Chapter 2

After that, I helped Shirley up. Looking at her pale face, I said firmly, "Don't be afraid. I can find someone to help me bring justice for you."

I took Shirley to the police station and let her sit there. Then I immediately called my old friend, Hugh Malcom.

Back in school, he was always the top student.

Later, he even skipped grades and graduated early.

I heard he was doing well and recently became a superintendent.

If Hugh could handle that case, it could be dealt with as soon as possible.

After finishing the statement, I safely escorted her home. I repeatedly advised her to patiently wait for the results and not to overthink before I left.

During that period, I considered countless possibilities.

If the rapist couldn't be caught, I'd risk my life to stand up for Shirley.

She was my cousin, and I had protected her since we were kids.

She was as innocent as a lamb. How could she be raped by such scum and have her future ruined?

Fortunately, just as I was about to take action, good news came from Hugh.

The rapist had been arrested.

I wouldn't have let him off easily after such a heinous crime if Shirley hadn't shed tears miserably in front of me, which made my heart ache.

However, catching the rapist and putting him behind bars was a way to avenge the injustice.

I thought Shirley would feel the same, let go of her burdens, and embrace a new life with courage.

I thought we would continue happily with our lives as before.

But in the end, everything was just my wishful thinking.

As the fire approached, I suddenly realized that Shirley felt no gratitude but had harbored deep resentment for me.

I had saved her, but she blamed me for ruining her reputation and making her fail to find a husband.

Even my act of saving her became a joke in her eyes.

She said that her newborn son wouldn't be fatherless or miss paternal love if it weren't for my meddling.

Thinking back now, I only feel a chilling disappointment.

"Phillip, it's Shirley, your cousin..." Shirley thought I hadn't recognized her and urgently called out her name.

She knew that her name was my weakness.

Whenever I got angry, my cold eyes would become tender as soon as Shirley showed up and called me in a soft voice because she was my most beloved cousin and I would shield her, even if she was mischievous and caused trouble.

In my previous life, I would have rushed forward to fight for her and drive away the assailant as soon as I saw Shirley being assaulted.

I would have comforted her by holding her in my arms and then taken her to the police station to report the crime.

But what had happened in my previous life replayed in my mind like a movie. Shirley made a scene and set a fire at a banquet. My family's house was burned down entirely. So my sympathy became nothing.

She was such an ungrateful and foolish woman who betrayed the one who had helped her. Why did I risk my life to save her?

It would bring me bad luck to just pass by and see her, so I would never step forward to drive away the assailant for her.

Even if she were raped to death by him, Shirley would probably enjoy it.

Thinking this, I quickened my pace and left gracefully, pretending not to see anything.

Even after I walked far away, I could still hear Shirley's heart-wrenching cries behind me. "Get away... Get away... Don't touch me... "Why can't you hear me... Phillip... "

I could sense Shirley's despair, even though I was not there.

Dear Shirley, I was doing this for you.

Soon, you would be together with him naturally, and the baby in your belly would have its father.

I smirked and felt light-hearted as I walked home.

I vaguely remembered the man who raped Shirley.

His name was Jayden Lawson, 32 years old, and he was a notorious thug in the town.

Neighbors said that when he was seven, his father went to work in another city and brought back a young woman. His father clamored for a divorce so he could marry that woman.

Their family was in complete uproar, and eventually, Jayden's mother had a divorce with nothing. So she became a single mother.

Even though Jayden's family was struggling to put food on the table, Jayden didn't behave well.

He spent his days with delinquent people. He skipped school, raced cars, and spent nights at internet cafes.