Chapter 3The Final Judgment

The next morning, I woke up early and got ready.

But just as I was about to leave, I ran into Jessica in the hallway.

Seeing me dressed and ready to go out, she frowned.

"Where are you going so early?"

"Out to run some errands."

I looked down, tying my shoes, avoiding her gaze.

Jessica suddenly reached out and pressed her hand on the doorknob, her voice hardening.

"This is a critical time. You'd better not be wandering around."

"You're out on bail. What if someone recognizes you..."

I didn't want to argue with her and spoke coldly.

"Move."

Jessica's expression instantly darkened.

She grabbed my wrist, her grip so tight it hurt.

"Liam Foster, you better recognize your situation!"

I struggled hard, but she dragged me upstairs.

Her sharp nails dug into my flesh like iron pincers.

"It seems I've been too lenient with you..."

She abruptly let go of me, clapped her hands, and two men in black suits immediately appeared beside her.

"Tie him up and lock him in the basement. Don't let him out before the trial!"

Jessica ordered, and the two men immediately bound me.

I thrashed violently but to no avail, forced to glare at Jessica and raise my voice.

"Jessica Thorne, are you trying to imprison me?!"

The woman's eyes were dark.

"Liam, don't blame me. You forced my hand."

The basement was cold and damp, the only light source a dim, yellowing bulb.

Jessica stood at the doorway, her expression unreadable in the backlight.

Her tone was icy. "You'll stay here until the trial."

As her words fell, her men pushed me inside.

I stumbled, crashing into the wall, a sharp pain shooting through my shoulder.

"Ugh—"

I let out a muffled groan from the pain, looking up at her with resentment.

The woman's gaze flickered for a moment, and she ordered them to untie my ropes.

She took out a diamond-studded watch from her pocket.

"Liam..." Her voice held a hint of guilt.

"I had this watch custom-made for you. Consider it compensation."

She held the watch out to me, the diamonds glinting harshly in the dim light.

I looked at her coldly, not reaching out.

"What, afraid I'll run away, so you're trying to appease me with this?"

Jessica's expression stiffened, then she sighed.

"I just want you to know, I still have feelings for you."

I let out a derisive laugh. "Jessica Thorne, your 'feelings' involve making me take the fall for your lover, then locking me in a basement?"

The woman's expression froze. Before she could speak, Ryan's voice suddenly came from the stairs.

He hurried down, snatching the box.

"What a beautiful watch!"

"Jessica, is this for me?"

Jessica was clearly taken aback.

"Ryan, this is for..."

"I don't care, I want this one!"

Ryan fastened the watch onto his wrist, speaking with dissatisfaction.

"He's going to jail soon anyway. It's a waste for him to wear such a nice watch."

Jessica looked at me, then at Ryan, and finally relented with a doting expression.

"Alright, if you like it, take it."

Ryan, having gotten his way, still wasn't satisfied.

He frowned. "But if you give his gift to me, what about him? How about..."

He paused, a smirk playing on his lips, then casually pulled off the old watch on his other wrist and held it out to me. "How about you take this watch as your gift?"

Jessica feigned ignorance of his malicious behavior and said to me, "Liam, see how much Ryan thinks of you? I believe you two will get along well in the future."

I stared at the cheap watch glinting dully in the light and gave a sarcastic smile.

Jessica continued:

"By the way, Liam, considering Ryan's poor health, and you..."

She paused. "The doctor said it's very difficult for you to have children. I've decided to cancel our engagement and marry Ryan."

Despite being mentally prepared, those words still stabbed into my heart like a knife.

"But don't worry, I'm not that heartless."

"After you get out of prison, I'll arrange a place for you to live and a job. After all, we were once..."

I cut her off with a cold laugh. "Jessica Thorne, do you really think I'll believe your bullshit?"

Ryan put his arm around Jessica's waist, looking at me with contempt.

"Don't be ungrateful."

"Jessica is pitying you. Who else would want a man like you who can't have children?"

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug deep into my palms.

The pain kept me lucid, reminding me not to act rashly.

It wasn't time to strike back yet.