Chapter 6
When Liam heard this, he let out a long sigh of relief and looked like he’d had a revelation.[]
Like someone who’d been hanging in midair for too long and finally found a way down.]
Liam took Olivia’s hand, “Baby, I’m sorry I doubted you.“[]
Olivia sobbed in his arms, looking absolutely heartbroken.[]
The other guys looked at me with even more disgust.[]
Noah was about to hit me again.[]
Suddenly, the door to the private room burst open.[]
A group of uniformed police officers rushed in, “Don’t move!”
Elijah Thorne followed behind them.[]
“CEO Vance, I’m sorry I’m late.“[]
Noah looked confused by the lawyer’s respectful tone toward me: “CEO?“]
I ignored him and let Elijah help me up and walk me out.
The police arrested everyone in the room.]
“You beat this woman to a pulp. This is aggravated assault, and you’re all under arrest.“[]
Someone shouted back:[]
“Officer, this was mutual combat at most.”
“Mutual combat? One woman against a whole group of you?“]
“Yeah, look, I’m all bruised up too. She attacked me,” Olivia cried as she explained.
The police obviously didn’t buy their bullshit.[]
“I’m not blind, lady. She’s bleeding from her head while you’ve got a bunch of big guys protecting you, and you’re saying she attacked you?“]
Olivia was speechless.]
But she really had been hit – the injuries were just in more private places where she couldn’t exactly lift up her clothes to show the police, and it only hurt a little anyway since the marks would mostly be gone by the time they got to the hospital.]
This was the first time she’d experienced what it meant to have grievances you couldn’t voice.[]
The group of guys tried to testify for her, saying I really did attack first.[]
The police officer’s expression became even more serious.
“Your testimony doesn’t count – you’re all accomplices. And even if she did fight back,
that
would
Noah and the others were furious but powerless.[]
Police lights flashed downstairs, illuminating my blood–stained face.
As Olivia was led past me in handcuffs, she still whispered threats:
“Don’t think you’ve won anything. We’ll just pay some fines at most.“]]
Chapter 6
“But you? You’re fucked. After all this, Noah’s going to hate you forever.“[]
Just like Olivia had said.]]
My injuries were only classified as minor.]
Plus, the group used the fact that Noah and I were an unmarried couple to claim it was a “domestic dispute” to get themselves off the hook.]
The police had no choice but to fine them and let them go.
My lawyer pushed his glasses up his nose:[]
“Ms. \Vance, you were too impulsive this time. That group clearly understands the law and human body structure.“[]
“They were careful to hit areas that wouldn’t cause serious damage.“]
I clenched my fists in frustration.[]
My injuries looked severe, but medically they were only classified as minor.]
I still wasn’t satisfied. “What about
my head…”
My head was wrapped in thick bandages from where Noah had hit me.]
Elijah sighed regretfully:]
“Unfortunately, since you two have been living together for years, it was handled as a domestic dispute.“]
Hearing this, I felt my blood run cold.
How unfair.
Just because I was in a relationship, it was like I’d been sold to Noah. Even when I got beaten up, the case was just brushed aside.
“Is there really no other way?” I asked desperately.[]
“There is. The law exists to protect human rights.“[]
Elijah’s eyes seemed to light up behind his glasses, reflecting a cold, sharp gleam.
He pulled up the hospital diagnosis report, pointing at the words “mild concussion.“]
“According to the Violence Against Women Act, a pattern of domestic violence can also constitute aggravated assault.”
I suddenly understood what my lawyer was getting at.]
