Chapter 6 Offended

Brent groaned in pain, clutching at his groin. He pointed at Jemma angrily and shouted, "How dare you attack me? Do you realize who I am? I work at Eminence Law Firm. I can make sure your father never gets a lawyer's help and spends the rest of his life in prison."

Jemma's blood boiled with rage. First betrayed by her best friend, then violated by a stranger, and now being intimidated by a lawyer, she refused to cower. With renewed fury, she swung her bag at Brent, striking his head and torso repeatedly.

"You dare threaten me? People like you are why our country is drowning in corruption. You are all too caught up in your vices and neglecting your duties. It's the reason innocents like my father are falsely accused. Why don't evil people like you just die?"

Lying on the couch, Brent held his head, unable to get up because of his size, yet his ranting showed no signs of stopping.

"You bitch! Your stepmother took my money and delivered you to me. How dare you assault me! Listen well-your father's fate is sealed. He crossed the President by hitting his childhood sweetheart with a car. That was why he was set up as a scapegoat. With your stepmother's complicity, he'll die behind bars. He's not getting out."

Despite the summer heat, Jemma felt a chill run through her. She couldn't believe it. How could Julia have sold her to this lawyer? She struggled to see any motive for Julia to want her father imprisoned. Yet, if Julia were innocent, she wouldn't be enduring this humiliation from Brent now.

Jemma could hardly believe that Julia, always so meek and compliant, could commit such treachery.

She and her father had been naive, taking in Julia after her divorce, pitying her seeming helplessness. Who could have expected that Julia would take advantage of her father's drunk state and sleep with him?

At the time, Julia had cried, confessing her longstanding admiration for Kevin and her inability to restrain herself, vowing to atone for her lapse.

Over the years, Julia had maintained a low profile in their home, even after becoming Kevin's wife.

It appeared, however, that she had been manipulative and heartless all along.

Jemma was also surprised to find out that the President's hostility toward Kevin stemmed from more than Kevin's tendency to challenge and contradict him. It turned out Kevin had hit the President's childhood love with his car.

As Jemma stood petrified, Brent's mocking tone intensified. "Both you and your father are despised by everyone. Ever wondered why? Consider what you've done to deserve this. Why did your best friend deceive you and lure you to my room last night? You managed to get away, but you won't escape today. To have my attention should be seen as an honor. Still think you're a lady of virtue? Today, I will degrade you here for all to see. Anyone who wants a turn can take it. We'll see if you can maintain your dignity. If you have any left, maybe you should just end it all tomorrow."

He charged at Jemma, his massive body overwhelming her, forcing her onto the couch as he tore at her clothes.

Despair filled Jemma's eyes; she was speechless, clutching at her clothes in desperation.

It was now clear that Kaelyn had drugged her the previous day and tried to get her to meet Brent in Room 1001 instead of the President.

Both her closest friend and her stepmother had carefully planned her downfall.

And all hope of saving her father seemed lost.

Jemma's world was crumbling, filled with utter despair.

"Wow, what a spectacle! Never thought I'd see such a drama unfold live."

"It's such a shame, a beautiful woman ruined by a man like that."

"Her story is quite heartbreaking."

The crowd's scornful words filled the air around Jemma. The sound of her clothes tearing, was like the sound of her world breaking apart.