Chapter 80 Anne's Evidence
"Wait, are you saying Anne's the one who posted all that nasty stuff about the Howard family online?" Edward couldn't believe what he was hearing. He always treated Anne like she was some kind of delicate flower, trusting her completely. At this moment, I felt like a villain deliberately accusing Anne.
But with my voice cracking and tears in my eyes, Edward had to respond, "Diana, I'll talk to Anne. But if I find out you're making this up, you'll regret it." And just like that, he hung up on me.
A wave of sadness hit me hard.
I knew Edward might not believe me about Anne, but I didn't think he'd be so cold. This wasn't just about me; it was about the Howard family's reputation in Wind City.
It was the end of the workday, and I really didn't want to go back to the Howard Villa, but I had nowhere else to go. So, I decided to take a walk and enjoy the sunset.
There was a new playground near the law firm, and it was full of kids playing with their parents. Watching those happy families made me feel a bit nostalgic.
When I was a kid, Mason was busy building his business and was hardly ever home. He'd come back late, smelling like booze. Mia was always taking care of the house, so she didn't have time to take me to places like this. Even now, I couldn't remember having those special moments with my parents, and it was a big regret.
When I married Edward, I dreamed of having a child with him and creating our own happy family. I placed my hand on my stomach, wondering if things would be different if I had Edward's child. Would we be like those families, playing in the park and enjoying the sunset?
I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. Having a child with Edward wasn't an option anymore, and I doubted I'd fall in love with anyone else.
As it got darker and cooler, the playground started to empty out. But I still didn't want to go home, so I kept wandering the streets. I passed by a mall and got distracted by a mannequin in the window. But then I noticed someone sneaking glances at me through the glass. I realized this person had been following me since the playground. At first, I thought he was just hanging around, but now it seemed more serious.
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, and kept walking. I wanted to see if he was really following me or if I was just being paranoid. I walked down a quieter path, and sure enough, he followed. My heart sank. I quickened my pace, hoping to get through the alley quickly. He sped up too, keeping a close but not too close distance.
I gripped my phone, ready to call 911 if things got bad. As I neared the end of the alley, he was still behind me. I turned into a small side path, waiting for him. Hearing his footsteps getting closer, my heart raced. I couldn't imagine what would happen if he had a weapon.
When he finally appeared, I stuck out my foot and tripped him. He fell hard, his hat flying off. I hurried to a brighter spot near the alley entrance, hoping that even if he came after me, people on the main road would see us.
In a low voice, I asked, "Who are you? Why are you following me?" The guy painfully got up, grabbed his hat, and tried to put it back on. I picked up a rock and chucked it at his hand, making him drop the hat again, revealing a buzz cut.
He looked up, eyes full of hatred, but there was something else there too—sorrow. That face, where had I seen it before? Then it hit me—he was one of the kidnappers who had taken Anne.
"It's you?" I was shocked.
He forced a bitter smile. "Ms. Cooper, didn't think you'd recognize me. Sorry, we had to meet like this."
I didn't get why he was apologizing, so I kept staring at him.
He looked down, avoiding my gaze, his voice low and strained, "Sorry, Ms. Cooper. I just got out of prison last week. I didn't mean to scare you. But..." His voice was hoarse. He'd apologized twice already, and it made me lower my guard a bit, like he had some kind of hidden struggle.
I quietly reached into my bag and turned on the voice recorder I used for client meetings. It might come in handy now.
My voice softened a bit, "Tell me, who are you? Why are you following me?"
"Sorry, Ms. Cooper," he apologized again. "I know you're close to Anne. Can you help me get in touch with her?" His voice was almost pleading.
"What do you want with her?" I asked, feeling tense again.
"I'm Anne's classmate and her boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend now," he said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Anne promised me that if I helped her bring you down, she'd get money from the Howard family to buy me a motorcycle and help me start a band."
His nostrils flared slightly. "I knew it was wrong, but I was blinded by greed and agreed."
"So you were actually planning to kidnap me that day, not Anne?" Even though Joshua had told me this, hearing it from him was still shocking.
"Yeah, Anne wanted us to kidnap you. If possible, she wanted us to rape you so you'd be too ashamed to stay with the Howard family," he said.
"But why did you end up kidnapping Anne?" I asked, voicing a long-held doubt.
"That day was chaotic. My friend couldn't tell who was who, so he grabbed the wrong person. Then the police showed up, and we both got arrested. Anne, as the victim, was protected by the police. I haven't seen her since." He squinted, recalling that day.
"So what were you planning to do by following me today?" I interrupted, asking sternly.
"Don't worry, Ms. Cooper. I won't harm you. I realized my mistakes in prison and have truly changed," he promised. "After everything, I got expelled from school, and my parents disowned me. I have nothing left." His voice was filled with despair. "I just want to find Anne. Even if she doesn't want me as her boyfriend, I just want to see her one more time. Ms. Cooper, can you help me?" Tears glistened in his eyes, stirring a bit of sympathy in my heart.
He was just a student, around 20, who should have had a bright future, but he ruined his life for Anne. And I knew Anne never truly loved him.
I said, "It's useless. You should go back."
He looked disappointed. "But is it truly impossible? Anne said that after completing the task, she intended to leave with me."
The guy standing in front of me was still too gullible to buy into Anne's lies. But I wasn't about to let my guard down. I bluntly told him, "From the look in your eyes and what you've told me, it's clear your family situation isn't great. You need to understand that you and Anne come from different worlds, and there's no future for you two."
"No way, Anne loves me! We've got so many great memories together!" My words stung his pride, and he yelled at me.
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