Chapter 172: Erin Whittaker Was About to Die of Rage at Me

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Erin Whittaker Was About to Die of Rage at Me

"So you admit you were wrong? And what, exactly, were you wrong about?" I grabbed Julian Fletcher’s collar, smiling as I shot a defiant look at Erin Whittaker, who was standing nearby.

Erin Whittaker looked ready to shatter her own teeth.

"Cece..." Julian Fletcher said nervously, taking my hand. "I shouldn’t have distrusted you. I’ll make up for the past. From now on, let me protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you."

"I swear." Julian Fletcher looked deadly serious, as if taking a solemn vow.

Putting on my best damsel-in-distress act, I smiled at Julian Fletcher. "But what are we going to do? I don’t want to see *her*."

I pointed at Erin Whittaker.

Julian Fletcher glanced back at her, frowning. "Erin Whittaker, I’ll have my bodyguards protect you. You..."

"Julian, there was another murder in the Street Alley. I’m scared, you know that... I have no other demands. I don’t want to..." Erin Whittaker panicked, clenching her jaw as she glared at me. "...to fight her for you. I just... I just hope you can protect me, for the sake of the time I saved your life."

’Erin Whittaker was still cashing in on that old debt with Julian Fletcher.’

’I knew she wasn’t the one who saved Julian Fletcher back then, but I had no intention of exposing her. It wouldn’t be any fun to do it now. Just let the scumbag and the bitch be stuck with each other for good.’

’Besides, telling him now would just cause more trouble. Wouldn’t Julian Fletcher just become even more obsessed with clinging to me?’

"Cece..." Sure enough, Julian Fletcher wavered.

’I had to admit, Julian Fletcher did seem to have some semblance of a conscience. It was like this life-debt meant he had to put up with anything and everything from Erin Whittaker.’

"Cece, Erin Whittaker is in danger right now. The police protection order won’t last forever, so..." Julian Fletcher wanted me to be understanding and let Erin Whittaker stay. "Cece, you surely couldn’t bear to watch her die at the hands of a murderer, right?"

"I could bear it," I said with a smile.

’Julian Fletcher was really one of a kind. What was there for me to feel bad about? I could watch her die and not feel a thing.’

"Julian..." Erin Whittaker stepped forward, her eyes red-rimmed. "Cece has never cared whether I live or die..."

Julian Fletcher rubbed the bridge of his nose and looked at me. "Cece, just come back with me for now, okay?"

"I can go back with you, but I’m afraid Erin Whittaker will be unhappy," I pouted, looking at Erin Whittaker.

Erin Whittaker clenched her fists, looking at me with forced restraint.

’I knew she was swallowing her anger for now.’

"Erin Whittaker won’t be unhappy. She understands the bigger picture. Besides, that place was always your home. Our home," Julian Fletcher coaxed in a low voice.

’He thought that, just like before, a few sweet words were all it took to make me obey.’

"She understands the bigger picture? Are you saying I don’t?" I looked at Julian Fletcher, feigning hurt.

"Cece... that’s not what I meant." ’Watching Julian Fletcher get all flustered was actually quite fun.’

"Then let’s go. I’ll go back with you." I glanced somewhere in the distance. ’My intuition was telling me that someone had their eyes on this place.’

’Asher wasn’t home. To guarantee my safety and the safety of the baby in my womb, my best bet was to go to Julian Fletcher’s place for now.’

Julian Fletcher was overjoyed and went to get the car.

I glanced at Erin Whittaker and sneered. "See? I already told him I’m not Cecilia Caldwell, but he still treats me like her."

Erin Whittaker gritted her teeth. "Silvia Lynch, you better stay the hell away from Julian Fletcher!"

"What can I do? I enjoy stealing him from you. Unless... I have a better option." I moved closer to Erin Whittaker and said with a smile, "I know you have a backup plan. Haven’t you always been trying to make a move on the President of Astraeus Group? You shouldn’t be too greedy. If you give me information on the President of Stellaris Group... I’ll stop fighting you for Julian Fletcher."

