Chapter 69
“Pull up the surveillance from the club. York, call the cops. The rest of you block her path,” Rhett commanded in a low voice, glancing at the time. “You’ve got two minutes to get your stories straight about what you’ve seen today! Watch out for your words.”
The manager nodded frantically, warning the rubberneckers to stop gawking and beat it!
In a flash, everyone scattered like roaches, not wanting any part of the drama.
Harriet let out a sigh of relief, whispering to Kristin, “Kris… I called Mr. FitzGerald just now.”
Kristin didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the ground.
“Mr. FitzGerald, look at this,” York gasped, taking a phone from one of the employees.
Adrienne had posted the video of her bullying Kristin from five years ago online.
Rhett glanced at the phone, his eyes shooting daggers at Adrienne.
Adrienne took a fearful step back. “Rhett… It’s not a big deal. Why are you siding with her… I… | gotta go.”
She sensed danger and was ready to bolt, but York blocked her escape. “Ms. Haywood, no one can escape the law. And you were dumb enough to blast your crime spree from five years ago all over the internet.”
York sneered. “Stirring up trouble with serious consequences starts with a three–year lock–up.” Adrienne turned pale, terror–stricken as she faced Rhett. “Rhett… What’s this about? I hit her because she was asking for it. She’s flirting with my man. I’m James‘ fiancée. You’re holding me back and calling the cops… Aren’t you worried about dragging Aurora Tech through the mud, or ruining things with the Bryce family?” Adrienne was shocked, finally grasping the gravity of the situation.
Rhett had no reason to jeopardize his relationship with James over Kristin.
The FitzGerald Group and Aurora Tech were in bed together, a sweet win–win deal.
“Do you think I care?” Rhett shot back, icy as ever.
He draped his jacket over Kristin, signaling Harriet to help her to the side to rest. “You have spread videos and slang mud at others with defamation and invasion of privacy, which has over five hundred shares with rock–solid proof. You’re in for a world of hurt with those charges stacked against you.”
Rhett dangled the phone before delivering a calm warning to Adrienne. “You blasted your guilt to the world. You’re not escaping the slammer.”
Tossing the phone to York, Rhett commanded, “Get the sharpest lawyer in Silvergrove City.” “Rhett… Are you kidding me? Do you think you can scare me? For Kristin, you’d throw away the
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interest of the Bryce family?” Adrienne was shaking like a leaf, her voice quivering.
Desperate, she moved to plead with Rhett, realizing she’d made a colossal blunder by leaking Kristin’s video, which was a self–inflicted exposé of her guilt.
She’d been confident that Kristin wouldn’t dare retaliate, expecting Kristin to slink away. scorned by all. But Adrienne never expected Rhett to stand up for Kristin!
“Rhett, cut it out, stop scaring me. All of the Haywood family knows you’re bound to get engaged to my sister. We’re practically family… Taking this as a lesson for me, I’ll never do it again.”
A short distance away. Kristin sat on a bench, numb, watching Adrienne grovel pathetically.
It turned out that even the bully had her fears.
A bitter chuckle escaped her as Kristin lifted her head, cleaning the blood trickling from her nose, but the nosebleed wouldn’t stop, staining her clothes.
Kristin looked down, her eyes welling up. She now owed Rhett a suit, something she couldn’t repay.
Wiping her face haphazardly, Kristin sat there, disheveled and fragile like a soulless rag doll.
That was how society worked with hierarchy. When someone was above Adrienne, she went from high and mighty to begging for mercy.
“Kris…” Harriet crouched beside Kristin, whispering. “You can’t keep taking this lying down. These people won’t let up. Didn’t prison teach you anything?”
Kristin looked at Harriet numbly.
“They messed with my son. So this time, I won’t back down.” Replying. Kristin took a deep breath, as if she’d made up her mind.
Harriet nodded, hugging Kristin with a pained expression. “No one’s got your back forever. you’ve got to use every card in your hand, even if these guys are just a brief lift up. Hold tight and climb your way up step by step.”
Harriet’s voice was low and hoarse, echoing the lessons from the school of hard knocks. Power was everything.
Those with power lived on top and the rest could only beg for scraps, but no one should be content to live at the bottom forever.
“Your debt’s been paid, you’re a single mother with a son. You’ve got to get strong, if not for yourself, then for him.” Harriet’s eyes were red as she gripped Kristin’s hand firmly.
Kristin sat silently, numbness creeping over her as the cops arrived to take Adrienne away. That was when Adrienne realized the severity of ber situation.
“Rhett… you can’t do this to me, you can’t.” Adrienne was frantic, her eyes locked on Rhett in
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fear. “Rhett, six years ago, you and Hertha at the hotel…”
Rhett’s frosty gaze met Adrienne’s, which was a clear warning.
Some things were meant to be said, while others were best kept secret. Adrienne wasn’t about to make that mistake.
Sure… Adrienne clapped her hand over her mouth in panic. “Rhett, I know I screwed up. Don’t call the cops or tell them to hit the road.”
Rhett glanced over at Kristin. “She’s the victim.”
Adrienne caught on in a heartbeat and darted over to beg Kristin to drop the charges. “Kristin! Tell the cops it was just a joke, all of it, tell them!”
But Adrienne wasn’t showing a shred of remorse, she was still making threats.
With a blank look, Kristin turned to the police after facing Rhett and said, “I can no longer hear with my left ear.”
The cop paused, stepping forward to check Kristin’s injury..
Kristin cast her eyes down and spoke again. “She hit me five years ago and brought people to hurt me. She also slandered me and drove me to attempt suicide multiple times. It’s on record at the jail in Silvergrove City.”
Kristin rolled up her sleeve to reveal the gruesome scars on her pale arm.
Slowly standing up, Kristin spoke again. “I want to press charges…”
The cop was visibly shocked by Kristin’s arm, and then looked back at Rhett. “Take her away first.”
*The evidence is all here. I’ve got it ready for you folks,” York stepped in, handing over surveillance footage and videos to the authorities. “Our lawyer will be here shortly.”
The police nodded and took Adrienne away.
Rhett looked at Kristin with a complex gaze, furrowed his brow, and was silent for a long time.
“Let me go. I’m not going to the station! I didn’t do anything wrong!” Adrienne kept yelling.
Outside, James walked in with his assistant, his voice deep and serious. “What’s all this chaos. about?”
Adrienne lit up her face at the sight of James. “James, save me, they’re taking me to the station and want to lock me up! James, save me.”
