Chapter 80: Please Listen To Me
His reality is the same as Dan and Jennifer. He trusts them but not me.”
“Okay then. I’ll wait for you.” Austin replied with a smile.
After hearing Austin’s declaration, Selene’s eyes filled up with tears. “What do you mean you’ll wait for me, you idiot?” She couldn’t believe that there was someone who cared for her that much.
Austin smiled slightly and gently brushed two fingers along her face. “That thug hit you hard. Does it still hurt?”
Selene shook her head. “You should rest. I’ll go check when the police officer comes.”
“Okay.”
When Selene stepped out of the room, she saw Clint exiting from the lift and walking towards her. “How is he?” Clint asked.
“Are you more worried for Austin or for Jennifer and Dan, who may be in trouble with the police?” Selene asked coldly, scowling at him.
“If Austin was badly hurt, then they’ve committed a crime, and they should go down for that,” Clint said, a little taken aback by Selene’s outburst.
“Really? You’re awfully righteous all of a sudden.”
Clint didn’t know how to respond to her irony and venom. So, instead, he gently grabbed Selene’s arm. “Selene, please listen to me.”
“Listen to what? Was Jennifer only kidding when she ordered her goons to attack us? Should I just not call the police? That’s what you want, isn’t it?” Selene threw away his hand and smiled self-deprecatingly.
“You know what hurt last night? It wasn’t the slap from the thug but the way you calmly dealt with Jennifer and Dan. I finally realized who truly loves me. That person is not you.”
“I wanted to defuse the situation. Unfortunately, the thug had a knife…” Clint attempted to touch the red skin on her face, but Selene evaded him.
“You what?” Selene coldly looked at him. “If you really love me, then you should take revenge on Dan and Jennifer by beating them up just like they did to us, not protect them.”
“Violence doesn’t solve problems.”
“Yes, you only trust ‘evidence and law.” Selene sneered.
“Yes, evidence comes first.” Clint sighed. “Selene, please trust me. I’m not protecting Jennifer and Dan. They are nothing to me compared to you.”
“Please stop. I’ve heard that many times. I used to think that I’m very important to you. But last night, you proved me wrong. Even now, you protect them but care little about me.”
“Selene, please. I’m not protecting them, it’s just that now is not the right time to fight them face to face.”
“Yes, they are your friends, and your families have known each other for a long time. You would never go against them.” Selene gave him a cold look. “But you don’t feel the same about me. Our relationship is weak and dispensable. Clint Denovan, I don’t want to see you ever again.”
“Selene,” Clint grabbed her arm again with a gentle grip. “Please give me more time. I’ll take care of this, and you’ll be happy with the result.”
“Maybe you didn’t hear me- Leave me alone!”This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - ©.
Clint’s phone rang in his pocket. He let go of her and took it out while Selene started to walk away.
“Hello, officer. This is Clint Denovan speaking.”
Selene stopped, turning around.
“What? Did he say anything? Okay. I’ll inform Selene.”
He hung up the phone and looked at Selene with furrowed eyebrows. “The suspect is dying.”
“What do you mean?” Selene asked.
“The suspect who admitted to setting the store on fire has terminal-stage cancer, and he’s in bad condition right now. He’ll probably die soon.”
“What?” She asked, wide-eyed. “Did he change his statement?”
“He’s refusing to answer any questions from the police.”
Since they didn’t have any substantial evidence, the suspect was the only lead who could help them find the true culprit.
Clint noticed Selene’s worried expression. “He deserves it.”
“No. It’s your two best friends who would deserve this. They are the ones who started the fire.” Selene glared at him angrily.
She turned to leave but was grabbed by Clint again. She struggled briefly, then slapped his face hard. “Everything you say is making this worse.” She said.” Just stop.”
Clint seemed to be unaffected by the slap, but he wore a sad expression. “Selene…” He started saying again.
The news that the suspect was dying finally started to sink in, and Selene couldn’t take it anymore. “Shut up and go away!” She shouted loudly, her voice echoing in the hospital corridor. “Go back to your beloved parents and Jennifer.”
A nearby door opened, and an irritated doctor’s face popped out. “Please keep your voice down, miss. You will wake up the patients.”
Selene regained her composure and left embarrassed.
Clint blankly looked at Selene’s leaving form and angrily grabbed his short hair. Finally, he turned to a wall and banged his head against it out of frustration.
“Sir. Please be quiet.” The doctor reminded again, then slammed the door.
****
Half an hour later, the police officer finally arrived to speak and take their statement. After that, they had to wait for a medical report for Austin’s injuries.
Soon after, the report arrived, but the results disappointed both Austin and Selene; Austin’s pre-existing severe stomach condition undermined any new injuries he may have suffered.
In addition, the two thugs hired by Dan denied that Dan had asked them to beat up Austin and Selene. Instead, they both claimed that they did it out of their own volition.
Selene realized money was a powerful thing. But, unfortunately, it could make people do terrible things.
In the end, only the two thugs went to prison. Dan was freed after having been bailed out.
Unfortunately, the main suspect died three days later without saying anything else about the case. That meant that the case remained unchanged, and he was still believed to be the one who committed the crime.
Selene didn’t think that the robber was bought off by Jennifer; he just suffered from an incurable disease and had nothing left to live for. So he didn’t care about anything.
As someone who was dying, it made little difference to him at the conclusion of this criminal case.