Share

Chapter 4

Author: Rosie Steppe
I never thought I'd end up in police station for indecency.

The person I knocked over was a 17-year-old teenager. He was sure I had bad intentions. Even though I denied it, he kept saying that I touched him.

"Where did she touch you?" the police asked, scrutinizing every detail.

Brad Twain looked at me, pointed at his chest, then gestured down to his waist. "She touched me here, here...and even here."

'That's total bullshit!'

I almost cursed, I had never touched a man as handsome as Jace. How would I be interested in a kid like him?

The officer looked at me again, and I denied it before he could ask. "I didn't lay a hand on him; it was just an accidental bump."

"Have you been drinking?" the officer asked, giving me a knowing look.

It was normal for men to drink a lot, but if a woman drank even a little, she was seen as improper.

I nodded. "Yes, I did."

"How much?" The officer's question seemed unrelated to the situation at hand.

Still, I answered honestly, "One bottle of beer."

He looked at me in disbelief.

I immediately thought of Lena, who could vouch for me. But just my luck, while I was on the ground with Brad, she texted me saying she had been called back to the hospital to save a bleeding mother.

I understood what the police were implying and explained again, "I wasn't drunk, and I definitely wasn't taking advantage of this kid."

The officer noted my words and then looked at Brad. "Are you sure she touched you? Making false accusations has legal consequences."

"Of course, I'm sure," Brad insisted.

I was so angry I wanted to get up and hit him. Before I could act, Brad's eyes suddenly lit up. "Sis, you're here?"

As a minor, he needed a guardian called in. I turned, wanting to explain to his family, but when I saw who had arrived, I was stunned.

Jace walked in with a woman who had long, straight hair and wore a white dress. She looked like the classic unattainable crush from every romance drama.

I knew who she was. Her name was Tanya Twain.

"Brad, what happened?" Tanya asked anxiously.

Brad didn't answer her but instead pouted at Jace. "Sis, is this your new boyfriend?"

Jace's face tightened, his look shifting from surprise to coldness as he stared at me. "What's going on?"

"Jace, you know this woman? She's a total creep. She touched me all over..." Brad kept lying with exaggerated gestures.

I had no energy left to explain. I just stared at Jace. It had only been a few hours since he left me, and now he was someone else's boyfriend.

The reason he had to drop me off so urgently earlier seemed clear now.

Tanya also looked at me. "Hi, Keira. I'm Tanya, Brad's sister." Her voice was gentle.

At first, I was a bit surprised she recognized me. But then I thought, 'Of course she knows me. I'm Jace's sidekick, always trailing behind him. Anyone who knows him knows about me.'

However, Tanya and I had never interacted. I only knew about her because her husband, Desmond Blake, had died in a car accident recently, and Jace, being Desmond's close friend, had been helping her out.

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat. "I just accidentally knocked over your brother and fell on him. I didn't do any of the things he's saying."

Tanya smiled apologetically. "I know, he's always been a troublemaker."

She walked over and gave Brad two quick smacks on the head, then explained the situation to the police. They checked the surveillance footage and confirmed I was telling the truth.

"Since you all know each other, why don't you try to make up? Otherwise, the kid could be detained for making a false report," the officer suggested.

Tanya immediately tugged on Jace's sleeve. It was a small gesture but seemed very intimate.

Jace had a high status and an aura that kept most people at a distance. Casual touches like that weren't common, and he didn't usually like being touched.

But Tanya's touch didn't seem to bother him at all, indicating this wasn't the first time.

It was something I didn't want to think too much about.

As for the officer's suggestion, I was about to speak when Jace cut in, "It was all a misunderstanding. Let's just drop it."

Then, he grabbed my hand tightly and pull me away.

Comments (1)
goodnovel comment avatar
Pema Dema
I m loving it
VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Related chapters

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 5

    My hand hurt from his grip. It was clear Jace was angry.'Is he jealous?'Just as I wondered, Jace let go of my hand, his eyes cold. "Rea, are you doing this to get back at me because of what I said?"I was shocked. I didn't think he'd see it that way."I didn't, I--" I began to explain but he interrupted me."Where did you touch him? Did you really touch him there?" Jace's jaw was tense, and his eyes had a fierce glint.But this rare display of jealousy eased a lot of my frustration. It showed he did care about me. If he only saw me as a sister or a friend, he wouldn't care if I touched another guy."No," I said again.Just then, Brad walked out and whistled at me. "Hey creep, why are you hitting on my brother-in-law?"Rudeness was typical from him, and this was no exception.Looking at him, I couldn't help but wonder what I did to deserve this.Tanya came over too. When I thought of her touching Jace earlier, I instinctively took Jace's arm.However, I didn't expect to fe

