Rachel gritted her teeth as she held her despair in. I don’t know.
“You don’t know? I was gone for less than two hours, but he was already unconscious when I came back. Blood was everywhere, but you were nowhere to be seen. And you tell me you don’t know?”
How is he looking now?
“Take a guess, genius,” Janice growled. “Comminuted fracture. The doctor suggests getting his left leg amputated and replacing it with a prosthetic. Do you have any idea what this will cost him?”
Rachel was still gritting her teeth while holding her tears in.
“What on earth were you thinking?”
I’m sorry
“Apologizing won’t cut it! What are you doing? You’re still helping them even at this point? What are you trying to cover up for those b*stards?”
I’m still looking into it. Give me some time.
“I can afford the time, but not Hans!” Janice was furious. “Rachel, Hans has gone above the call of duty for you. He tried to get you away from the Burtons! Heck, Riverdale, even! But what did you do? You won’t even tell me who broke his leg! If you’re a novel protagonist, you’ll be nothing but a coward!”
Rachel still wouldn’t say it, but her fists were already red from all the clenching. She couldn’t say it, for the Burtons were unbelievably powerful in Riverdale. Janice might be a deputy chief, but she still had to be careful, even with the Hudsons. There was no way she could take on the Burtons, who could effectively ignore the law. Rachel was clear that she needed more evidence and a more powerful individual to take Justin out.
“You aren’t talking? Fine!” Janice slammed a document on the table. “This here is a formal complaint. I’m sure Justin’s behind this. The prosecutor is already looking into the case. I hope you’ll be the witness on the day of the trial. I pray that you at least have that shred of conscience left. You’d be nothing but trash otherwise.” Janice then stormed off.
Rachel was left alone in the café, looking pale. A while later, she drove to the hospital herself. Before she got into the ward, she heard the doctor saying, “We’ll need your family’s permission for this surgery as soon as possible. It’ll be better for you.”
“My father’s overseas, so he can’t come at the moment. I don’t plan on telling them either, so I’ll sign it,” Hans answered weakly.
Rachel knocked on the door, but she didn’t have the courage to go in.
“Rae?” Hans looked up to see who was there.
The doctor said, “Think about it then. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Yes. Thank you, doctor.” Hans patted the edge of his bed. He was listless, but he managed to smile. “Come in. Have a seat.”
Hans’ left leg was in a thick bandage, and the blanket couldn’t cover it. Rachel was heartbroken to see him in this state. She felt a surge of sadness coming up, and she started crying. I’m sorry.
“You don’t have to apologize, silly girl. Stop crying though. It’ll ruin your makeup.” Hans raised his hand, but he realized he couldn’t reach her. There was barely any distance between them, but he couldn’t make it. That realization made him despondent. “You can’t stay with the Burtons anymore, Rae. Justin is too dangerous.”
This is my fault.
“It’s not. I might have lost a leg, but we can still make it if we cut our losses right now. Come with me, Rachel. I can’t protect you here.” That was the most powerless Hans felt after he came back. He used to be a proud young man who thought that a sense of justice alone was enough to destroy the world’s injustice. But in the face of the cold, hard truth, his light was swallowed up by the darkness, and what replaced it was an overwhelming powerless feeling.
Rachel clenched her fists, keeping quiet for the longest while. Just drop the case, alright?
Hans was shocked. “What did you say?”
Drop the case against Justin and go overseas to get treated. Never come back. Rachel was holding an enormous pain within her; only her tears could express it. She knew how hurtful it must have been for Hans, but she had to say it.
“Are you scared of him, Rachel? Did he threaten you?” Hans flew into a rage. “You don’t have to be scared of him. My firm has the best lawyers in the nation. They said the evidence is enough. If we go to trial, we can send him to prison!”
That won’t happen.
“Nothing’s impossible! We just have to work for it!” He tried to hold her arm, but the searing pain from his leg forced him back onto the bed.
Rachel quickly held him.
“You have to divorce him, Rachel!”
That can’t happen! Just listen to me, Hans! If you’re doing this for my own good, then drop the case!
“What if I refuse to?”
They stayed in a stalemate for a long while, and Rachel kept gritting her teeth. I’ve fallen for him. I can’t leave him. Everything will be better if you just leave.
Hans was horrified to hear that. He quickly gripped her arm. “Impossible! You wouldn’t fall for a demon like him!”
Rachel was unbelievably calm, and she pulled her arm away. Just drop the case if you’re really my friend. Thank you. With that, she stood up. Speedy recovery.
“Rachel!” Hans yelled after her, and he fell off the bed in an attempt to catch up to her.
Rachel’s hand trembled, but in the end, she steeled herself and left without turning back. She just pushed away the only man in the world besides her grandmother who actually cherished her. God knew how much that hurt. How did it come to this? She didn’t have time to think about that. All she could do now was the next right thing, and the next right thing was making sure the villains got their just desserts; that included Jefferey and Justin.
Tina’s engagement banquet was held on the weekend as scheduled. The hall was resplendent and ostentatious, just like how Tina was. Rachel came all alone after sorting out the finance data that morning.
“Rachel!” a familiar voice called out to her, and she could recognize it anywhere.
Gloria was in a sea blue dress that day. She lifted her dress slightly and trotted up to Rachel, a smile plastered on her face. “You’re late, Rachel. Justin’s right there. I’ll take you to him.”
Rachel nodded, but just when they were about to leave, they ran into Tina and Amber. Tina was the star of the day, so she was wearing a disgustingly white dress, looking like a villainous princess out of a tacky TV show.
The moment she saw Rachel, Tina rolled her eyes. “I did not have to see her today.”
“You’re here too, Rachel?” Amber looked at Rachel and Gloria oddly. “And I thought you wouldn’t come. Everyone thought Justin only brought his secretary with him. Wow, even a secretary outranks you now, Rachel?”
Rachel clenched her fists, but she didn’t have a good comeback for that.
