Chapter 173
She suddenly strode toward Jennifer and delivered a kick that sent the woman sprawling. Jennifer lay there before slowly pulling herself up.
“Laurel… she wheezed, barely audible through swollen lips.
“Don’t call my name!” Laurel snapped. “I don’t know people
like
you!”
William watched with disgust before asking, “Did your agent simply assume you would protect her, or did you promise her protection?”
Laurel stiffened. “Of course she assumed! I had no idea what she was doing!”
William turned to Jennifer. “Tell us yourself. Were these actions your own, or ordered by Laurel Rose?”
Jennifer opened her mouth to speak. “I…”
“Jennifer,” Laurel cut in, voice suddenly smooth. “You know how good I’ve been to you. I arranged jobs for your parents and brother, helped your family buy a house and car. I’ve treated you like family. Think carefully before you speak.
That threat couldn’t be more obvious if she’d pulled out a knife.
Jennifer’s POV
I stared up at Laurel, stunned into silence. Looking at her familiar face, I suddenly felt like I was seeing a stranger.
For over four years, I’d followed her loyally. I thought I knew her better than anyone – better than her own parents. I believed our bond was special.
Now, beaten and bleeding on the floor of the Parker mansion, I realized how wrong I’d been.
“Miss Rose,” Audrey’s voice broke through my thoughts, “are you threatening her by listing your past kindnesses?”
Laurel’s expression stayed calm. “Threatening? Not at all. I just know some people, when cornered, will bite the hand that fed them like dogs. I’m reminding Jennifer not to damage my reputation.”
William let out a cold laugh. “Biting the hand that fed you like a dog? Is Miss Rose describing herself?”
Laurel’s face went white. She bit her lip and turned to Blake with pleading eyes.
Blake frowned. Grandfather, Laurel isn’t like that.”
“We’ll know soon enough,” William replied. “Bring them in, please.”
Charles moved toward a side door and/opened it. Two people stepped into the room. Though in plain clothes, their posture gave them away instantly.
“New York Police Department,” the man said, showing his badge.
The female officer spoke next. “We’ve been waiting in the guest room, We received a report from Miss Sinclair that Jennifer Carson is involved in theft and assault. We need her to come with us.”
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Chapter 173
“This morning,” the male officer added, “we also received a report from a man with evidence that Jennifer Carson orchestrated a kidnapping attempt at a university campus.
He looked at me. “Jennifer Carson, you need to come with us.”
–
I panicked. This couldn’t be happening. Audrey always seemed so passive always yielding, never fighting back. Thalia and Olivia had said this woman would forgive anything. All we did was have her beaten up, and now she was sending me to jail?
I crawled toward Laurel, grabbing her pants. “Laurel! Save me! I don’t want to go to jail! Help me!”
My words rushed out. “Everything I did… I was following your orders! I… I… I only did what you told me to do…”
Laurel’s eyes flashed with panic. She kicked my hand away. “Don’t touch me!”
She turned to Blake. “Blake darling, let them take her away! I can’t stand looking at such a disgusting woman!”
In that moment, something inside me died. All those things – they were Laurel’s ideas. Many times I’d tried to convince her to show restraint. Now she was denying everything, pushing all the blame onto me.
“Laurel Rose!” I cried out. “Do you have any conscience left? Which of my actions didn’t you know about? I –
“Enough!” Blake’s voice cut through the room.
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