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 6

    Tanya had a close call; her baby was saved, and now she was back in her hospital room.Her face was pale and drawn, her eyes red and puffy, making her look fragile and pitiful."Don't worry, the baby is fine," Jace reassured her."Jace, I was so scared," Tanya began to cry.Jace handed her a tissue, and she took it, grabbing his hand and resting her tear-streaked face on it.'She might be pitiful, but does being pitiful give her the right to treat my fiancé as her own?' I thought.I walked over. "Mrs. Blake, the doctor said that strong emotions are bad for the baby. You barely managed to save the child. If something happens again because you're crying like this, it would be terrible."I reached out to support her, subtly pulling her away.Seeing her tears on Jace's hand still made me uncomfortable, like something of mine had been tainted by someone else. I was a bit of a clean freak, both in life and in love.Tanya seemed taken aback when I called her Mrs. Blake. Her face visi

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 7

    Even though I wasn't so turned on that I'd lose control, if Jace answered the phone or left right now, I'd be mortified.He swallowed hard and grabbed his phone, pressing the button to hang up. He continued kissing my neck and collarbone.But the phone rang again a second later. I knew that if he didn't answer, there would be no peace for either of us.Turning my face to the side, I said, "You should answer it."Jace looked uneasy. He pulled the blanket over me, picked up the phone, and walked to the balcony.Even though he closed the sliding door, I could still hear him."I can't come over. Ask the nurse to help you."I didn't say I wouldn't take care of you... I know it's my fault..."Fine, stop crying. I'm coming, I'll be there soon."Then I heard the click of a lighter.Jace was smoking.For the first time, he was smoking at home.It was nearly ten minutes before Jace returned. The air was tinged with the tobacco smell.His eyes looked uneasy as he said, "Um... I have

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 8

    "Keira, Mr. Johnston is looking for you."Demi Young, who had followed me, held out her phone.I had really underestimated Jace's persistence. With no other choice, I took the call. "Mr. Johnston, what can I do for you?" I asked formally."Rea," Jace's voice was hoarse and full of guilt. "Why'd you leave so early today? I didn't see you when I got back."Realizing this wasn't a work call, I stepped away. "I went out for breakfast.""I'm sorry, I... I couldn't leave last night, so I didn't come back."A cold chill ran through me, and I felt a mocking smile on my lips. "Why couldn't you leave?"Jace went silent.I held my breath, giving him an out. "Was it because you couldn't find a caregiver?""Yes..."I didn't say anything else, but Jace continued, "Rea, when will you be done there? I can pick you up, and we can grab lunch together."We hadn't had a meal together in a long time. According to Brad, Jace had been spending his time with Tanya. So, this sudden lunch invite—was

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 9

    "Join us!" Jace agreed without consulting me.Tanya sat down, looking at the food in front of her with a foodie expression. "Grilled fish, I've been craving this lately.""Shall I order you some foie gras as well?" Jace's tone was casual."And add some dessert, yogurt ice cream with strawberry sauce, and orange juice," Tanya said, then turned to me, "Keira, would you like some orange juice too?""No, I'll have water," I replied, putting a piece of foie gras into my mouth. It was smooth, delicate, with a faint milky aroma..."Jace, was the foie gras you brought me before from this restaurant?" Tanya's words made me pause mid-chew.I looked at him, noting his slightly stiff expression, "...Yes."No wonder he knew the foie gras here was good. He had bought it for Tanya multiple times, while today was my first time having it—only because he felt guilty.Suddenly, the foie gras in my mouth lost its flavor, making it hard to swallow."No wonder the smell seemed familiar," Tanya said

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 10

    Tanya's face went even paler, her already fair skin now almost ghostly. She gripped her juice glass, her hands shaking. "I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to."She looked so fragile and pitiful that it seemed like I'd said something to hurt her feelings.But I didn't stop. Since I'd started, I might as well finish. "Maybe you didn't mean to, but it has affected us. If it wasn't on purpose, just be more mindful in the future. No need to apologize.""If Desmond were still here, I would never trouble Jace," Tanya said, tears streaming down her face again. She sure knew how to turn on the waterworks.Her words were cleverly chosen, leaving me at a disadvantage.Tanya looked at me, her eyes shimmering. "I turn to Jace because Desmond entrusted him with that responsibility before he passed, and Jace agreed."Her hands kept rubbing the glass as she added, "If it weren't for that, I wouldn't bother Jace."This was her way of excusing herself while subtly blaming me.But we were all adults

