Chapter 334 - 333: Will You Hate Me?

Due to his limited life experience, Owen Ward couldn’t quite decipher the full meaning behind Nina Jennings’s reaction.

’Does she hate me—hate my family—and that’s why she won’t acknowledge me? Or is she not even the person I’m looking for?’

’To be honest... I’d rather it be the former. The pain of having your hopes shattered is just too much to bear.’

’If I had never been born, maybe she wouldn’t have been sold. I’m the direct cause of her past suffering.’

’So it’s only right that she hates me. As for my parents... let’s not even go there.’

"That’s not what I mean. I... How about I tell you a story?" Owen Ward said, pursing his lips.

"Actually, I have this vague memory from when I was very young. I think I had an older sister at home."

"She was probably only four or five years older than me. She was so small and thin, like she was malnourished, but she had to take care of me every day."

"Back then, our house was always filled with the sounds of beatings and curses. But they weren’t directed at me. They were for her."

"When I got a little older, I asked them about it, but they insisted I was an only child and told me I was just dreaming. So, I had to keep this doubt bottled up inside."

"Later, I even started to suspect that maybe *I* was the one they’d bought, but as my features started to resemble theirs more and more, I gradually let that suspicion go."

"As time went on, the memory of the sister in my head naturally faded, and I came to believe I really was an only child."

"That is, until last week. They took me back to our hometown, my aunt accidentally let it slip, and those buried memories came flooding back."

"And when I saw your photo online, you looked incredibly familiar."

"Then I overheard them secretly discussing their plan... and suddenly, they felt like strangers. Like they weren’t the people I thought I knew at all."

"I’m not sure if you’re the girl from my memories, but I know what they’re planning to do is wrong."

"And based on my estimates, it’s going to happen soon. Most likely within the next few days."

"So I wanted to tell you everything, to give you a chance to prepare."

Nina Jennings’s eyelashes fluttered. She gave a cryptic twitch of her lips.

"Listen, kiddo, do you have any idea what this recording means? I could take this to the police right now and have them charged with child trafficking and conspiracy to commit blackmail and extortion."

"And if I really wanted to, I could have the case from over a decade ago dug up and investigated until the whole truth comes out. How can you be so sure that your sister, Bridget Walsh, was the only child they sold?"

"So if what you’re saying is true, instead of coming to me, you should go straight home and talk some sense into your parents who seem to have a death wish. Tell them not to go looking for trouble, to just keep their heads down and live quietly on their little patch of land."

"That way, at least you won’t have a stain on your permanent record, which would save you the trouble of it affecting background checks for future jobs."

Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow with great interest. ’Looks like she’s going soft.’

’So this kid is a wild card, huh?’

"Whether they sold one child or several, what they did was wrong. And they’ll naturally have to pay the price."

Owen Ward was silent for a moment before a self-deprecating smirk touched his lips.

"I’m just doing what they themselves taught me to do—what the excellent teachers they provided for me taught me—what is considered right according to morality and the law. As for the consequences you mentioned, that’s just them getting what they deserve."

Nina Jennings lowered her gaze, hiding the deepening look of mockery in her eyes from everyone.

’It’s not easy for a good shoot to grow from such a rotten stalk. They must have put a lot of effort into raising him, huh?’

’Spending the money they got from selling me for the past decade to build up this facade... it must have been so hard on them.’

Nina Jennings leaned forward slightly, looking him straight in the eye.

"Kid, how much of what you’ve said can I believe?"

"All of it!"

Owen Ward answered decisively, mustering the courage to meet her gaze.

A corner of Nina Jennings’s mouth lifted. "Alright. Let’s assume everything you’ve said is true. I’ll give you two choices."

"First: I let things play out. After they make their move and expose themselves, I release this recording of yours and crucify them in front of the entire internet."

"When that happens, what awaits your family of three will be absolute ruin and public condemnation."

"Second: Before they can make their move, I package up the evidence and send them to prison first."

"But don’t say I didn’t warn you. No matter which option you choose, both of them are going away for a long, long time. And you’ll be all alone."

"However, as a reward for turning from the dark side, I can help you get your household registration transferred out ahead of time. This whole affair won’t be recorded on your permanent file."

"Alright. Make your choice."

"But it is all true. And besides... I’ll still have you, right?" Owen Ward mumbled under his breath.

Nina Jennings didn’t catch that and looked at him quizzically.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing..." Owen Ward pursed his lips.

"I’m not choosing. You’re the victim, so the decision should be yours. And you can forget the reward. That kind of thing must be a lot of trouble."

’There’s no need for her to waste resources, manpower, and personal favors on me.’

Yvonne Lowell, who was closest to him and had heard his words perfectly, gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

’Interesting.’

Nina Jennings raised an eyebrow. "Really not choosing? This is a limited-time offer, you know."

"Can we exchange contact info? I’ll send you the recording."

Owen Ward took out his phone, changing the subject.

"Fine."

Nina Jennings scoffed, pulled up the screen on her phone, and tossed it onto the table.

"Done."

After adding her as a contact, Owen Ward sent the file over immediately.

"It’s getting late, so I’ll head back to my hotel. My mom will probably video call to check on me soon. Sis—I mean, Miss Jennings, goodbye."

Nina Jennings gave a noncommittal nod.

"Miles, see our guest out."

"Yes, ma’am." Miles Morgan stood. "Mr. Warren, this way, please."

As his retreating figure neared the door, Nina Jennings asked unexpectedly,

"Will you hate me?"

Owen Ward paused and turned back to her, a smile of adoration on his face.

"Never. Whether it’s you, or my biological sister, Bridget Walsh, you both deserve justice."

"But I would ask that you just let the law handle them. I’m not trying to ask for leniency, it’s just... you don’t need to dirty your own hands. Goodbye."

With that, he left the office.

Nina Jennings pointed at the closed door and burst out laughing, doubling over.

"That kid’s something else! Does he think I’m some kind of mob boss? Worried I’m going to have his parents whacked to shut them up?!"

"And you’re not?" Yvonne Lowell shot her a sidelong glance, her tone flat.

"And another thing—if you don’t feel like laughing, you don’t have to force it."

Nina Jennings’s smile froze for an instant before she slowly smoothed the grin from her face.