Chapter 452 Torture
"Yeah, share everything. Blast it in all the groups, on News Feed, Twitter, every social platform. Let's totally expose Jenny and make everyone hate her." Amelia rolled up her sleeves, ready to jump into action. If Jenny were here, Amelia would probably rush over and kick her until she was down for the count.
Amelia's genuine concern for me was really touching.
But my dad always said that valuable resources should be used where they were most needed.
After Jenny tried to mess with Brad, not only did she fail, but Brad and I ended up getting together for the first time. Later, he even went to the mountains to find me. This really pissed Jenny off, and she wasn't going to let it slide; she'd definitely come up with another way to cause trouble.
The evidence I had needed to be saved for the perfect moment, to deliver a knockout blow that would leave her no room to fight back or escape.
So, it wasn't the right time to use the evidence yet.
The next day, Elliot and I went to find a senior from the geology department to talk about some exploration stuff. When we got there, we realized she was actually a stunning senior named Bronte Langley.
Her short hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, and she had a sun-kissed complexion along with a tall, slender figure standing about 5'6". She wore a denim patchwork jacket, tight jeans that hugged her long, straight legs, and black ankle boots that added to her youthful and energetic vibe.
She was dazzling.
At first glance, I was drawn to her—not just for her looks, but for her warm and vibrant personality.
After we exchanged greetings and sat down, Bronte let out a hearty laugh, her eyes filled with warmth and admiration, like a mom watching her kid grow up.
I looked at myself, finding nothing out of place.
Noticing my confusion, Bronte gave my hand a reassuring pat across the table, her smile growing brighter. "You're exactly as I imagined—beautiful, with a stunning figure and impressive talent. You deserve Brad."
Bronte also knew about Brad and me being a couple, which meant that probably the whole school knew.
As soon as Bronte mentioned Brad's name, I got on high alert.
Could Bronte be another admirer of Brad, like Jenny?
Seeing my tense and defensive look, Elliot laughed uncontrollably, showing no respect for me. "Jane, your jealous look is hilarious."
It wasn't just jealousy.
I forced a smile at Elliot. "Elliot, don't talk nonsense. I'm just in awe of Bronte's charm."
"Right, you're not jealous. My bad. You're too funny." Elliot laughed so hard he almost tipped over his chair.
Feeling a bit embarrassed by Elliot's laughter, I secretly stomped on his foot under the table, grinding my heel in.
Elliot yelped in pain, stopping his laughter.
After our playful banter, we got down to business.We were all pros, and as soon as we started talking serious stuff, we got into the zone. In just a few minutes, we decided to head to Silverbrook City for a field exploration in two days.
Those two days were for getting the team together, prepping tools, and coming up with a solid plan.
I hadn't been home in almost two months. When I opened the door, everything felt so familiar and comforting. I couldn't help but collapse onto the sofa, grabbing a pillow to hug.
Amelia chimed in, "Jane, it's just you and me now. Be real—what do you really think about Brad? Jenny's trouble. If she drugged him once, she could do it again. Brad found you this time, but what about next time? You two are miles apart, and even if he reaches out for help, it might be too late."
I had thought about this, but what could I do? The two-year agreement was basically void, but the school's deal with the Taylor family was still on. Brad was still the main guy at National Capital University, which meant he couldn't avoid Jenny.
That night, I thought, if I hadn't come, Brad would have been saved. If I wasn't there, and Brad ended up with Jenny or some other woman, I'd feel guilty and heartbroken. But even if I felt heartbroken, what was meant to happen would still happen.
What could I do? I had no clue.
When sober, Brad was definitely self-disciplined, but if he was really drugged, could he resist? That night, he had been intimate for hours. With such a strong substance, how could he possibly handle it on his own?
For an adult man, that would be pure torture.
"I believe in Brad. He'll protect himself." I clutched the pillow tightly, but I didn't even believe my own words. If belief could solve all problems, there wouldn't be so many institutions and changes in the world.
Belief was just a way to motivate ourselves, or maybe even a form of self-deception.
But aside from belief, what other choices did I really have?
None.
Between Brad, Jenny, and me, it was an unsolvable mess. The outcome was in Jenny's hands.
Even though I wanted to be by Brad's side all the time, reality wouldn't allow it.
The more I thought about it, the more upset I felt. My eyes started to sting, and soon the pillow was wet.
Amelia sighed deeply, softly advising me to let it go. But as she spoke, her voice also choked with tears. Eventually, she stopped advising and leaned on my shoulder, silently sobbing. That night was far from good.
Yet, no matter how disappointing life had been, as long as the sun rose, we still had to muster the strength to get up and tackle what needed to be done.
This was the responsibility of adulthood, as well as its inherent helplessness.
Two days flew by. Elliot, Bronte, and I dragged our suitcases and boarded the bus to the airport again.
Before takeoff, I sent Brad the flight details. After waiting for a while without a response, I switched my phone to airplane mode and put on my eye mask to sleep.
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