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 11

    Jace turned, his eyes wide with surprise, quickly replaced by anger. "Rea, try to be reasonable. Tanya--""I'm your fiancée!" I cut him off.Saying that made me feel so pathetic. Watching TV, I always thought the heroine in these scenes was too weak, that it wasn't worth arguing with a jerk. Now that it was happening to me, I got it."Tanya is pregnant; I can't let anything happen to her!" Jace said, stepping back.After a few steps, he turned and ran outside.In the end, he chose her over me.Sitting there, I saw him catch up to Tanya. They were pulling at each other, and finally, Tanya clung to him and fell into his arms.I lowered my head, unable to watch any longer.Whether there was anything between them or not, his choice today gave me the answer to my wavering heart.I barely touched the food but ended up paying the three-hundred-dollar bill.Instead of going back to Jace's place, I went to Lena's."Are you really breaking up with him?" Lena, the amazing gynecologist,

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 12

    Jace's face stiffened slightly. "Last night, I was worried something might happen to Tanya. You know Desmond was his parents' only son. Now, the baby she's carrying is their whole hope. If something went wrong..."He didn't finish, but I got it."So, as long as it's about her, you'll always put her first, right?" I asked coldly.Jace was quiet for a couple of seconds before he said, "Once the baby's born, things will be different."I laughed.As I turned my head, the rising sun stung my eyes.I looked at him. "Jace, even after the baby's born, there will be other problems. The baby might get sick or have accidents. As long as you can use this kid as an excuse, you and Tanya will always be tangled up, and I'll always be the one you leave behind."Jace didn't say anything.I made my stance clear. "Jace, after getting married, I don't want my husband taking care of another woman every few days.""Rea, give me some time. I'll sort this out." Jace's eyes showed conflict."What is

Latest chapter

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1009

    "It’s fine. I can do it," Hayden said naturally as he picked up the basin and went to fetch warm water. The moment he stepped out, Lena turned to scold Keira. "You went through so much pain to give birth to his child. Why would you feel bad about letting him do something for you?" "It’s not that I feel bad—I just feel embarrassed," Keira whispered in defense. Lena rolled her eyes. "So dramatic." Keira shot her a glare in return. "Just wait until it’s your turn. When your husband has to handle your private matters, you’ll understand how awkward it is." The moment the words left Keira's mouth, she saw Lena’s face turn red. Lena quickly hugged the baby and turned away. But Keira caught it. Something was off. "Wait… why are you blushing?" Keira asked suspiciously. "I am not blushing," she denied immediately. What Keira didn’t know was that her words had triggered the memory of Lena's ridiculous dream—where she had been lying on the delivery bed, cursing Aaron while gi

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1008

    The moment she finished cursing, Lena jolted awake. She sat there, dazed. What kind of ridiculous dream was that? She had assisted in delivering countless babies before, but this was the first time she had ever dreamed of giving birth herself. And not only that—she had dreamed of giving birth to Aaron’s child? That was beyond outrageous. Absolutely absurd! What a way to start the new year. That dream was anything but beautiful. Lena ran a hand down her face, shaking off the lingering unease. She quickly got up, poured herself a glass of water to calm down, and then left the break room. Back in the hospital room, Hayden was feeding Keira. Keira was perfectly capable of eating on her own, but he insisted on feeding her, saying that she was in a special period and should be treated like a queen. That this was the time to learn how to be spoiled properly. Fine. If this was how he wanted to make up for the suffering she endured giving birth to their daughter, she’d give

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1007

    Keira looked at Lena and smiled as she followed up on Hayden’s words. "You’re family. It’s different." Lena shot her a subtle glare before stuffing the red envelope into her pocket and saying, "Give me the rest. I’ll hand them out for you later." Hayden passed her the prepared stack of red envelopes, and as she took them, she asked, "What about the other departments?" Hayden and Aaron exchanged a glance and chuckled. "Of course. Every medical staff member in this hospital gets one." "President Hart, you’re too generous," Lena said, giving him a thumbs-up. With that, she took the envelopes and left. Aaron glanced at the time. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back now." "Mm. Happy New Year!" Hayden said, offering his holiday wishes. "Happy New Year to your whole family," Aaron replied, adding a few extra words that made both Hayden and me instinctively turn toward the baby in the bassinet. From today onward, we were officially a family of three. Outside the h

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1006

    When Keira returned to the hospital room, she was greeted by a sight that made her pause. The room was decorated with fresh flowers and balloons, and beside her bed, there was a small cart filled with various gift boxes. The atmosphere was so festive that if someone walked in, they might have thought it was a birthday party rather than a postpartum recovery room. "What’s all this?" Lena asked on Keira's behalf. "A reward for my wife," Hayden answered, his hand still holding Keira's as he gazed at her with deep affection. "She went through so much. This is my way of thanking her." Keira smiled faintly. "I don’t need any of this." "Whether you need it or not is one thing. Giving it to you is my choice," Hayden said, pressing a kiss onto Keira's fingertips. "Even if everything I have already belongs to you, I still want to give you more." "Such a loving husband—honestly, what more could a woman ask for?" Lena teased before patting Keira's hospital bed. "But if President Hart r

