Sure enough, he was a goddamn player trying to have it all.
I said, "I won't marry you or drop the charges against Kate. It wasn'twho sued her in the first place."
Gabrielle askedto lend a hand to keep Claude's law firm from collapsing. Yet Claude wantedto marry him
and let his Kate off the hook.
| snorted, "Claude, | don't have the power to influence your and Kate's situation as you think | do. Maybe you
should ask the police what exactly Kate did to me. Or better yet, check if she's hurt other girls, too."
| helped Richard into the car, leaving Claude standing there, watching as we drove away.
"Have you heard about the Hilton family?" Richard asked as we got into the car.
"The Hilton family tore down the orphanage to build an amusement park. | can't even step foot in there. Even
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtthough my parents worked for the Hilton family, our relationship with them was purely employment. In the end,
it was because of Claude that things went south. To stand up against the most powerful family in town? | doubt
my parents would wantto take such a lone stand." | said it casually, leaving Richard at a loss for words.
Richard returned to his remaining house, far from my apartment. "Why don't you move in with me? We've got
plenty of rooms in the villa."
| shook my head. | couldn't let Richard waste any more ton me. "Richard, | can take care of myself."
Richard didn't try to stopfurther. With just a look, his assistant handedthe keys. "Young people always
want independence, but remember, I've got your back. No need for taxis anymore. I've arranged a new car for
you." When | saw the car keys, | realized Richard, even while in jail, knew | got bullied in a taxi.
My eyes welled up, and | couldn't
venet
help but cry on his shoulder like a child. I'd known Richard since lowas a baby. He was ten years older and
practically raised me.
Richard promised, "Sweetie, | couldn't do much from jail, but now that I'm out, | won't let anyone bully you
again."
I nodded, and my phone rang just
then. It was Ronald calling. "Ms. Floyd, we've found another young
girl's body today, burned. The Goodwin family is using this evidence to claim Ms. Goodwin's innocence. We
currently lack concrete evidence linking Ms. Goodwin to your abduction, so the Goodwin family has taken her
home. | called to warn you to be careful."
My hand trembled as | looked at Richard fearfully. "Isn't there any evidence from Daniel's side?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Ronald sighed, "Daniel's bank account shows a large transaction, but it doesn't link back to Kate. As for your
recording, it's not sufficient evidence."
| got the message. If | were alive, Kate's charges would be minor without solid evidence.
| asked again, "Are you investigating how the new victim got burned?"
Ronald added, "Dr. Hilton is assisting with the autopsy. Hopefully, we'll find new leads."
After hanging up, Richard was even more reluctant to letreturn to my apartment alone. "The apartment's
unsafe. If you insist on returning, I'll cwith you."
He was about to grab his luggage to
joinwhen stopped him. "No need. If anything happens, I'll tell you right away. Kate was just jealous of me
being around Claude. Now that I'm stepping back from Claude, she probably won't botheranymore.."