidence, which was then projected onto a screen.

When Sarah saw the contents on the screen, blood drained from her face, and Terry stood up furiously.