Chapter 20
Hansel cut Cheryl off impatiently and turned to the police officer. “Officer Lawson, the witness is here. Aren’t you going to interrogate her?”
Officer Lawson immediately said to Cheryl, “Cheryl Moore, come with me. We’ll have to take your statement. Our hands are full, so let’s hurry.”
Cheryl paused before raising her chin. She firmly told Hansel, “Hansel, I will recover the data in my old phone and show you the proof!”
However, Hansel merely dismissed her determination with a smirk. Without saying another word, he left.
Cheryl’s gaze followed him as he left, clearly unruffled. Her eyes reddened as she muttered determinedly, “Lara, you gave your heart to the wrong man, but I’ll still prove your innocence.”
Seeing how resolute she was, I couldn’t help but tear up.
She was so silly. Why would she try to reason with someone who didn’t want to acknowledge the truth?
Cheryl followed the police officer into his office, and I went with her.
Before the officer could start asking her anything, she was already crying.
She was my best friend. She must have been terribly upset that I’d been missing for days.
Sobbing, she asked, “Officer, did you find nothing else except for Lara’s white dress?”
“On the day she went missing, she was on the phone with you for more than ten minutes. Did she tell you where she was going?”
Cheryl wiped her tears. After regaining her composure, she replied, “No, she didn’t. That day, she was happy because she thought she would get engaged to Hansel. However, Hansel had lied to her and got engaged to someone else.
“Lara only found out his true identity that day. She genuinely loved him, but that was what she got in return. She was heartbroken, so she called and confided in me.
“I consoled her for a long time. Then, I told her to wait by the roadside and asked my brother to pick her up.‘
“Why did you send your brother instead of picking her up yourself? What were you doing?”
“I was on a business trip at Brewmoore City, so I could only ask my brother to pick her up. However, he didn’t see her and couldn’t reach her. After he told me, I called her repeatedly, but the calls didn’t go through. It’s all my fault!”
She suddenly choked up. Covering her mouth with her hand, she started crying again. “I should’ve gone to the police when I failed to reach her. But I thought she was just too heartbroken and had turned off her phone so she could spend some time alone.
“The next morning, I called Ms. Henderson. That was when I learned that she hadn’t returned home the whole night. It’s because of my carelessness that we missed the best chance to find Lara. But why would she call Hansel for help instead of me?
“Why would she place her hope on a man who dumped her Oh, Lara. How silly of you…”
Engulfed in sadness, Cheryl started sobbing uncontrollably
I quickly hugged her, but my tears had run dry.
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Chapter 20
+25 BONUS
I paid the price for being foolish with my life.
Crying wouldn’t bring me back to life.
If I could get another chance at life, I’d definitely avoid that cold–blooded Hansel as much as I could.
I left the police department with Cheryl.
She took the bus home to a worn–down residential area.
When she opened the door, I heard dishes smashed against the floor.
“If you don’t give me the money now, I’ll break everything in this house!” It was her father, Frank Moore. He sounded fierce.
“I’ve given you everything we have. Even if you tear this house apart, I still won’t be able to give you any more.” Her mother, Linda Greene, sobbed. Her hair was in a mess, and there was a slap mark on her face. “Frank, stop gambling.”
“Shut up, you miserable woman! All you do is cry. You’re the reason I’m all out of luck…” Frank kept berating Linda.
Seemingly having gotten used to it, Cheryl silently returned to her room. She retrieved an old phone from a drawer and put it in her bag. Then, she left home.
Feeling heartbroken, I followed after her.
My family was poor, but Mom and Granny loved me. I had Jayson to care
for me, too.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 21