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1005

    Elder Mitchell wasn’t buying it. "That just means you guys didn’t really want to give anything. If you truly wanted to, there’s no such thing as a gift that can’t be delivered." The two old men started bickering again, but Hayden ignored them. Instead, he kept his eyes on the infant bathing room. Before long, the nurse finished bathing the baby and carried her out. Hayden reached out to take her, but the two elders immediately moved to get closer. He blocked them without hesitation. "Don’t you know old people’s eyes are toxic? You shouldn’t be staring at her for too long." Elder Hart: "…" Elder Mitchell: "…" With that, Hayden carried the baby and walked away. The two old men trailed after him, hoping to catch another glimpse, but Hayden wasn’t about to give them the chance. "Congratulations," Aaron, who had been standing nearby, offered his well wishes. "It’s a daughter. Take a look," Hayden said, his pride practically radiating off him. Aaron lowered his gaze to the

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1004

    Keira didn’t know why she was crying. It felt as if an overwhelming sense of grievance had settled deep in her heart. "A little princess, 3200 grams… Here, kiss your mommy," Lena cooed as she held the baby close to Keira's face, letting her tiny lips brush against her cheek. At that moment, Keira's tears fell even harder. "Look at you, crying like this," Lena teased while handing the baby to a nurse to be bathed. Then, she turned back to help clean up the mess beneath Keira. "Lena, take care of Rea for a bit. I’ll step outside," Hayden suddenly said as he got up to leave. He couldn’t exactly help with anything at this point, but leaving before Keira had even been cleaned up felt a little too hasty. "What? Now that you have a daughter, you're abandoning your wife?" Lena scoffed at him. Hayden didn’t explain. He simply leaned down to kiss Keira and whispered, "I’ll be right back." "Make sure she gets something to eat," Lena reminded him. The moment Hayden stepped out of

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1003

    "But she's in so much pain," Hayden said, as if he could feel Keira's pain himself. "She's only in pain because she wants to give you a child," Lena countered, once again taking a jab at him. But as soon as she finished speaking, she recalled Aaron's words from earlier—She shouldn't have any more children in the future. So that's why Aaron said that… He was feeling sorry for her. A strange feeling flickered in Lena’s heart as she looked at Keira. "This pain comes in waves. When it eases, try to relax and rest. Have you eaten tonight? Did you eat much?" Before Keira could answer, Hayden spoke for her. "She had a few dumplings and a couple of bites of cake, not much." "That won't do. She needs strength to give birth," Lena instructed Hayden. "Go get her some egg sugar water or milk—something to replenish her energy so she has the strength to deliver." She was right. The pain had subsided a little by now. Keira looked at Hayden. "Go ahead and get it. Lena is here with me."

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1002

    Does he think he gets to decide that? Whether or not she had children was her choice. Not Aaron’s. Not even her future husband’s. The thought flashed through Lena’s mind, and she immediately dismissed Aaron’s words, focusing instead on getting to the delivery room. By the time she arrived, Keira was gripping Hayden’s hand tightly. The pain was unbearable. Her body trembled with both fear and anticipation. “I’m here, baby. I’m right here,” Hayden murmured, his hand gently caressing Keira's face, soothing her in the only way he could. “The mother needs to enter the delivery room now. Family members will have to wait outside,” a nurse reminded them. But at that moment, Hayden’s hand was her lifeline—her anchor against the waves of pain. Keira was clutching him so hard she didn’t even realize her nails had dug into his skin, leaving deep marks. Blood welled up where she had broken the skin, but he never once loosened his grip. “Nurse, we’re requesting family accompaniment dur

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1001

    The implication was clear—he was expected to bring a girlfriend next year. But Aaron casually deflected, “Didn’t I already bring someone to kneel with me just now? What, does she have to do it again? In that case, she should get another round of red envelopes.” With that one sentence, he shifted the attention onto Lena. This man… seriously? What did this have to do with her? Besides, the elders weren’t just asking him to find someone to kneel beside him. They wanted him to bring his other half. Grandma Deborah dabbed at the corner of her eye and made things even clearer. “What your sister means is that next year, you should bring Xandy home as your wife.” Lena immediately thought back to what she had overheard at his place—the news about Xandra moving into his villa. So it seemed like they really were about to make things official this year. “Mm, I’ll do my best to marry her next year,” Aaron replied without hesitation. For some reason, Lena suddenly felt the urge t

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status