Helen’s POV:
I was unwilling to answer Phil‘s question, because I didn‘t want to share my private affairs with others.
It was so embarrassing and it made me feel ashamed of myself.
All this time, it had been a scar hidden deep within my heart. – Every time this matter was brought up,
the wound would be tore open all over again. Upon noticing my hesitation, Phil said, “If you don‘t want
to clarify it, we won‘t be able to help you.”
Of course, I knew that since things had reached this stage, I figured it would be best to tell them the
truth. After pulling myself together, I explained, “Actually, Jane and I are half–siblings.”
Upon hearing what I said, both Anya and Phil were stunned. It was understandable for them to be
shocked. After all, they always thought that my conflict with Jane involved George. Moreover, Jane was
good–looking, and a graduate from a famous university abroad. She was also one of Zhester
Technology‘s co–founders, and a leading figure in her industry. She was capable and one of a kind. But
what about me? I was just a nobody.
“She‘s the daughter of your father with his second wife?” Phil asked curiously.
“No, my dad had an affair with another woman before even divorcing my mother. His mistress gave
birth to Jane sometime later, and our relationship has been awful since then.” I told them the truth.
At first, talking about Jane was quite difficult for me. But after making up my mind, I realized that it
wasn‘t that difficult. This matter had been buried deep in my heart, like a sharp sword hanging over my
head, which could fall down and stab me at any given moment.
Now that I‘d said it out loud, I felt like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. Both Anya and Phil fell
silent when they heard my response.
“I didn‘t expect your relationship with her to be so complicated. So, the reason you had a dispute with
her at Chester Technology last time wasn‘t because of George, but because of your personal conflict,
huh?”
“Yes. It had nothing to do with George.”
After pondering for a moment, Anya said, “Helen, you must prepare yourself. If the judge asks you this
question in court, you‘ll have to answer honestly and your relationship with Jane will be exposed.
Naturally, we‘ll try our best to keep it a secret for you. But as I said, you have to be prepared.”
“Okay. Thank you, Miss Pierce.”
Anya waved her hand and continued, “Besides, you said that Jane intended to murder you, right? She
used the hypnotic program to control your emotions, causing you to almost have an accident in the
subway station. Do you have any evidence to support your claims?”
“Yes, I‘ve saved the surveillance footage of the subway at the time.”
“Helen, the case involves murder. You may have a video evidence of yourself jumping off the subway
platform, but it‘s not enough to prove that you were hypnotized. After all, it‘s a very subjective
judgment. It would put you in a disadvantage!”
Naturally, I knew that.
“Miss Pierce, Carter can testify that Brian developed a hypnotic program that can instigate people to
commit suicide.”
“Where‘s the video?” asked Phil.
Noticing my hesitation, he snapped, “Helen, if you really want our help, you shouldn‘t hide anything
from us! As a lawyer, you should know that going into every minute detail about a case can determine
victory or defeat. More importantly, you not only have to face Jane, but also the entirety of Zhester
Technology. They‘ll definitely hire the best team of lawyers money can buy. If you‘re still having doubts,
our chances of winning will only grow slimmer.”
Having heard his remark, I opened the video and showed it to him and Anya. I recorded this video in
the subway station‘s security control center. I made sure to edit it so that George‘s face would be
blurred. He was a prominent man, and his involvement in this case would only complicate things
further. Phil pointed at the person in the video whose face was blurred.
“Who is he? Do you think he can testify for you?”
“I don‘t think it‘s convenient.” Phil didn‘t insist on his opinion.
“Well, having this video is enough. What‘s your request?”
“I want Jane to publicly apologize and accept her legal liabilities for what she did.”
After the news circulated for a long time, Jane‘s reputation in the industry had been ruined. There was
no need for me to continue attacking her on purpose.
“I see. I‘ll take responsibility for this case along with Anya. Leave it to us, and focus on the Spacetime
Finance case, got it? Besides, George and Kendal are friends. You should explain the situation to
Kendal, lest he misunderstands our intention. This could affect any business we have with him if we
aren‘t careful enough.”
“Got it.”
That afternoon, when I came back to Fantail Entertainment, I found that Tina and Melissa were
whispering to each other, each with a phone in hand. I heard my name come out of their mouths.
Perhaps they had also seen my personal information on the Internet, so their view of me had changed
Even so, I didn‘t ask them anything, nor did I explain myself. I still assigned them some tasks like usual,
and didn‘t act any differently.
