Rachel rushed to the investigation bureau as soon as she got the application for withdrawal Jessica had faxed to her, hoping to overturn the verdict on Justin. But midway, she heard Justin would be leaving Riverdale on this day, so she rushed to the airport instead.
What she didn’t expect was that Justin long suspected Julian, and he fooled everyone into thinking he was down to nothing when everything was actually according to his plan.
“So you thought you didn’t need to tell me because I won’t believe you anyway?” “Your number one priority would definitely be Jessica’s well-being if something happened to her. So I didn’t say anything to you.”
Rachel’s deep concern for Jessica would cloud her judgment, leading the situation to probably aggravate. When the incident happened, Justin only suspected it was Julian’s doing. But he didn’t have any hard evidence that pointed directly toward Julian, so he could only play along. More importantly, Justin had never seen Rachel since the incident, so he couldn’t explain to her that he had never done anything to Jessica.
Rachel was pissed. Not that she was mad about Justin but herself. For the longest time, Justin never did any wrong while she was the one who dwelled in the past, presumptuously thinking people never change, either distinctively good or evil.
“Sorry.” Rachel apologized softly, taking Justin aback. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I should be the one apologizing.”
“No, you’re right. I wouldn’t believe you even if you told me in the first place.” Rachel looked up, taking pains to utter her next words. “I have indeed placed too much trust in Julian. So much so that I nearly became an accomplice and railroaded you, making you the subject of public criticism.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m okay, aren’t I?” “Rae, I’m really okay,” Justin explained with utter patience. “I won’t leave Charlotte behind and walk away no matter what happens.” He only mentioned Charlotte and not the young woman before his eyes. Meanwhile, flight schedules were still being broadcasted in the airport terminal.
The plane Justin was supposed to board had already landed, but he no longer needed to leave anymore, and thus, he chucked the boarding pass in his hand into a trash can. “Let’s go.” He smiled at Rachel.
As Rachel drove, she was the one who sent Justin back to summer villa, where Frankie had long been awaiting. “You’re the one who told Rae everything?”
“I didn’t tell her anything, I swear.” Frankie hurriedly defended himself. “Oh? You didn’t say anything?” Frankie chuckled awkwardly in response. “I might or might not have accidentally let slip about Old Mr. Burton when I bumped into Miss Carter.”
Justin frowned upon hearing so, and Rachel jumped in. “It’s not Frankie’s fault. Jolly was the one who told me your grandfather’s death was suspicious. So I sent someone to Montenegro to look for your aunt.” “You had someone look for my aunt?” Justin looked surprisingly at Rachel. “What did she say?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “She’s in a poor mental state right now. The guys at the sanatorium said she would never answer Julian’s calls, so I suspect some irreconcilable conflict must’ve happened between the two. But I told them to stop digging when she’s in that state.”
“Thanks,” said Justin after a moment of silence.
“What for?” “For stopping your investigation. Aunt Sue’s getting on in years. Whatever mistakes she had made in the past, since she has been sent abroad, let her spend the rest of her life peacefully there.”
“You’re not going to prosecute your grandfather’s cause of death?” Justin took a deep breath in response because it seemed to be a difficult decision for him.
Aside, Frankie couldn’t help butting in. “President Hudson. The dead cannot rise from the grave. I’m sure all of us already have a good idea of the truth. Prosecuting will only implicate even more loved ones. Also, about Old Mr. Burton being given slow-acting poison, Dr. Peters was a representative. Do you think how likely it was that he hadn’t noticed it?”
“What will you do if this really has to do with Julian?” Rachel asked. Justin raised his eyes. “It’s already in the past. Grandpa died of natural causes.”
His decision stumped Rachel for a second. It wasn’t that something had passed but that it had to pass. Rachel still had to rush downtown, so she didn’t linger in the summer villa for long. “I’ll see you out.” Justin walked out with Rachel. “Are you in a hurry to get to the investigation bureau?”
“No, Jess didn’t suffer any real injuries, so this can’t be considered a criminal case. Hence, the worst-case scenario is probably that Julian will be released after a few days of detention.” Justin shook his head, disagreeing. “Someone will take the blame for him.”
Rachel was taken aback. “Really?” “The guy who spiked my drink, Stefan, used to be a senior executive in Burton Group. You probably don’t know him, but before you entered Burton Group, he was already fired for misappropriating the company’s public fund to pay for his gambling debts. Because he holds a grudge against me, it wouldn’t be difficult for Julian to use this to pull Stefan to his side.”
Rachel didn’t know how to feel about this. Justin knew everything, and if he wanted it, he could completely prosecute this matter to the end. There would be nothing Julian could do no matter how many Stefans he rallied, and yet Justin still spared his cousin.
“Why are you still willing to spare Julian when he has already schemed against you to this extent?” “He’s my cousin, and everyone makes mistakes. He’s still young: he still has a long way to go.”
If this had happened six years ago, he definitely wouldn’t have tolerated such betrayal. But six years had passed, and he had also made some irreversible mistakes. So, putting himself in Julian’s shoes, he would hope his cousin could turn around soon.
While leaving summer villa, Rachel got an international call. “It’s me.” A young woman’s voice came from the other end of the line, somewhat hoarse, no longer assertive. “How did it go? Is he out yet?”
“He’s out. Everything’s sorted out now. Don’t worry; I’ve already handed your application for withdrawal to the investigation bureau.”
It was one thing to discover Sue had noticed Julian was suspicious, but what really led Rachel to the truth was that she managed to get hold of Jessica’s father through Janice.
Rachel explained Hans’ cause of death to him. in detail, and as soon as Jessica landed home, Jessica’s father picked her up at the airport, clearing everything up..
Rachel waited for three days before she finally received Jessica’s faxed application of withdrawal as well as an email stating how Julian had lied to her. Who’d have thought Julian actually told Jessica Justin was the one who killed her brother? For that, Julian even made up a story, lying to this young woman who already held a grudge against Justin. I’m really sorry for causing you guys trouble, Rachel.”
“No need to apologize. You didn’t know the truth. If anything, I’m the one to be blamed for over worrying and not telling you the truth sooner. Everything’s fine now that it’s all cleared up.”
“Don’t worry; my dad and I will keep it a secret.” “I’ll give you a proper tour the next time you come to Riverdale.” “I plan to go to college in Riverdale and also pay my brother a visit while I’m at it.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
