Chapter 66: Julian Fletcher Still Chose Erin Whittaker

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Julian Fletcher Still Chose Erin Whittaker

"It’s true. It really wasn’t Cecilia Caldwell who pushed Erin down the stairs. I was downstairs, and I saw everything clearly," Jake Abbott said, crying as he leaned against the wall.

"Make yourself clear!" The pressure emanating from Julian Fletcher was intense, and his voice was ice-cold.

"That day... Susan and I were at your house. Erin and Cecilia Caldwell got into an argument, and Erin accidentally... fell down the stairs. Cecilia really didn’t push her," Jake Abbott sobbed. "I admit it, I lied. I was deliberately trying to frame Cecilia... I didn’t speak up for her..."

Julian Fletcher didn’t say a word. He just grabbed Jake Abbott by the collar and began brutally punching him in the face, over and over.

"Julian Fletcher... What gives you the right to hit me...? You’re the one who didn’t believe her in the first place..." Now desperate, Jake Abbott roared at Julian Fletcher.

Julian Fletcher threw another punch like a man possessed, as if he intended to beat him to death.

I glanced at Madeline Quinn. "He’s not going to kill him, is he?"

Madeline Quinn clenched her fists. "It’d serve him right if he did."

I nodded. ’It’s true. A man like Jake Abbott is the one who really deserves to die.’

’Of course I haven’t forgotten what Jake Abbott did to me.’

"Julian Fletcher, you’re still hitting me..." Jake Abbott spat out a mouthful of blood, a tooth knocked loose. "What gives you the right? Don’t think I don’t know about you and Cecilia Caldwell. You slept with her long ago, but you won’t admit it! Why?! Why could you sleep with her, but I couldn’t? I fucking touched her once, and she bashed my head in. Why is she acting so high and mighty when you’ve already had your fun with her..."

In his panic, Jake Abbott was just blurting out anything.

Julian Fletcher’s expression grew uglier by the second. He grabbed Jake Abbott’s head and slammed it against the wall again. "You fucking touched her?"

Terrified, Jake Abbott tried to escape, but Julian Fletcher dragged him back and pinned him against the wall again.

"Say it again! What did you do to her?" Julian Fletcher roared, completely unhinged.

From outside the door, I watched Julian Fletcher beat Jake Abbott, a cold smile on my lips.

’What did Jake Abbott do to me? Does he not know?’

’On the day of the Fletcher family gathering, Jake Abbott tried to sexually assault me. I escaped with my clothes torn and begged Julian for help. But didn’t he believe Jake Abbott instead, accusing me of deliberately trying to seduce men?’

’Wasn’t he the one who called me a slut, who said I was filthy?’

’I thought that being reborn would leave me with nothing but hatred. But remembering it still makes my whole body tremble.’

SLAP! I lost control and stormed in, shoving Julian Fletcher aside. I grabbed Jake Abbott by the collar and slapped him hard across the face, then again and again, like a madwoman.

"Why don’t you just die!" I snarled, tightening my grip on Jake Abbott’s collar. ’I wanted to strangle him to death.’

Already drained of strength from Julian Fletcher’s beating, Jake Abbott collapsed to the floor. He looked up at me and laughed. "Cecilia Caldwell... you’re not dead..."

I froze for a second before kicking him hard in the stomach.

Jake Abbott laughed, a crazed, manic sound. "Cecilia Caldwell... I didn’t want you to die... I really didn’t want you to die."

His laughter turned into sobs.

He began to bawl his eyes out.

’I knew he didn’t regret getting me killed. He regretted that my death had implicated him.’

’He thought his life was completely ruined because of me.’

"You think saying you ’didn’t want her to die’ is enough to end this? You deserve to die! You’ll never be able to wash away your sins! So just go die!" I screamed, kicking Jake Abbott frantically. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that my entire body trembled uncontrollably.

"Julian Fletcher, you deserve to die, too," I said, my eyes rimmed with red as I glared at him through gritted teeth.

’After all, isn’t he the one who most deserves to die?’

Julian Fletcher just stared at me and asked suspiciously, "Who are you, really...?"

I took a deep breath and smiled. "I’m your ancestor."

Julian Fletcher looked down and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Impossible... she’s dead," Julian Fletcher murmured, taking a step back and leaning against the wall. "She’s already dead! No matter how much you resemble her... you’re not her."

"Ugh." I looked at Julian Fletcher in disgust, clenching my fists. "Cecilia Caldwell never pushed Erin down the stairs! You’re all murderers! Every last one of you deserves to die!"

