Chapter 248 Damsel in Distress
In the heavy rain, the white sports car sped away with a loud roar of the engine. Amber and Justin were the only ones standing outside the Hudson Residence.
As she was still holding the umbrella, she shielded him from the storm as she asked, “Justin, let’s get some shelter. You don’t have to ill-treat yourself.”
“She said everything was caused by me. What do you think?” Amber’s heart sank as she looked at him in surprise. “What does Hans’ death have to do with you? That’s because he’s unlucky. We don’t see anyone else encountering something like this, do we?”
“I was the one who broke his leg, though,” Justin mumbled. He could not recall the incident, but a memory suddenly flashed in his mind.
…
“Hold him down.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Aaaah—” The man yelled in pain. After that, his voice broke off as if he had died.
Then, someone next to him poured a bucket of cold water to wake him up.
“Continue.”
…
Justin remembered the white walls in the hospital. The smell of disinfectant was just as strong even in his memories.
And bit by bit, he started to remember the past incidents.
“Justin, what’s wrong?” Amber suddenly shrieked as she supported his wobbly figure. “Justin, hang in there! Someone, please call the police! Call the police quickly!”
…
Janice’s subordinates had always been keeping an eye on the Hudson Family for years. Now that Jefferey’s men were caught red handed at the pier and he was thrown behind bars, the tangible evidence led to a positive verdict by the court.
“Jefferey Hudson, the suspect and former president of Hudson Pharmaceuticals, has been involved in huge sums of money associated with drug smuggling. Among his illegal activities, he has killed two people to cover up his crimes. Since he has been convicted for his many crimes, we hereby announce that he would be subjected to a total of 15 years imprisonment and all his properties will be confiscated.”
In the solemn atmosphere of the court, the judge’s voice rang loud and clear when he announced the guilty verdict.
As Amber cried so hard that she almost fainted, she was helped out of the courtroom. Meanwhile, when Rachel heard the verdict, she slowly stood up and looked at Jefferey, who was seated in the dock with his striped clothes. She was surprised to realize that she felt nothing but calmness.
15 years of prison meant that he would have to spend a part of his life in prison. Even though he would be released after 15 years, he would barely be able to do anything after losing touch with society for so long.
After Hernandez and Rachel walked out of the courtroom and to their car, a shrill voice rang behind them.
“Are you satisfied now, Rachel?” Amber struggled from her assistant and chased Rachel. “I bet you are finally satisfied now that you have broken our family apart, you vicious woman!”
Before Rachel could speak, he blocked her with his back to protect her. “Miss, are you going to attack her in front of the court? I don’t mind suing you for insult and assault.”
“So, it’s you!” Amber recognized him in an instant. Then, she scoffed and continued sarcastically, “Rachel, do you think that you are invincible in Riverdale now that you are friends with a lawyer? Let me tell you this—you will have your fair share of crying in the future!”
Hernandez had wanted to respond, but he was stopped by Rachel, who coldly looked at Amber.
“You have been threatening me since we were young,” Rachel reminded. “I’m sure you are so used to it that you have forgotten what evidence I’m now holding against you, right?”
Amber blanched.
“Bear in mind that if any of the evidence in hand is leaked to the public, you can forget about staying in Riverdale altogether. You better take care of yourself. Let’s go, Hernandez.”
Rachel stared at Amber’s figure in the rearview mirror until Amber became a tiny dot as they went further into the distance. It was only at that moment that Rachel retracted her gaze.
Hernandez, who was sitting next to Rachel, yanked her hand toward him and pried her fist open. “Don’t be so tense now. It’s time to relax now that the case is over.”
After she returned to her senses, she responded with a conflicted expression, “Thank you for accompanying me here.”
“It’s my honor to be of your service.”
“Even though Jefferey is behind bars and Amber will not have a good life from now onward, I still have the muscle memory from twenty years of living with them. I can’t even relax now. Sarcastic, isn’t it?”
“It will be better,” Hernandez insisted. “Even if it doesn’t, you will feel much better once you leave Riverdale and never see these people again.”
“I still haven’t decided when to leave.”
“You don’t have to rush. I still need some time to collect the evidence for your daughter’s case anyway.”
“Are we really going to court for this?” Rachel frowned. “She might blame me in the future.”
“Instead of thinking that she might blame you, it’s better to use the effort to consider whether it’s really appropriate for her to grow up in Justin’s care, especially when he’s short-tempered. Isn’t it better for her to be with you—her mom— and your friends like us? Think about Samuel too.”
Hernandez’s words had swayed her.
Rachel had never seriously considered going to court to obtain Charlotte’s custodial rights before he came to riverdale. However, everything had now changed—and there was no better option apart from bringing Charlotte away.
“Don’t bother about it anymore. Leave the rest to me and have a break at home.”
“No, I would like to go to the Burton Residence first.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Jolly had already brought Samuel abroad with the excuse of school activities. Although he had not been attending school for the past few days, Rachel still had some luggage at the Burton Residence that she wanted to collect and move out for the time being.
It was already noon when Rachel arrived. She had deliberately chosen Charlotte’s schooling hours to return so that only the nanny would be at home.
“Miss Hudson, you must be back from your work trip.” The nanny treated Rachel as usual when she saw Rachel.
However, upon hearing those words, Rachel froze. I haven’t returned for such a long time. I guess Justin had to give Charlotte an explanation. Otherwise, that kid would continuously pester him. Well, a work trip is a good excuse for this.
“Yeah, I guess so.” She refused to elaborate. “Continue with your tasks. I’m merely back to collect some items.”
“I see. Alright.”
Rachel walked upstairs alone and she went to the room to keep the items belonging to her and Samuel away.
Just as she was about to leave, she saw the glass photo frame from the corner of her eye and immediately froze.
In the picture was her, Justin, Charlotte and Samuel—it was taken when they were on a trip to the mountain last weekend. Rachel had no idea when the picture was printed out. Since it wasn’t framed when she left, it could have been printed out some time over the last few days.
“What are you doing?”
A cold voice rang from the door, which made her jump. The frame in her hands fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Justin took a huge step forward reflexively as if he wanted to catch the frame, but he retracted halfway through.
