Chapter 1402: Can you not think of the final interview for one second?

"So, it’s not impossible that someone who assaulted a person without reason would attack again—especially if that person had pressed charges against them."

For a second, Patricia froze, staring blankly at the detective. Her hands trembled in her lap, her heart pounding against her chest.

Patricia wasn’t a good person. She wasn’t kind. She had done plenty of terrible things to people. And most of the time, when she was accused of something, it was true.

She had been foolish enough to take a side gig and try to deceive even Zoren Pierson. She had let her mother embarrass herself by allowing her to misunderstand Zoren’s "kindness" when Patricia was caught. She treated people as if they were beneath her. She had even tried to ruin her brother’s and father’s hard work by attempting to sell information about the buyout.

In other words, Patricia was selfish, foolish, and just plain awful.

She could admit that.

She had no excuses for her past behavior. No justifications. But if there was one thing she stood by, it was this: she never denied the things she had done. If she did something wrong, she owned up to it—not out of remorse, but because she refused to let anyone frame her. Again.

Yet now, that feeling—the creeping sensation of being accused of something she hadn’t done—was slithering up her spine once again. It was the same feeling she had years ago, crawling back into her heart.

Looking at the officer and the detective, she swallowed hard. "I want a lawyer," she whispered, already sensing that these two had made up their minds for something she didn’t do.

She didn’t do it.

Had she known this was going to happen, she would have gladly beaten Cassandra herself. At least then, if she was arrested, she’d have the satisfaction of knowing she had taught that woman a lesson. But she hadn’t!

"Miss Miller, this is just a simple question," the officer chimed in. "You don’t need a lawyer."

"I want a lawyer!" Patricia’s voice rose, fear creeping into her chest. "Why won’t you let me call a lawyer?!"

"Miss Miller, we’ve already called your lawyer. He’s on his way," the detective explained. "However, as he said, this is just a routine questioning. We’re not your enemies here. If you’re innocent, we won’t keep you long. But how can we clear your name if you refuse to talk to us?"

Patricia clenched her teeth, the tips of her fingers turning cold. Her mouth opened, then closed, torn between the boiling frustration in her heart and the fear that this could ruin her life. Not now. Not when she was just starting to figure things out.

"I already told you! Why don’t you listen?!" she screamed in frustration. "I didn’t slap her unprovoked! And I didn’t do this! But you’re not listening to me!"

"Miss Miller, please calm down—"

"How can I calm down when you’re not even listening?!" she shouted. "I didn’t do it! What else do you want me to say?!"

"Miss Miller, you need to calm down. Otherwise, we’ll have to detain you for this behavior," the officer warned.

"You’re already detaining me! What are you talking about?!" Patricia’s voice pitched higher. "I don’t want to be here! I shouldn’t be here! I didn’t do anything! What else do you want from me?!"

The detective and officer simply watched as Patricia lost her temper. Every response they gave only seemed to fuel her frustration, as if that had been their goal all along.

"I want to leave! Let me go!" she screamed, slamming her hands on the table.

"That’s it!" The officer jumped from his seat, while the detective, in contrast, rose slowly and calmly.

Seeing this, Patricia paused, darting her eyes between them. "What are you doing—what do you think you’re going to do!?"

---

Meanwhile, in the same station...

Shawn sat in the corner of the jail cell, visibly distressed. He ran a hand through his hair nervously, his tie already loosened, his clothes disheveled. The other men in the cell only made his anxiety worse.

There were at least five others with him. One was passed out, but even from a distance, the stench of alcohol clung to him. The rest minded their own business, but they looked intimidating. Even with his big physique, Shawn felt small among them.

"Why did this happen?" he whispered to himself, regretting his actions. His nerves had gotten the best of him, and now he was behind bars—unable to help Patricia when she needed help the most.

"Excuse me..."

A familiar cold voice made Shawn lift his head. His eyes widened when he saw Teddy walking into the station. Beside him was a woman Shawn didn’t recognize, but she was dressed in smart casual attire.

Shawn didn’t dwell on it. He immediately stood, gripping the bars.

"Teddy!" he called out in a hushed voice, waving to get his attention. "Hey!"

Teddy, who had just entered, turned to the sound of Shawn’s voice. His eyes locked onto the big guy inside the cramped jail cell. He bobbed his head up and down, studying Shawn—another person now tangled in this mess.

"Where’s Miss Miller?" Teddy asked.

Shawn shook his head. "I don’t know. They separated us when we got here," he sighed heavily. "Teddy, help me get out of here. God, the final interview... we screwed it."

Teddy clenched his jaw. Of all things, Shawn was still worried about the final interview. Then again, at the mention of it, bitterness welled up in Teddy’s chest too. He should be at the interview as well—but instead, he was here.

"Can you not think about the final interview for one second?" the woman with Teddy huffed sharply.

She was Hayley Rogers—the same woman who had been locked in the bathroom. Thanks to Patricia, not only had she gotten justice, but she had also gotten her chance at the interview yesterday.

Which explained why she and Teddy had come together.

Earlier, when she arrived, she had seen Patricia and Shawn being dragged into a police vehicle. Then, she had spotted Teddy walking out to hail a cab, so she had approached him, since they had met the day before. When he confirmed what had happened, she told him to get in—she was also planning to head to the station to help.

"If it means begging for another chance at the interview, then so be it," Hayley remarked. "For now, Teddy and I will try to get you and Miss Miller out of here."

Shawn gripped the bars, his gaze shifting between the two of them. He nodded, grateful for their help—even though they didn’t have to be involved.

But just as Teddy and Hayley were about to turn away, something in the corner of Shawn’s vision caught his attention.

"Oh..." His mouth fell open as his eyes focused on a familiar figure.

Curious, Teddy and Hayley followed his gaze. Their bodies stiffened as soon as they saw Yugi walking into the station.

None of them paid attention to the person walking ahead of him—not because Penny wasn’t in her usual smart casual attire, nor because she was still in a loose shirt and jeans.

No, they were all too stunned by Yugi—because they had all believed he was T. Mouse.