In a flash, people from the mall crowded over. Some whipped out their phones to snap pictures and lodge a police report. Upon seeing that, I hastily called out to Justin who was being surrounded, “Stop! Stop hitting him!”
Swinging my gaze to Stella, I then ordered, “Go and get security! Don’t allow them to continue fighting, for it’ll only end up in trouble.”
Frightened, Stella hurriedly sprinted off in search of security. Meanwhile, as I stared at Justin who had the man pinned on the ground, I urged, “Don’t hurt him, or it’ll be difficult to explain when the police arrive later!”
Breaking a fight and causing someone injury were two different things. Hence, he would be held criminally liable if he were to hurt the man.
It seemed that my words registered to Justin, for he was more subdued when hitting him. It didn’t look as though he was striking him all that hard, nor did he leave any grievous injury on him, yet the man on the ground howled in pain.
In no time, Stella had gotten security over, and the two of them were pulled apart. Shortly after, the police showed up and escorted Justin to the police station to take his statement since he was involved in the fight.
By then, Emery and Camelia were also done shopping, so I suggested, “Why don’t we tag along?”
At that, Emery’s brows knitted together. “Why should we? That woman deserved it. Considering the kind of woman she is, it’s fitting even if she were beaten to death. After all, she’ll only be dragging others down with her if she lives.”
Nevertheless, I shook my head. “No, I’m suggesting that we tag along because I’m afraid that Yvonne Wilde will twist the truth and get that courageous man in trouble. Let’s tag along and see how it goes.”
Hearing that, bafflement suffused Camelia. “Why would she twist the truth? The man has helped her, after all. Otherwise, she would have been beaten to death.”
I shrugged in response. “That remains to be seen. Come, let’s go and have a look. Anyway, you two are almost done shopping this time.”
Subsequently, they both exchanged a glance. It seemed that they were truly almost done shopping, for they nodded at each other and concurred, “Okay, let’s go.”
When we arrived at the police station, Justin and the other man were detained for questioning. Yvonne, on the other hand, was taken to an interrogation room. A police officer doctored her injuries, while another questioned her about the incident.
As for the rest of us, we sat in the lobby and waited.
Stella looked at me, seemingly having something to say yet hesitant to utter it. As things were frantic earlier, I almost forgot about her. Flashing her a faint smile, I greeted, “How are you recently, Ms. Collins? It’s been a long time since I last saw you.”
Smiling at me, she replied, “I’m pretty good. I heard that Mr. Fuller and you went to Moranta some time ago, so I thought the two of you were still there since I haven’t seen much of him… and you recently.”
At that, I chuckled. “Well, there’s a new project over at Moranta, so Ashton is a bit busy since he has to handle the business over there. That’s why he hasn’t been to the office much. I noticed that you’re looking pretty good these days. Are you dating Justin now?”
Upon hearing that, she hastily shook her head even as she blurted with a smile, “No! Don’t get it wrong, Mrs. Fuller. We’re just friends, and we came out together to buy some things today. There’s nothing more than that, so don’t get it wrong.”
Surprise inundated me when I saw her explaining with such gusto. The look in Justin’s eyes when he gazes at her makes it obvious that he adores her. But why does it seem as though she’s neither accepting nor rejecting him after all this time?
Nonetheless, I merely smiled without inquiring further.
After a while, the people inside came out, and Yvonne’s injuries had been doctored. With tears streaming down her face, she tugged at the police officer and sobbed, “My boyfriend and I were just messing around. He didn’t hit me. He merely pushed me lightly, but that man abruptly came over and started pummeling my boyfriend.”
When her words fell, I couldn’t help frowning. Likewise taken aback, Stella gaped at her and exclaimed, “What are you talking about? You were being assaulted by that man in the mall, so my friend intervened. Why would we pick trouble when we don’t even know you?”
“Who knows what your intentions were? Anyway, your friend hit my boyfriend, so I demand compensation,” Yvonne proclaimed without the slightest bit of shame.
Emery and Camelia were initially scrolling their phone with their heads lowered, but they instinctively shot their gazes over upon hearing her words. Looking at the police officer, Emery stated, “Officer, this woman is lying. She’s making up stories. The man lent her a hand out of a sense of righteousness, yet she isn’t at all thankful. Instead, she’s making a false countercharge. We took a video of the altercation, so you can have a look at it. Her boyfriend had been hitting her for a long while, so the man finally had enough and stepped out to teach him a lesson.”
As she said that, she handed her phone to the police officer.
After taking a look at it, the police officer then shifted his gaze to Yvonne. With his brows furrowed, he asserted, “Ms. Wilde, are you aware that your behavior is no different from slander in the eyes of the law, and you could be held criminally liable? Putting aside the fact that he did that to help you, you shouldn’t be so ungrateful and accuse someone even if it’s an innocent bystander.”
“Exactly!” Emery exclaimed. Then, she continued muttering, “In the future, no one should interfere when it comes to a woman like you even if you’re beaten to death. After all, that’s what you deserve!”
Subsequently, the police officer returned her the phone. Pivoting, he then went to the two interrogation rooms and escorted Justin out. “Next time, if you encounter something like this again, just lodge a police report straight away or simply restrain the perpetrator. You don’t need to interfere too much.” At that, he paused for a moment. With his gaze on Yvonne, he continued placidly, “After all, there are quite a lot of ungrateful people in this world.”