Madeline Quinn rushed in and pulled me back. "Julian Fletcher, do you finally see Erin for who she really is? She’s been framing Cece this whole time! She’s the one who got Cece killed!"

Leaning against the wall, Julian Fletcher said nothing.

"You’re still going to defend her, even now?" Madeline Quinn frowned at Julian Fletcher.

"She fell down the stairs by herself. She probably couldn’t see clearly... and thought it was Cecilia. It was Jake Abbott who lied..." Julian Fletcher tried to explain on Erin’s behalf, spouting words even he couldn’t fully believe. ’What was he trying to explain? By making excuses for Erin, he was really just making excuses for himself.’

’Even with the evidence staring him in the face, a man like him would never admit my death had anything to do with him!’

"Cecilia Caldwell... aren’t you dead? Why is your damn ghost still haunting me? Get the hell away from me!" Jake Abbott was still raving. He had been drinking before Julian beat him, and now he was even more out of his mind.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and pointed at Julian Fletcher. "Julian Fletcher, if you want revenge, go after the one responsible! He’s your man, don’t come after me!"

He screamed into the empty air. "Cecilia Caldwell, I’m not the one who got you killed! It was him! He’s the one who wanted you to die for Erin! It was him!"

Julian Fletcher stared at Jake Abbott, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

’Clearly, Jake Abbott’s words had struck a nerve.’

"Jake Abbott!" Susan Whittaker burst in from the doorway, a group of people behind her.

’She’s Erin Whittaker’s sister, and they’re two of a kind.’

’She was the ringleader of the group that bullied me back in school.’

"Julian..." From the doorway came Erin Whittaker’s choked-up voice.

’Erin Whittaker was here, too.’

I turned to look at Erin Whittaker, desperately suppressing my murderous urges.

She was clutching her stomach, her eyes red. "Julian, I don’t know if what Jake Abbott is saying is true. I was arguing with Cece at the time, and I fell. I don’t know..."

"Julian, I really don’t know," Erin Whittaker sobbed, shaking her head and playing the part of the fragile victim.

Suddenly, she clutched her stomach and leaned against the wall. "Julian, my stomach hurts so much..."

Julian Fletcher remained frozen in place, his gaze on Erin Whittaker complex and conflicted.

Erin Whittaker looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Julian, this baby... maybe it’s here to make up for what you lost with Cece. Cece’s baby didn’t make it... If she were alive, she would have wanted to have that child for you. So nothing can happen to our baby. We have to do it... for Cece."

I stared at Erin Whittaker, utterly shocked. ’Is she even human, saying things like that?’

"You’re disgusting!" I strode forward and slapped Erin Whittaker across the face. ’Who is she trying to sicken with this act?’

"Who do you think you are!" Susan Whittaker yelled at me angrily.

"Julian..." Erin Whittaker crumpled to the floor, feigning stomach pains.

In the end, Julian Fletcher rushed over, shoved me aside, and scooped Erin Whittaker into his arms before carrying her away.

I stumbled, barely keeping my balance, and just watched as Julian Fletcher carried Erin Whittaker away.

’He chose to trust Erin Whittaker. Again and again.’

’Even after Jake Abbott had confessed everything, Julian Fletcher still chose to believe Erin Whittaker.’

"Julian Fletcher! Erin Whittaker is the one who got Cece killed! I’ll find the evidence, and I’ll make sure she goes to prison! She will face justice!" Madeline Quinn shouted at his retreating back.

Julian Fletcher glanced back at Madeline Quinn, his expression still conflicted.

He said nothing more and left, carrying Erin Whittaker in his arms.

"Madeline Quinn, you really are a persistent pest," Susan Whittaker sneered, looking between me and Madeline. "And you brought a friend? Just the two of you?"

Susan Whittaker glanced at the people with her. "You trespassed and assaulted someone. If I don’t teach you a lesson today, how can I still call myself Susan Whittaker?"

Madeline Quinn watched Susan Whittaker and her people warily, pulling me back.

Susan Whittaker raised her hand to hit me, but her wrist was caught and she was forcefully pushed away.

I stumbled back into a solid chest. An arm wrapped around me, pulling me into a protective embrace. His gaze was menacing as he stared at Susan Whittaker, his voice raspy yet terrifying. "Lay a hand on her... and I’ll kill you."

Susan Whittaker looked at Asher in terror. "You... it’s you! You’re that madman, the murderer..."

I looked up at Asher in surprise. "How did you..."

’You’re sick, you should be resting at home. What are you doing following me?’