Chapter 458 Gotta Face the World!
"I didn't put Qian Duo up to anything!" She immediately resorted to her usual tactics—feigning innocence in protest.
But to her horror, without a word, Lay pulled out a video of Aurora and Qian Duo meeting in a café.
"This must be the footage from the café's camera. Kenny got it and worked on noise reduction," Lay explained. "Aurora, the guy's married. No matter how much you like him, it isn't right to frame his newlywed wife. It's just not fair to her!"
Aurora turned deathly pale.
"I seriously thought Kenny was being cheated on, okay? You saw the videos and the photos too. Didn't you suspect it? Besides, how did this harm Thalassa? Was it worth ruining my life over?" Aurora asked, her voice filled with agitation.
Lay's brows were furrowed.
"Forget it. I've said my piece. Just take care of yourself," he said, and then he left.
The fallout had affected him too. A small deal he'd been about to close was now indefinitely on hold.
Kenny had also become distant after finding out that Aurora was the mastermind behind the slander against Kenny's wife.
It hit Lay late.
He had been completely played by Aurora at the alumni event.
But it was all too late now.
Aurora rushed back to her place.
She had barely sat down when the landlord showed up.
No pleasantries, just a demand for her immediate eviction.
"I thought you were a decent young lady, an educated person, but it turns out you're sneaking around taking pictures like some paparazzi? The victim brought the photos and videos to my door with a lawyer, threatening to sue me!" the landlord berated as soon as he came in.
"If you don't want me to blow this up and make it a scandal, you better get out now!"
Aurora tried to explain.
She wasn't some paparazzi.
But the landlord wouldn't listen; he just kept railing at her for causing such a huge mess.
And just like that, in less than half a month, Aurora found herself ousted from her social circle, out of a job, stripped of her honor, and now about to be homeless.
When she saw Jessie, she was in the middle of dialing Kenny's number.
But call after call, all she got was a busy signal.
Irritated, she looked up.
A familiar dog was ambling across from her.
Jessie's tail tipped with a tuft of white fur, easily recognizable.
She had thought that the two old-timers must still be secretly living in this neighborhood, lying to her about the dog being dead.
But then, seeing who was walking the dog left her speechless.
It was Kenny's wife again.
"Mrs. Walker, with all your connections and being an executive yourself, why would you steal someone else's dog?" Aurora jeered. "Jessie, come here!"
But Jessie had already taken refuge behind Thalassa, looking utterly frightened.
"Auntie, Jessie is my dog. Please don't be so harsh on her!" Chicago pleaded, furrowing her brows and standing protectively in front of Jessie.
Aurora turned her gaze to Chicago and couldn't help but let out a jaded laugh. "Darwin's illegitimate daughter, huh? Little girl, this dog is mine. Remember when you and your dad saw me walking her? Stealing isn't nice, and it's not wise to follow in the footsteps of bad influences!"
Thalassa, the one referred to as a “bad influence,” snapped back to reality and, with a sudden look of recognition, exclaimed, "Ah... you're that granddaughter known for poisoning, huh?"
Aurora's face stiffened instantly. "You..." she pointed at Thalassa, "don't think you can slander people just because you think you have powerful connections!"
"Chicago, let's not talk to these people. Let's go home!"
Thalassa had no desire to argue with Aurora. She took the leash from Chicago's hand and, with her other hand, gently led Chicago away. As they turned to leave, Aurora shouted, "Don't you dare walk away!"
Aurora had reached her breaking point. She saw Thalassa attempting to take Jessie, and, reckless as ever, she lunged forward, trying to snatch the dog away.
The bodyguards, who had been following them at a discreet distance, now rushed forward. But before they could restrain Aurora, gentle Jessie suddenly turned, growled fiercely, and knocked Aurora to the ground.
Aurora's arm struck a wooden frame hard, splintering the wood and producing a sickening crack as her bone broke. She screamed in agony, her voice raw and strained.
The bodyguards froze in confusion. Jessie, after toppling Aurora, bared her teeth defensively, staring her down before slowly backing up to Chicago, still on guard.
That's when everyone realized Jessie had been protecting her master.
"Jessie?" Chicago called out softly. The golden retriever, which had seemed ferocious moments ago, twitched her ears and immediately wagged her tail, presenting her head to Chicago.
Chicago reached out and gently patted Jessie, who let out a couple of contented grunts before once again vigilantly eyeing Aurora.
"What are you staring at? Check on her," Thalassa said impatiently to the dazed bodyguards. It was only then that they remembered the woman who had been attacked by the dog.
"You're stealing dogs and assaulting me! I'm calling the police; I'll have you all arrested!" Aurora wailed through her tears.
And so, Chicago, Jessie, and Thalassa found themselves at the police station.
Xavier was met by a fuming Darwin, face as dark as the bottom of a pan. Before he could speak, Darwin launched into a tirade.
"Have you lost your mind? How could you let the miss end up at the police station?"
Xavier's face turned a beet red.
Xavier felt like he was about to lose it.
Darwin paused, taken aback.
Behind them, Fiona hung up the phone and approached at a relaxed pace.
"Mr. Solomon, there's no trouble for you back in Chicago, but now it's her and Thalassa accused of assault," Fiona stated with unnerving calm.
"Thalassa? Assault?" Darwin dismissed the thought of his own Chicago out of hand.
His Chicago was only five years old; who could she possibly harm? A tiny ant, maybe?
"A woman claiming to be Jessie's owner got into an altercation with them and ended up being tackled by Jessie, injuring her arm," Fiona clarified.
Darwin's anger grew.
"What does that have to do with my Chicago?"
Fiona just shook her head and got into the car.
Police stations are usually busier at night.
Upon entering the precinct, Darwin and Fiona spotted Chicago dozing off in a corner while holding onto a dog leash nestled against her godmother's arm.
The godmother and the dog on the ground were also fast asleep.
Darwin was speechless.
There was not a hint of urgency in the air.
"Chicago!" he called out, quickening his pace.
He scooped Chicago into his arms in an instant.
His face was etched with concern as if his Chicago had endured a great travesty.
Chicago rested her head on Darwin's shoulder, too tired to open her eyes.
"You guys are back?" Thalassa yawned, stretching languidly as she stood up.
"Where's the victim?" Fiona teased while caressing Chicago's cheek.
"She's got a fractured bone and went to get it bandaged. You wouldn't believe the fuss she made on the way here; it left Chicago completely bewildered!" Thalassa shook her head.
"Did you put Chicago in a patrol car?" Darwin asked, stunned as he looked towards Thalassa.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
