Chapter 65: Is Julian Fletcher Crazy?

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Is Julian Fletcher Crazy?

"You saw how protective Julian is of Erin Whittaker..." I let out a sarcastic laugh. ’Getting Julian to give up on Erin? As if that’s possible.’

"Julian went looking for Jake Abbott. I heard Jake got scared and went into hiding. Julian probably didn’t disbelieve our video; he just went to look for Jake afterward and couldn’t find him," Madeline Quinn said again in a low voice. "I know where Jake is hiding. I need you to send his location to Julian. He’s already blocked me and doesn’t trust me."

I was actually a little surprised. ’Julian has already started investigating? Is he starting to suspect Erin? Heh...’

"I’ll contact him." I remembered Julian had given me his business card. Even though I’d thrown it away, I still remembered his phone number.

"Let’s meet at the intersection of Seawall Road and Halyard Street."

Madeline hung up as soon as she finished. She seemed to be in a rush.

I checked the news on my phone. Sure enough, news that the serial killer had struck again was trending.

’Who was the person who killed me? And was Asher really an accomplice?’

I instinctively glanced at Asher, still unconscious on the bed. When I first woke up and saw him, I had been terrified. After all, who wouldn’t be scared to wake up and find a murderer right in front of them?

But as I got to know him, I began to hesitate and waver. My certainty even started to crumble.

’Is he really a murderer?’

But if he isn’t the killer, why did he turn himself in? If he’s not the murderer, why did he show up at the orphanage after I was kidnapped?

Asher had too many secrets, and he was definitely connected to the killer in some way.

’I don’t believe he’s innocent.’

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I got up and walked out. "Assistant Foster, I’m leaving Sebastian in your care. I’m going out to buy some supplies. You don’t need to have anyone follow me."

Assistant Foster hesitated for a moment, but then seemed to think of something and nodded. "Of course, Young Madam. Please call immediately if you need anything."

I nodded and had the driver take me to Joyview Plaza.

Madeline and I had arranged to meet nearby.

"Julian Fletcher?" I said, having called him on the way.

"Who is this?" Julian’s voice was cold and wary.

"I hear you’ve been looking for Jake Abbott recently?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

"Who are you," he demanded, sounding displeased. I could tell he was getting angry.

’As I thought, I know him all too well.’

"Azure Gardens on Seawall Road. He’s there. You should know where he’s hiding now, right?" I continued, trying to provoke him.

"I asked who you are." He was more focused on finding out my identity.

"You’ll find out when you get here. I’ll give you thirty minutes. If you don’t come, you’ll never know what Cecilia Caldwell went through before she died."

With that, I hung up. I wouldn’t pick up again, no matter how frantically he called.

’I know Julian all too well. He’s arrogant and selfish. To him, I was nothing more than a possession he had labeled as his own. The killer murdering me without his consent was a provocation against him.’

’Julian is good to Erin, supposedly because she saved him once. He thinks she’s pure and flawless, unlike me, with so much filth hidden in my heart.’

’But I’m going to be the one to rip away Erin’s facade and make him see just how vicious his precious ’white moonlight’ truly is.’

’I’m going to make him regret it, make him suffer!’

’When that time comes, what will he do? Will he continue to shield Erin, or will he deceive himself and go on loving her? Protecting her?’

’I’m quite looking forward to it, myself.’

...

「Azure Gardens.」

I met up with Madeline Quinn on Seawall Road. She was dressed all in black, with a small white flower in her hair. Her outfit was quite somber.

’My heart ached for her, yet I also wanted to laugh. I’m standing right here, Madeline... why won’t you believe me?’

"Watch where you’re going." She seemed distracted and almost walked into a pillar again.

On instinct, I reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to the inside. "Walk on the inside."

Madeline stood frozen in place for a long time, probably seeing a shadow of Cecilia in me.

"Who in the world are you..." she asked in a small voice after a long, stunned moment.

I just smiled. "She never left. She’s always been here."

Madeline’s eyes reddened. She looked away and quickened her pace toward the apartment complex.

Jake Abbott was hiding inside.

"What are your plans after graduation? Going to work in a hospital?" I asked casually, wanting to know if she would still follow the path she’d planned for her life.

We had set goals for ourselves once. I said I wanted to study abroad for a while, and she said that after finishing her combined bachelor’s-master’s program, she wanted to get her doctorate and go abroad for further studies. Then we would return home in glory together—she would be a doctor who saved lives, and I would be a humble secretary working for someone else.

We would happily make money together, spend it together, travel together, buy a house together, and dream about the future together.

"I’m minoring in forensics. I’m going to be a forensic scientist after graduation." She looked at me seriously, telling me her plans.

I froze, stunned for a moment. "Why? We agreed you were going to be a doctor..."

’Why would she change her dream?’

"Heh..." Madeline let out a sarcastic laugh. "She already abandoned me, so why should I keep my promise? I’m going to be a forensic scientist. I’m going to catch that killer. I won’t let a single one of them get away."

I lowered my head and was silent for a long time. "Madeline, that’s very dangerous..."

’I just want her to be safe and sound.’

’To find someone who loves her and spend the rest of her life with them.’

"This is my business. It has nothing to do with you." She scoffed and quickened her pace toward Jake’s apartment.

By the time we arrived, Julian was already there.

He got out of his car, his expression grim. Seething with anger, he strode into the elevator, went upstairs, and kicked the door.

Madeline and I hid outside, watching Julian confront Jake.

Jake was probably still asleep. When the door was kicked open, he swore impatiently. "Who is it! Can’t a guy get some sleep?!"

The door flew open, and Julian walked in, his face like ice.

Jake was still in bed, shirtless. The color drained from his face in terror.

He clutched the blanket nervously, stammering, "J-Julian... what are you doing here?"

"I’ve been looking for you for a long time," Julian said calmly. He walked to the side of the bed and glanced around the room. "Hiding out here, sleeping soundly, are we?"

Jake was terrified. He stammered, "Julian... It’s just... my phone broke a couple of days ago, and I haven’t had a chance to replace it. I..."

Before Jake could finish, Julian grabbed him by the collar. "The video. Aren’t you going to explain it to me?"

"It wasn’t... a ghost! There was a woman who looked exactly like Cecilia! I was scared, just for a moment, and I started spouting nonsense. Julian, you can’t believe it! Someone’s clearly trying to frame me, and they even knew to record it." Jake was terrified and obviously lying through his teeth.

"Jake, you hid the fact that you saw Cecilia asking for help in the car. I already gave you one chance back then. Are you sure you want to wait for me to get physical before you talk this time?" Julian’s aura was menacing, as if he could actually kill Jake.

Jake trembled in fear. "Julian... After Cecilia died, you’ve gone a little crazy. Don’t do this... I’m your brother, you can’t..."

"ARGH!" With a piercing scream, Julian shoved Jake’s head down, smashing it against the nightstand. In an instant, blood was pouring from Jake’s nose and mouth.

Madeline and I both jumped, hiding behind the door, not daring to go inside.

’Julian... Why is he acting like a complete maniac?’

’I had to admit, I’d seen Julian lose control when he was drunk before, but only ever toward me... I’d never seen him look like this.’

"Julian... I was wrong! I’ll talk, I’ll talk..." Jake cried, begging for mercy.