Afterwards, I went back to my desk and focused on my work. Whenever I began working, I could focus
completely. Thus, I forgot almost everything else the entire afternoon. It wasn‘t until I got off work and
bumped into Kendal outside Fantail Entertainment‘s office building that I remembered what Anya told
me
Perhaps he came here to see me for that reason. Upon seeing me, he greeted me warmly like he
always did. “Are you here to chastise me?”
I didn‘t explain myself to him like Anya advised. I didn‘t think it was necessary for me to do that,
because we were friends. The reason I asked the question was because Kendal was also George‘s
friend, and he might take his side this time. Amused by the question, Kendal smirked.
“How ungrateful of you! I‘m just here to see if you need any help.”
“Thanks for your concern, but I‘m good.” I was eager to disassociate myself from this man, so I didn‘t
want to ask him for help. Kendal was a good friend of George‘s. Since he came to me at this critical
moment, I was certain that he was up to no good.
“Why are you looking at me like that? I‘m not blaming you for George‘s misery. Why are you scowling,
Helen? Man, both you and Cece are so unreasonable sometimes,” Kendal complained. I stopped in my
tracks to look back at him.
Putting on a fake smile, I then asked, “What do you want from me? I‘m very busy, so I don‘t have time
to chat with you.”
“I just told you. I‘m here to see if you need any help. Did Jane really do it? Helen, if she really did it, I
will never forgive her! You‘re mine, so nobody can push you around!”
Kendal patted his chest, seeming as though he wanted to avenge me. Amused by his remark, I
remarked, “What do you mean by ‘I‘m yours? Watch your tongue, Kendal.”
I found it cathartic to talk nonsense with Kendal. He had a talent to make women laugh all the time. He
replied firmly, “Of course, you are! Never forget that we‘re good friends. I have an obligation to protect
my friend!”
It was the first time that I had heard the word “protect” from a man other than George.
Honestly, I was both amused and moved. “To be fair, you are indeed better than a certain someone in
that aspect.”
The “someone” I meant was, of course, George. Kendal was normally full of himself, but he was quite
good at making me let down my guard, so we eventually became good friends. I didn‘t feel any stress
whenever I was complaining about George to him.
“It‘s not George‘s fault. Lately, he‘s been dealing with the mess that you caused. And he.” I could tell
that Kendal wanted to put in a good word for George in front of me, but when he saw the look on my
face, he decided to change the topic.
“I mean... He deserved it! He totally did. I told him back in high school that Jane had feelings for him,
but he refused to believe me. Back when he founded the company, he even asked Jane to be his
partner. Just look at him now! Putting things into perspective, he caused this whole mess. Let him sort
it out by himself!”
Hearing that Kendal was on my said and was complaining about George, too, it dispelled some of my
sadness. I was even a little moved. But before long, he added, “Don‘t worry. George will give you a
proper explanation once everything is sorted out. Right now, he has to recover the losses and restore
the good name of Zhester Technology. They‘re trying to clarify the situation online. Don‘t look at them
or take them to heart. It‘s for the company‘s reputation. It doesn‘t represent George‘s personal stance
on the matter.”
It felt like a cold basin of water was poured over my heart, instantly making me feel awful.
“Are you perhaps talking about how Zhester Technology deliberately led the netizens on to slander me
on the Internet and claim that I‘m lying in order to blackmail the company? If I don‘t look at them, would
those negative remarks about me disappear?”
“Calm down, Helen! He‘s doing it all for the company‘s sake. That’s not George‘s intention. The
negative repercussions of the public opinion on Zhester Technology is far too great to ignore, so they
had no other choice.”
“They had no choice? In order to cover up for Jane, hide the truth, and reduce the losses of the
company, they had no choice but to use the public opinion to maliciously attack me and ruin my name?
He‘s quite something, I must say. Tell me, why should I be the one to make sacrifices?”
Kendal scratched the back of his head, slightly panicking.
“George isn‘t that kind of person. If you give him some time, he’ll prove your innocence. This is only
temporary. He sent me here to comfort you, because he‘s worried about you.”
“Comfort me? Thank him for me, but I don‘t need it.” I scoffed at him and walked away with my purse in
hand. I didn‘t look back no matter how many times Kendal shouted my name from behind me. As soon
as I got on the car, I started the engine, stepped on the accelerator, and drove home. I was so
disappointed that it felt like my heart was being torn in two.”
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