Chapter 404
+25 BONUS
Startled, I sat up from his arms. Soren exchanged a few more words with the caller before hanging up.
“The embassy asked if we wanted to see and question him. What do you think?” he asked. “No!” 1 shook my head. “There’s nothing I want to say to him. Let the process begin already.”
Everything Edward had said and done back there utterly disgusted me.
Soren wrapped his arms around my shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze.
“What the embassy meant was that, since nothing obviously illegal happened, it’s difficult to charge him with a crime. All he needs is a good lawyer to walk free,” he explained. “If we prosecute him under local law, you’ll have to stay here until the entire process is over.”
I understood. The issue wasn’t how to punish him–it was that we were in a foreign country. Soren, someone vital to our country, couldn’t afford to remain abroad for long.
I had no such restriction, but there was no way he’d be okay with leaving me here alone. He’d try to find a way to extend his stay as much as possible.
But I couldn’t let myself be the reason he put aside his responsibilities.
“We don’t have to charge him here,” I said. “We can repatriate him, right?”
“Mm–hmm. That’s exactly what I planned. We’ll settle this back home in Metropolis. I have more power and resources there–far more leverage.”
He paused before adding, “My team already submitted our investigation report to the authorities. The process will take a bit longer because of Brigidlia, but I’m confident we’ll hear something by the day after tomorrow.” “Got it,” I said. This still felt surreal. “I… I guess we should let him go, then.”
There was no other way. Another storm awaited me back home.
We returned to the hotel while it was still dark.
Jean, Cherry, and my colleagues were already waiting outside. As soon as I stepped out of the car, Jean and Cherry rushed toward me.
“Thank God you’re in one piece!” Jean cried, clutching my hand so tightly I inhaled sharply.
She noticed and immediately let go. “Oh my God, I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?! I didn’t know-”
I pulled Soren’s coat tighter around me, hiding the marks, and forced a smile. “I’m okay. You should all go back to bed. We still have work tomorrow, remember? Once that’s done, we can finally relax.”
The hotel management looked uneasy at the unexpected gathering. I needed to disperse the crowd.
“I’ll take care of things tomorrow. You really should get some rest,” Jamie offered, his face grave.
I nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Young. We’ll see about it.”
After thanking them again, I sent everyone back to their rooms.
Soren led me back to the presidential suite.
1/2
+20 BONUS
Chapter 404
Jean, still worried, followed.
11
“Let me see your injuries, Tay. Please. I won’t be able to sleep unless I know exactly what happened,” she pleaded. With no one else around, I revealed the bruises around my wrists. “It’s just these. They’ll heal in a couple of days. She stared at them, her expression darkening. “What the fuck?! Was this… rope? That piece of shit tied you up?!”
2
