Chapter 350 Once
When the time came, she wouldn't just be unable to argue her way out, but she'd also face even more severe legal consequences.
Thinking about this, Charlotte's lips trembled slightly. She lowered her head and said in a barely audible voice, "I have nothing more to say."
Seeing that Charlotte had finally admitted to her actions, the police officer's tone softened a bit, but he still spoke sternly, "Charlotte, since you've admitted to intentional retaliation and malicious reviews, you must bear the corresponding legal responsibility."
Hearing this, Charlotte's face turned even paler. She asked in a trembling voice, "I don't have the money to pay for damages. Will I go to jail?"
The officer looked at Charlotte with a mix of helplessness and reproach in his eyes. He pursed his lips and said firmly, "Jail? Probably not, but detention is very likely. It all depends on how well you negotiate compensation with the victim."
"Look, that door has already been taken down. We took photos for evidence. The graffiti you sprayed on it is just awful, absolutely terrible. You can't get away without paying. So, you better contact your family and have them come over quickly to discuss the compensation. Otherwise, you won't be leaving today."
Charlotte listened to the officer's words, her face growing even paler. She knew she had caused a huge mess this time and wasn't sure if her family would blame her or if the compensation amount would be more than she could handle.
The officer, seeing her like this, sighed and continued, "You don't need to worry too much. As long as you cooperate, admit your mistakes, and do your best to compensate the victim, there's still a chance to turn things around. But remember, running away isn't the solution. Only by facing it bravely can you minimize the damage and strive for a better outcome."
Charlotte nodded repeatedly.
Bella and Anna walked out of the police station side by side, both letting out a long sigh of relief, as if they had just been through a harrowing storm.
"I never thought that something like graffiti, which isn't extremely serious, would be taken so seriously by the police, who quickly intervened to investigate," Bella said, feeling grateful to the officers.
Anna nodded in agreement, "Yeah, that's the charm of a country. No matter where you are, there's fairness and justice."
Bella smiled at Anna, "Well said, very insightful."
Anna grinned proudly, "Of course."
Since they couldn't be sure when they'd be able to leave the police station and return to the store, Bella and Anna decided to give the other employees the afternoon off, allowing them to arrange their own time freely.
As a result, the store was particularly quiet that afternoon, with just the two of them there.
Having woken up early to cooperate with the police investigation, they were still a bit tired even though the matter was resolved. They decided that instead of idling in the store, they might as well take the opportunity to go to the market and buy some supplies needed for the store's daily operations, as well as some ingredients for themselves.
So, they went to a nearby supermarket together, bought groceries, and returned home. They sorted the ingredients, keeping some for the store and some for their dinner.
After finishing these tasks, they both felt a bit exhausted and decided to take a nap in the afternoon.
Lying in bed, enjoying the afternoon tranquility, Anna suddenly turned to face Bella and curiously asked, "Bella, how's it going with that guy Rufus you've been talking to lately?"
Bella, with her eyes closed and a lazy smile on her face, gently shook her head, "Not much. I just reply to his order-related messages, like you suggested. I don't really engage beyond that."
Anna couldn't help but laugh, teasing, "Haven't you ever thought about having a passionate romance? Don't tell me you've never thought about it."
Bella slowly opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling, lost in deep thought. After a while, she spoke softly, with a hint of nostalgia in her voice, "In college, I did have that thought. Back then, it was James who gave me the urge to fall in love. His gentleness and thoughtfulness made me see the beauty of love. But later, Sterling crushed my budding romantic fantasies."
Sighing lightly, Bella continued, "Since then, I haven't thought about having a passionate romance. Until Sterling gave me a tumultuous relationship. It was truly intense, like the world was falling apart. He made me experience all the sweetness and pain of love, giving me a deeper understanding of it. So, asking me this now seems a bit silly, doesn't it? I've already had my intense romance, and such a profound experience isn't something everyone gets to have."
Anna thought of her own relationship with Caleb, and a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes.
Those three years, once thought to be sweet love, now seemed like a joke, making her realize she had been deceived and hurt.
Even when she started to suspect, she was still swayed by her lingering feelings for Caleb and almost fell into the trap again, nearly reaching the point of marriage.
Thinking about it, Anna shuddered, feeling an increasing fear and disgust towards Caleb. She was grateful she hadn't ended up marrying him, as the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Now, whenever she thought of Caleb, all she felt was endless fear and a desire never to see him again.
Turning to Bella, Anna curiously asked, "Bella, how do you feel when you think of Sterling now?"
Bella was momentarily stunned, then fell into deep thought. She knew that Sterling's name still had an indelible impact on her. That intense relationship, though it brought endless pain, also let her experience the sweetness and sorrow of love.
After a while, Bella spoke slowly, her voice tinged with complexity, "It's a mix of emotions. He gave me so many beautiful memories, but also so much pain. Sometimes I hate him for deceiving me, but other times I miss him and the times we had together."
As night fell and the clock quietly pointed to past seven, Anna and Bella slowly woke from their nap. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, feeling a bit groggy and lazy, Anna walked into the kitchen.
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