Chapter 295
Katherine pulled out her phone, her face grim as she pressed play on a video. The image that flickered to life sent a chill down my spine. It was Jenny, but not the strong, composed woman I knew from the office. This Jenny was battered and bruised, her eyes filled with fear and despair.
"This was before," Katherine said, her voice tight with anger. "Joseph was a monster. He cheated on her constantly, ruined his health, and when he found out he couldn't have children, he blamed her. He beat her, tortured her, accused her of sleeping around."
I watched, my stomach churning, as the video played out, each scene more horrifying than the last. Rage, raw and visceral, surged through me. I wanted to find this Joseph, this excuse for a human being, and…
I stopped myself, my fists clenching at my sides. I'd already acted impulsively once, with disastrous consequences. I wouldn't make the same mistake again.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice strained.
"I helped Jenny gather evidence of the abuse," Katherine continued. "Finally, when his own family caught him cheating, she was able to leave that hellhole."
"But it didn't stop there, did it?" I said, already dreading the answer.
Katherine shook her head, her expression grim. "Joseph wouldn't let her go. He used her parents to threaten her, said if she ever revealed the truth about his infertility, he'd make them pay."
Disgust surged through me. To use someone's family against them, to hold their loved ones hostage… it was despicable. And the Garcia family, the supposed pillars of society, they were complicit in this?
"The police," I said, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. "They were too quick to arrive yesterday. It was a setup, wasn't it?"
Katherine nodded. "They want to paint you as Jenny's lover, discredit her, make it impossible for her to escape Joseph's clutches."
A wave of helplessness washed over me. My attempt to help, to protect Jenny, had backfired spectacularly. I'd only made things worse.
"I have to do something," I said, my voice filled with a quiet determination. "I have to fix this."
Katherine placed a hand on my arm, her touch surprisingly strong. "John, listen to me. You can't fight this head-on. The Garcias, they have power, influence. You go up against them, you'll only get hurt."
I met her gaze, my own resolve unwavering. "I can't stand by and do nothing," I said, my voice firm. "I won't let them hurt her."
I left Katherine's office, my mind racing. I needed a plan, a way to help Jenny without making things worse. I couldn't rely on brute force this time. I needed to be smart, strategic.
I decided to use the opportunity to connect with the department heads, as Linda had suggested. I started with Human Resources, charming the supervisor with my easygoing demeanor. Then, I moved on to Finance, where I exchanged pleasantries with Sebastian Gray, the department head.
Next was the Project Department, headed by Lucas, the man who'd betrayed Katherine and tried to frame Jenny. Anger surged through me at the thought of him, but I kept my expression neutral, even friendly, as I entered Lucas's office.
"John, my friend!" Lucas greeted me, his voice overly enthusiastic. "Have a seat, have a seat. Can I offer you some coffee? This is a special blend, imported from Italy."
I accepted the coffee, my eyes scanning the room, taking in every detail. Lucas was clearly nervous, his smile strained, his eyes darting around nervously.
"So," I said, leaning back in my chair, "I hear some interesting rumors going around about you, Lucas."
Lucas's smile faltered. "Rumors? What rumors?"
"Oh, you know," I said casually, taking a sip of my coffee. "Rumors about certain department heads taking advantage of their position, engaging in inappropriate relationships with female interns."
Lucas's face paled. "That's absurd!" he sputtered. "Everyone knows I'm a happily married man. I would never do such a thing."
"Oh, I'm sure you wouldn't," I said, my tone light, but my eyes sharp. "But you see, some of these female colleagues, they seem to have… evidence. Photos, messages, that sort of thing."
Lucas's hand trembled, spilling coffee on his desk. "It's a lie!" he insisted, his voice cracking. "They're trying to ruin me!"
"Well," I said, standing up, "I'm sure Mr. Walton would be very interested to hear about these allegations. He takes employee conduct very seriously, you know."
I turned to leave, leaving Lucas sputtering in my wake. I didn't need to say anything more. The seed of doubt had been planted, and Lucas, already paranoid and guilt-ridden, would crumble under the pressure.
Finally, I arrived at the Marketing Department. My heart ached as I saw Jenny at her desk, her face still bearing the marks of Joseph's abuse. I wanted nothing more than to hold her, to comfort her, but I knew I couldn't. Not now.
I entered her office, closing the door softly behind me. "Jenny," I said, my voice low and sincere, "I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen."
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of pain and anger. "Get out," she said, her voice cold. "I don't want to see you."
I ignored her words, stepping closer, my gaze never leaving hers. "I know I messed up," I said, my voice filled with remorse. "But I want to make things right. I want to help."
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