Chapter 133: Bottom Line
Brad was not like the rest of the Pitt family. Was it really wrong to generalize?
I thought about it for a long time to get the best answer.
The next afternoon, just before 2 PM, I got a call from the police. They needed to discuss and verify some details about that night in person.
The police station was close to the school, just two blocks from the side gate. Brad came with me.
When we got there, Daniel was already there, with Zoe behind him, her eyes red. She gave me a fierce look when I walked in, then lowered her head, pretending to be weak.
Logically, she should be crying, admitting her mistake, promising to change, and begging for forgiveness. After all, I was the victim. Why was she so resentful?
The officer who met us was a young guy in his twenties, thin and small, but with a strong presence. He slapped a folder on the table and looked up. Zoe visibly trembled, shrank her neck, and moved closer to Daniel, placing a hand on his shoulder for protection.
Daniel's eyes fluttered, his shoulder moving slightly, as if he wanted to shake off her hand, but he held back.
The officer first gave Zoe a stern lecture, explaining that her actions were illegal and that, as an adult, she would bear legal responsibility. Zoe's head hung lower and lower as he spoke.
Then it was my turn.
The officer said they had verified Zoe's recording, and it was authentic, confirming that Zoe hired someone to assault me, but the attempted rape had nothing to do with her. Since I was rescued in time and no serious consequences occurred, the police suggested a negotiation. If no agreement could be reached, the next legal steps would follow. He emphasized that the decision was up to me, the victim, and they would respect my choice. The two assailants would be dealt with separately.
Knowing the recording was real, my resentment towards Zoe lessened. As long as she didn't intentionally try to ruin me, I was willing to give her one last chance.
Both Zoe and I had deep ties with the Pitt family. I didn't want a future where we all sat together, harboring grudges and resentment, making the family feel anything but a family.
The negotiation was dominated by Zoe's crying, which annoyed both Brad and me. Daniel, who had been so indignant in the hospital room, stayed silent and neutral throughout.
At first, Zoe was somewhat putting on an act, probably thinking that if she cried and Daniel said a few words for her, things would blow over. After all, she had always handled things like this before.
But when she saw I wouldn't budge, Brad glaring at her fiercely, and Daniel staying silent, her attitude changed. Though she continued to cry, I finally felt some genuine emotion.
She kept apologizing, talking about how hard she worked to get into college and how happy her father in prison was when she got into grad school.
She was playing the emotional card.
Brad insisted on following legal procedures, saying being lenient with her would only cause more trouble later.
But seeing Zoe cry and hearing about her aging mother and father in prison softened my heart. I asked her to write a confession letter to me, and I'd let her go this time, but I reserved the right to sue her if she messed up again.
Zoe didn't want to write the letter, fearing I'd use it to blackmail her.
I sneered at that.
I was firm on the confession letter, no matter how much she begged.
I had my bottom line.
She had two choices: be sued or write the letter.
Even a halfwit would know what to choose.
Reluctantly, Zoe wrote a heartfelt confession letter, signed it, and pressed her fingerprint on it before handing it to me.
I then asked the police officer to witness it.
The mediation was successful, and he seemed a bit happy.
Brad didn't support my decision, and even Daniel was surprised.
I did it for Brad and for myself.
Daniel had said years ago he'd marry no one but Zoe, while Brad and I were in this situation. If we all ended up as one family, wouldn't it be awkward?
With this, the matter was concluded. I didn't care about their future actions, just prayed they stayed away from me. Now, I just cared about the competition and Brad.
It had been over half a month since I agreed to consider Brad as my boyfriend, and Brad had been asking about it almost every night recently.
I was a pro at painting but clueless about relationships.
Daniel had exhausted my youthful passion.
Louis had made me wary of complex relationships and the dark side of human nature.
This year, I turned twenty-two, a true adult. Dating wasn't just about me; it involved two families and the future. To be cautious, I decided to seek Helen's advice.
I booked a flight back to Sunhaven for Friday afternoon, as I had no classes.
At breakfast, I told Brad about going home. Brad said if it wasn't important, I shouldn't go back.
"I want to discuss with my mom if she'd be okay with changing the engagement from the younger brother to the older one. If you think it's not important, then forget it," I said mischievously.
Brad's eyebrows relaxed immediately. He leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head, and sighed expectantly, "It's been over twenty years, not easy at all."
Brad decided to come with me.
We didn't notify anyone and went straight home.
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