Erin Whittaker glared at me. "In your dreams."

"Look... just like you, I’m just trying to survive. The Third Master of the Lancaster family wants me dead, and Sebastian Lancaster is in a mental hospital. I need to find a patron. Since I have no way of meeting the President of Astraeus Group, I guess I’ll just have to fight you for Julian Fletcher." I chuckled, opening the car door to get in.

Clearly determined to fight me, Erin Whittaker instinctively reached for the passenger side door to get in.

Julian Fletcher obviously didn’t realize what was happening.

But when he saw me standing outside and not getting in the car, he got out and coaxed softly, "Cece..."

"The front passenger seat... isn’t that a privilege reserved for your girlfriend? What does that make her?" I demanded with a wounded expression.

Julian Fletcher looked awkward for a moment, then explained, "She gets carsick."

"BLECH!" I mimed a dry heave. "I’m pregnant. I get even more carsick."

Julian Fletcher glanced at Erin Whittaker. "Sorry, let Cece have the passenger seat. She’s not feeling well."

Erin Whittaker clenched her hands tightly, getting out of the car with great reluctance as she glared viciously at me.

I gave a little smile. ’Let’s see how long you can keep this up.’

...

After following Julian Fletcher back to the Fletcher family home, I remained in the car.

Only after Julian Fletcher got out and came around to open my door did I exit the car.

I looked around. ’This place... so familiar, yet so strange.’

Seeing Erin Whittaker, her eyes red, about to head into the house, I spoke up, displeased. "Julian Fletcher, I seem to recall you used to make me live in that attic over there."

I pointed to the storage room opposite us. "I told you I didn’t push Erin Whittaker, but you said I owed her a debt that had to be repaid. You threw me in the attic and left me to nearly die from a high fever... I should be settling that score with Erin Whittaker, shouldn’t I?"

Julian Fletcher froze, then lowered his head in guilt. "Cece... I’m sorry."

’Sorry? As if that helps.’

"What Erin Whittaker owes me, shouldn’t she have to pay it back, too? Wouldn’t that be fair?" I demanded in a low voice. "Just looking at her makes my skin crawl. Since the attic is so wonderful, let her live there. After all, she’s the one shamelessly clinging to you, begging for protection."

Julian Fletcher hesitated.

"Silvia Lynch! Don’t you go too far!" Erin Whittaker was starting to lose her composure.

"I was pregnant back then, Julian Fletcher. And what did you do to me... It was all her fault! Why is it that what Cecilia Caldwell owed Erin Whittaker had to be repaid, but what Erin Whittaker owes Cecilia Caldwell can just be forgotten?" I sneered. "Julian Fletcher, doesn’t this repentance of yours feel a little hypocritical?"

Julian Fletcher quickly grabbed my shoulders. "Cece... that’s not what I meant. I’ll have her stay in the attic."

With that, he looked at Erin Whittaker. "Seeing you triggers a stress reaction in Cece. You’ll stay in the attic for now. I’ll have the staff clean it up. In any case, as long as you’re in the Fletcher Family home, you’ll be safe."

Erin Whittaker was so furious she looked about to cry, her hands clenched into tight fists. "Silvia Lynch!"

I smiled, tilting my head, and gave Erin Whittaker a little wave. "I hear the attic... is haunted. Good night."

Erin Whittaker’s face went deathly pale as she stomped her foot in frustration.

I couldn’t be bothered with her. I just yawned and headed to my room.

’I have to contact the President of Astraeus Group as soon as possible. Whatever it takes, I have to beg for his help.’

’Asher is in Victor Quinn’s hands. It’s too dangerous.’

"Cece..." Julian Fletcher followed behind me, grabbing my wrist. "That account info I gave you... take a look when you have time. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll understand my side of the story. Everything I said is true. I know I made too many mistakes in the past, but you absolutely cannot be with Sebastian Lancaster... He imprisoned you, he hurt you. Those are undeniable facts."

"Oh, right, Cece. Do you remember that German shepherd you had as a kid? The one... you always used to scare me with? That madman, Sebastian Lancaster, killed it."