Chapter 10
When Sheldon went to the police station, he told the police that this matter should be taken seriously, and they would get a lawyer involved.
Arlene remained silent, not saying a word, and did not defend herself.
Because she knew exactly how the higher–ups operate, Brendan would never let Paige off easily just to make her happy.
“Why did you hit Darin, Arlene?” the police asked.
Arlene was silent for a moment, then said,“Personal grudges.”
The police officer looked at Arlene’s ID and it was clear that he remembered her. “Four years ago… the campus violence incident at Seattle University, I investigated that.”
That campus bullying incident left the victim Arlene permanently deaf in her left ear, with a shattered pinky finger, and her body was just a mess…
It was a criminal case, supposed to be criminally prosecuted, but the Dudley family managed to hush it up, the college teacher didn’t call the police, only after the media exposed it did the police step in, but the victim Arlene didn’t agree to press charges.
That matter just ended there.
But as a police officer, he remembered that case very well, where people from several wealthy families bullied an orphan who grew up in an orphanage…
That year, Arlene was only nineteen. The school teacher sided with the Dudley family and the Hilton family, bullied her, and threatened her. They said if she dared to call the police or make a big deal out of it, even if she left the hospital, they wouldn’t let her graduate smoothly.
Arlene couldn’t afford to mess up at school if she wanted to graduate smoothly. She had to behave and keep a low profile, not tarnish the school’s reputation.
No one was behind Arlene, everyone knew she was an orphan, an easy target.
Everyone chose to bully the vulnerable group to appease the wealthy and powerful.
Darin was one of the people who bullied you back then, right?” Police officer Tristian Wilkinson looked at Arlene.
Arlene sat stiffly in the chair, staring at Tristian in shock.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
That year was the darkest and cruelest for Arlene.
It’s not just Darin and Wilma who tortured Arlene physically, but also the harsh reality of this society that mercilessly trampled on her.
Orphan, poverty, no background was her original sin.
The hospital called and said Darin’s injuries weren’t serious, but Darin insisted on pressing charges. This time, you were the one who started the fight… Even if what happened back then was the trigger, it’s not a reason for you to hit someone, understand?” Tristian spoke to Arlene gently, and after recognizing her, he understood that she was not at fault for starting the fight.
In front of the law, he couldn’t protect himself, let alone the other party pursuing it to the end.
Thank you…” Arlene said, bowing her head in gratitude.
“Why not choose to leave Seattle? Get a little further away from the Dudley family and the Hilton family?” Tristian asked Arlene.
There was no escaping it… Arlene chuckled bitterly.
Four years ago, when she was almost suffocating under the pressure from the school and the Hilton family, it was Brendan who stood in front of her, telling her not to be afraid, and promising to protect her in the future, never letting her get hurt again.
Brendan hit Wilma in front of her, and sent Wilma and Darin abroad. Since then, no one dared to bully her openly at school.
At the age when she needed love the most, Arlene fell for Brendan, who was no good.
Four years, she did think about escaping.
There’s no escape.
Brendan didn’t love her, but he also wouldn’t let her go.
“If you are threatened, you can call the police…” Tristian frowned, even saying the words “call the police” himself made him unsure, because there are some things that the law cannot protect.
In this world, there’s no such thing as absolute fairness. They say everyone is equal, but is there really true equality?
< Chapter 10
“Do you have any familiar friends? If someone is willing to bail you out, you can leave tonight.” Brendan’s secretary insisted on dealing with Arlene seriously, so Arlene basically couldn’t run away from this administrative detention for twenty–four hours.
Because the situation wasn’t too serious, if someone bails her out, Arlene can leave.
But Arlene shook her head.
Brendan was very controlling, and Arlene was wary
of everyone, so
besides Brendan, she didn’t have any friends.
She didn’t want to contact Brianna from the orphanage
or go
to the police station. She didn’t want the director to worry.
Menu
Just when Tristian was at his wit’s end, Arlene’s phone rang.
The call was from an unknown number, bu
Arlene knew it was Albert.
Tristian handed the phone to Arlene, he hoped Arlene could find someone to bail them out.
Arlene hesitated for a moment, then answered the phone.“Mr. Stevenson…”
‘I’m not here to rush you into making a decision. There’s a dinner tonight at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, my grandfather will be attending as the former president. Do you have time? The choice is yours,” Albert’s voice was calm.
It was like talking business with Arlene.
He was willing to spend money to buy Arlene’s time, to have her as a date at the party tonight, just to make Keegan happy.
Arlene’s fingers froze on the phone, her voice hoarse.“Mr. Stevenson… I ran into some trouble at the Seattle Police Department in Seattle. Can you come bail me out?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone, then they hung up without saying anything.
Arlene put down her phone with a sigh and looked at Tristian apologetically. “Sorry Officer Wilkinson…”
No one was willing to help her.
Tristian glanced at Arlene, got up to pour her a glass of water, and had the policewoman take her to the detention room.
“Officer Wilkinson, do you know that woman?” the female officer in the office asked curiously.
Cany
“Yeah, I know her,” Tristian didn’t deny, he said knowing Arlene could be somewhat useful, at least his colleagues would give him some face, not too much for Arlene. We’re friends.”
“How come she still hit people?” the female police officer asked curiously.
The other party deserved to be hit,” Tristian said casually.
Four years ago, he was transferred from the criminal police team to the Seattle Police Department as a cop because of a criminal case.
The bullying incident at Seattle University really left a deep impression on Tristian.
After the media exposed the video of Arlene being abused, he took the initiative to investigate. He drove to Seattle University himself and met Arlene.
Back then, Arlene didn’t have a single inch of good skin on her whole body.
བ བ ཐ བ རོར ༈
He wanted to ask Arlene if she wanted to report to the police, but the school teachers threatened her not to speak out.
After that, he went to the school several times, but the school kept coming up with all sorts of excuses to prevent him from seeing Arlene, saying that Arlene was not feeling well and needed to rest.
Was the one who got beaten a scumbag? Then why detain this girl?” The female police officer was a bit indignant. “Why wasn’t that scumbag detained?” Tristian chuckled self–deprecatingly. “What goes around comes around.”
The policewoman stopped talking, she understood what Tristian meant, the other party must be a wealthy and powerful person.
“Hello, my name is Albert, I am Arlene’s friend.”
Outside the door, Albert came with the lawyer.“Hello, I’m Ms. Hurley’s lawyer, just want to know more about the situation.” Tristian paused for a moment, looked at Albert, this guy seemed impressive, is he a friend of Arlene’s?
But anyway, someone was willing to bail out Arlene, which made Tristian breathe a sigh of relief. “Hello, come with me.” Tristian brought Albert and the lawyer to the mediation room. “Arlene got into a physical fight at the Dudley Group today.” Albert was a bit surprised. Arlene looked like an easy target, like a little bunny, but she could actually bite people?
Chapter 16
Menu
“She wouldn’t have just hit someone for no reason, right? There must have been some fault on the other side, Albert said in a deep voice.
Tristian glanced at Albert again and nodded. The one who got beaten is called Darin. Four years ago at Seattle University, he used to bully Arlene. But this time, for some reason, Darin didn’t fight back. Arlene smashed his head with a vase.”
Albert’s face darkened. Four years ago? School bullying”
