Chapter 52 Is She Cheating on Justin?
Facing Hans’s surprised look, Rachel could only force a bitter smile. Yes, I am indeed married, but for rather embarrassing reasons.
The library security guard hurried over but was blocked by Tina’s bodyguard, and the two parties were at a standstill.
Hans was calm in the face of the ruckus. “I don’t care about your background. We are living in a civilized and lawful society now. Do you really think you’re beyond the law?”
“Who do you think you are?” Tina snorted mockingly and turned to Rachel. “I underestimated you. I have heard that you have a complicated relationship with Julian Peters, and now, there’s another man! Does Justin know that you are spending his money on men?”
In the face of public condemnation, Rachel clenched her teeth and was about to stand up for herself when Hans shielded her behind him.
She looked up with a shocked expression. The next second, he confronted Tina, commenting, “Battery and assault of others in public places will result in five to ten days of jail. As for slander and defamation, serious cases will warrant a maximum of three years’ prison sentence.”
His words were confident and persuasive. Even Tina, who was used to having her own ways, was secretly taken aback by the seriousness of the offense.
Just then, a bodyguard stepped in and advised her in a whisper, “Miss Burton, if this gets out of hand, I’m afraid that it’d be hard for us to explain to Mr. Burton. Let’s leave now.”
Tina was recently released by Jason after being grounded for a while. If the Burtons got hold of her misdemeanor, she might be grounded again. By then, it would be harder for her to regain her freedom.
“You stupid girl! We shall see. This thing between us is not settled yet!” After glaring at Rachel, she immediately scurried out of the building with her bodyguards.
“Nothing to watch here. Ladies and gentlemen, please disperse.” The security helped to disperse the crowds that had gathered.
Hans turned around to check on Rachel. “Are you alright? I’ll bring you to the hospital for a checkup.”
She shook her head. I’m fine, thank you.
He took a better look at her and said with heartache, “Look, your face is swollen. Your injury must be quite serious. Since my place is not far from here, I’ll bring you home to dress your wounds.”
Indeed, Tina did not hold back at all when she delivered that slap. As a result, Rachel’s right cheek was awfully swollen, and she looked disheveled, with a head of messy hair.
She knew that she couldn’t head into work in her current state. She did feel uncomfortable when the crowd gossiped about her just now, so she accepted his kind offer. To be honest, she cared less about how the others perceived her than how Hans saw her. Therefore, she wanted to use the opportunity to explain herself.
He rented a duplex one block away from the library. His place was decorated in a simple fashion, and his living room was full of boxes of various sizes.
“Take a seat for now. I haven’t had the time to tidy up my place.”
She nodded and took a seat on the sofa, and soon, he appeared with a pack of ice. Thank you. She took the ice pack and carefully pressed them against her cheek.
The chilliness of the pack contacting the burning sensation on her cheek resulted in a sharp pain that shot through her, turning her cheek numb from the coldness.
“Have some water.” He poured her a glass of water. Steam from the hot water rose in the transparent glass and dissipated into the air in no time.
Across the coffee table, he took a seat facing her and asked out of concern, “Are you sure you don’t want to lodge a police report? She assaulted you in a public space, and there are multiple witnesses. Cases like these are sure wins.”
Even after hearing his question, she shook her head slowly. Since he was an attorney, she knew that he’d definitely help her if she asked. Still, considering that the perpetrator was Tina, a member of the Burton Family, she could only endure it all.
She is the cousin of Justin Burton, the president of Burton Group.
“The Burton Group?” His face went blank. “How did you get into trouble with the people from Burton Group?”
When he connected the dots with clues from Tina’s words, he suddenly came to a realization and gave Rachel a shocked look. “Are you really… married?”
Once he asked the question she feared the most, she tightened her grip around the ice pack and tried to keep her calm. Then, she gave him a slight nod. It’s an undeniable fact after all.
A look of disappointment flashed across his eyes, but he forced a smile. “Well, I should wish you a happy marriage!”
His wish—though well-intended—sounded like piercing sarcasm when it landed on her ears.
“When was it? Have you had the wedding?”
She shook her head slowly. Why would the Burtons want to hold the wedding for their mute daughter-in-law? They’d only make a joke out of themselves.
More than that, she was well aware that Justin only kept her around to use her. Once she had no value to him, he’d kick her aside.
Hans followed up, “What is your husband like? Is he good to you? You’re not put into any difficult positions, right?”
She was caught by surprise and felt a lump in her throat. Everything’s pretty good. I-I still have things to do. I need to head back to work.
Lowering her head to dodge his gaze, she hurriedly picked up her bag to leave.
“Rachel!”
She heard him calling from behind, but she dared not turn around lest he saw tears streaming down her face. Things had changed over the eight long years, and the same went for relationships. Even though he would always be the light in her life, they could never be the same again.
Meanwhile, Tina had hopped on an army green supercar.
“I don’t need you guys following me around.” Dismissing her bodyguards with a few words, she finally took off her sunglasses.
After a loud revving of the engine, the supercar sped through the street. Amber’s gentle voice was heard from the direction of the front passenger seat. “You alright, Tina?”
Tina answered with silence and a sullen expression. Although the sunglasses shielded half of her face, it was easy to tell that she was sulky.
A clever twinkle flashed across Amber’s eyes. “Tina, I know the man who protected Rachel just now.”
In the morning, Tina had called her to ask for the address of Rachel’s workplace. At that time, she knew that things were going to turn into a dramatic mess, which was why she happily followed along to witness the drama. However, it was beyond expectation that she got juicer gossip from the trip.
“Don’t beat around the bush.” Without as much as taking a look at Amber, Tina stepped hard on the accelerator and brought the car onto the freeway.
Shocked, Amber hurriedly clutched at her seatbelt, suppressing the nausea in her. “The man is called Hans Egerton, and he is Rachel’s first boyfriend. He attended the same high school we attended.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
The car was speeding too fast, and they even had a couple of close calls, where they almost crashed into the divider when Tina changed lanes. In the passenger seat, Amber was scared out of her mind. Tina Burton is a madwoman!
She quickly added, “Hans and his family migrated overseas early on. Recently, he suddenly returned, and the first thing he did was to look for Rachel. There must be something fishy between them. Don’t you want to teach her a lesson?”
Hearing that, Tina finally released her foot on the accelerator, after which the car finally settled into a steady and normal speed.
“Continue,” she ordered coldly.
When Amber composed herself, she explained, “You can’t teach Rachel a lesson by assaulting her like what you did today. Anyway, her relationship with Hans is definitely a valid concern. If Justin hears about that, I bet Rachel is going to have a tough time.”
“Do you think she’s cheating on Justin?”
“Who knows? It’s suspicious no matter how you look at it. No one really knows for sure.”
Tina gave it some serious thought and shot a look at Amber through her sunglasses. Then, she smirked. “You’re really something! With that, you are trying to turn her into a scapegoat. To make Justin divorce her, you have the heart to trample over your own sister.”
