Chapter 523 Annabelle's Punishment
Jasmine looked at the familiar playground, watching a few people run in the dim light.
The lecture hall was still dim, with old desks and chairs that had never been replaced.
The floor was spotless, not a speck of dust in sight.
She remembered standing on that stage, shining brightly.
"That year, I danced a solo, the White Swan."
Jasmine stepped onto the stage, recalling the dance steps and gently practicing them.
Her grace and poise were unmatched. She was like the moon on a high mountain, like a glimmer on the sea. Born a proud princess, she wouldn't bow her head, even in the mud.
Ethan sat in the audience, watching her like a white rose blooming, withering, and then reborn.
Today's Jasmine was his rose.
No longer pure white, she was now a fiery red, with sharp thorns but still beautiful.
Music from her phone filled the empty hall as Jasmine danced a solo, just for Ethan.
It was as if she danced her entire life story.
From an ugly duckling to a white swan.
"Ethan," she said, breathless at the end of her dance. "Thank you for coming into my life."
She thought, 'You are my light. You are my salvation.'
Ethan looked at her, taking a moment to respond. "Thank you for coming into my life, too."
Jasmine's eyes reddened, tears glistening.
She smiled at Ethan, a brilliant and dazzling smile.
"Ethan, I've made peace with my past." She held his hand and walked to the dressing room behind the stage.
Rows of lockers, numbered one to one hundred, lined the room.
They used to store their dance shoes and clothes there.
Jasmine found locker number 12, opened it, and found a small USB drive inside.
This was probably the evidence Zelda had found for her.
Ethan's phone rang, and he answered.
"Zelda is fine. My people dropped her off at the police station, and she went in herself."
Jasmine sighed in relief. "She knows a lot, which should help the police solve the case."
She shook the USB drive. "We hold the fate of Howard and many Silverlight City."
With this, they could act without fear.
Jasmine smiled, thinking Zelda probably didn't have much ambition.
"The Harper family is cautious with this evidence because one wrong move could ruin them. They're all equally bad," Ethan said. "But in our hands, it's different."
"This is a double-edged sword. The Harper family benefits from it, but it could also destroy them," Jasmine said softly. "We need to be careful and not push too hard, or they'll retaliate."
Ethan smiled. "Leave the dangerous tasks to me, Jasmine."
He was surprised Jasmine had used Zelda to find this evidence, something he hadn't thought of.
Jasmine had a deep understanding of human nature.
With this evidence, it was like submitting a perfect answer sheet early.
Handing it to the police would implicate many people.
Howard would pay the price.
But it wasn't enough.
Just sending Howard to prison and stripping him of his position wasn't enough.
They needed evidence of Howard and Claire killing his mother to ensure they never recovered.
"Ethan, next, it's Howard and Claire," Jasmine said, holding his hand tightly, knowing the truth would be painful for him.
That night, Ethan took Jasmine to the upscale neighborhood where Connor lived.
Ethan wanted to show Jasmine the wedding house his mother had left for them.
"This place is supposed to be the priciest luxury housing in Silverlight City," Jasmine said, looking up at the starry sky.
Ethan took her into the elevator, and Jasmine realized something. "Didn't you say the bank seized it?"
"It's almost unsealed," Ethan said, acting casual.
As they stepped out of the elevator, Jasmine was surprised to see Tom.
In the cold weather, he was in shorts and slippers, shirtless, holding food, and banging on the door.
Tom was shouting, "Connor, you're ruthless! I went to get food, and you changed the password! My phone's inside! Open the door."
"Connor, if you have the guts, open the door!"
"Connor, don't make me break in!"
Without his phone, he couldn't call anyone, and going out shirtless in this weather would make him look crazy.
Jasmine was shocked and hid behind Ethan.
Clearly, she thought Tom was a weirdo.
Ethan frowned, shielding Jasmine. "Why are you yelling without clothes on in the middle of the night?"
Tom almost bumped into the door. "Bro, you scared me! How did you get here?"
He was surprised to see Jasmine hiding behind Ethan. "Bro, you actually brought a woman back. That's rare. What kind of woman can make you settle down?"
Jasmine cautiously revealed half her face. "Why aren't you wearing clothes?"
Tom almost bit his tongue. "Jasmine, you're really with Ethan!"
"Watch your mouth! Do you have a death wish? Call her sister-in-law," Ethan warned.
Tom looked heartbroken but reluctantly said, "Sister-in-law."
The person he liked had become his sister-in-law, and he felt helpless. "Bro, call Connor. My phone's in his house. He's not human."
Ethan spoke softly, "Jasmine, I was in a hurry and didn't bring my phone. Did you bring yours?"
Jasmine shook her head. "No, I didn't."
Tom was instantly disappointed and squatted at the door, starting to eat his food.
Ethan ignored Tom, held Jasmine's hand, and entered the door by entering the password.
Tom scratched his head. Something wasn't right.
How many houses did Ethan have here?
He almost choked. Even if Tom was slow, he realized the house Connor was living in wasn't Ethan's but his own!
He took a deep breath, remembering how he had brought friends here to party and drank Connor's wine.
Connor was lenient that he hadn't killed him.
"Ethan! You set me up," Tom shouted.
The door opened, and Ethan looked at Tom. "What are you shouting about?"
"Ethan, I wish you and sister-in-law well and hope you have eight sons," Tom chickened out and quietly cursed Ethan for not having a daughter.
Ethan slammed the door shut, leaving Tom to eat his food in the hallway.
At the Douglas family, Annabelle was sitting arrogantly on the sofa when Daniel rushed in. "Annabelle, you don't have those Harper family pieces of evidence at all. I know everything!"
Annabelle panicked for a moment, looking at Daniel. "What's gotten into you?"
"What are you shouting about?" Howard said, displeased.
Daniel stated, "Dad, she's been lying to us. She doesn't have any evidence against the Harper family. She's just a fraud!"
"You're talking nonsense," Annabelle nervously clenched her hands.
"If you have the guts, show us some evidence. If you can't, you're just trying to stay in the Douglas family and throw your weight around. Dream on!" Daniel pressed Annabelle to produce the evidence.
"Fine, you forced me. I'll hand it over to the police!" Annabelle turned to leave.
Howard's face changed, and he had someone stop Annabelle.
"Are you going to lay hands on me?" Annabelle questioned, immediately regretting it.
Howard was getting desperate.
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