Chapter 108

It went without saying that Nell tagged along as well.

Being the Department Chief, she decided not to be the wet blanket even if she was not a fan of these social events.

For that reason, she left the room for some fresh air after a couple of drinks, leaving her colleagues to enjoy themselves.

One of her colleagues decided on this karaoke spot. This place was stylish in its decoration and layout.

Outside of the private entertainment room was a winding corridor that led to a garden with a massive lawn. Several buildings that scattered across the area added a touch of that private resort feel to the entire place.

Nell arched her back and stretched herself out in the corridor.

The wind blew colder on a winter night. A chilly breeze always found its way through to the neck despite layers of down jackets as protection.

Nell stood there for a while. She was ready to head back into the room now that she had sobered up a little.

Unexpectedly, a familiar silhouette came walking toward her direction from the other end of the winding corridor.

Tara Garrett appeared startled by the encounter as well.

The two of them were stunned. Tara quickly smoothed away her surprise with a polite smile.

Nell replied with a slight nod of the head.

“What a coincidence that we meet again.”

“Exactly.”

Nell regarded the other person and suddenly revealed a smile as if coming to a realization.

“As far as I know, Miss Garrett, you’re based in the capital. What brings you to Jincheng?”

Tara’s fingers trembled ever so slightly.

She flashed a gentle smile.

“Personal issues. I bumped into Senior Morton by chance and decided to extend my stay to catch up with my old friend.”

Back in the day, Jason left for the capital to pursue his tertiary studies after graduating high school.

It was during that time that Nell learned about Tara. He often talked about the latter in their phone calls.

Although Tara was from the Garrett family of the capital, her family background was not especially established since they were an offshoot that was a few generations old.

In spite of that, the family taught her to become a proper lady equipped with knowledge in artistic and literary talents. She was also known for her great personality.

Among the famous women in the capital, there existed many that came from families more eminent than Tara’s but only a few could compare to her.

Back in the days, Jason often brought up this outstanding junior of his during those phone calls with Nell.

Something flashed across Nell’s eyes at the thought of this.

“Well, I shouldn’t take up too much of your time then.”

Nell was about to take her leave.

Tara called out all of a sudden.

“Miss Jennings.”

“Hmm?”

She pointed at the necklace hanging around Nell’s neck. “That’s a pretty necklace.”

This caught Nell by surprise.

She was wearing a white down jacket over a light-colored low neck knitted top. Perhaps the pendant necklace that always stayed hidden underneath the top had fallen through because of the warm, stuffy atmosphere earlier.

She pursed her lips while her hand flew to clasp around the pendant instinctively.

“Thanks,” she said several moments later.

A smile washed over Tara’s face. “You must take extra care of such beauty!”

Nell was confused.

However, Tara ended the conversation on this note. She flashed a friendly smile before walking away.

Nell returned to the private room.

Tara’s words still rang in her ears. She could not shake the unsettled feeling away from her mind.

Sitting down on the couch, she grabbed hold of the pendant and examined it carefully under the soft light. Nothing seemed out of place.

This was left behind by her deceased mother. Tara should not have seen it before.

What did the latter’s unexpected reminder mean?

Nell twitched her brows into a frown.

She failed to decipher its meaning even after a long consideration.

......

The gathering finally ended. It was already past midnight when she arrived home.

Gideon was away on business for a couple of days and most of the servants had been dismissed for the holidays. Aunt Joyce, whose son was studying abroad and whose husband had passed away, decided not to return to an empty house. Instead, she would remain in Jincheng to spend the Chinese New Year with Nell.

Nell ended up slightly drunk. She was close to falling asleep on the bed after drinking the tea prepared by Aunt Joyce to help with sobering up.

Her cell phone rang out of the blue.

She frowned.

She thought of ignoring the incoming phone call due to extreme lethargy. However, that ringtone seemed determined to keep going unless answered.

Left with no alternative, she propped herself up reluctantly to retrieve the phone from her purse.

“Hello?”

“Nelly, are you home?”

It was Janet.

This jolted Nell awake.

There was a slight quiver in Janet’s voice. It sounded as if she had been crying.

Color chased over her features. “I’m home. What’s wrong?”

“Is it possible if I stay over at yours tonight?”

“Sure. Where are you? I’ll pick you up!”

Janet mentioned the address.

Nell was too impatient to enquire further. After ending the call, she grabbed a jacket from the rack and dashed for the door.

Aunt Joyce was getting ready for bed. She appeared surprised upon discovering the woman who rushed down the stairs in a hurry.

“Missus, what’s the matter?”

“Aunt Joyce, I’m heading out for a bit.”

“Now?”

“Yup.”

Nell hesitated for a brief second upon realizing she should not drive after drinking. “Get me one of the drivers,” she instructed.

A confused look took over Aunt Joyce but Nell did not have the time to explain herself.

Janet had always been a tough woman despite coming from a rich and powerful family.

Earlier in the phone call, that weak quiver in her voice was something that Nell had not heard before in all these years.

Something terrible must have happened!

The driver delivered her to the address mentioned by Janet not long after.

They found themselves at a five-star hotel. Nell instructed the driver to wait while she went into the building alone.

Spoiled by the President She knocked after arriving at the designated room but no one answered. She pushed the door ajar to find out that it was left on latch.

The room was poorly lit. Pillows and decorations scattered across the floor. Evidence of rough sex could be found all the way from the bathroom to the living room as well as the bedroom. The entire place was in complete disorder.

The light went out of Nell’s eyes when she walked into the dark bedroom. She located a battered Janet sitting in the corner where no light could reach.

The woman, hair disheveled, was sitting on the ground with her head buried between the knees. Nell could sense the person shaking despite the darkness.

Nell’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Jan?” she questioned softly.

Janet lifted her head.

Under the illumination of dim light, the face which was normally decorated with impeccable beauty was covered in tears.

Bright red color stained the corners of her mouth, as well as her wrists and ankles, as if she had been tied up by something forcefully. Her body was dotted with greenish and purplish bruises all the way down from the neck. A torn red singlet hung loosely across her chest. Nell could imagine the torture the woman had been through without having to enquire further.

Her pupils dilated with horror. Emotions chased over her features as she looked at the woman in front of her.

Several moments later, she said through gritted teeth, “I’m calling the police!”

“No!”

Janet grabbed her.

It was only then that Nell heard the coarseness in her friend’s voice. The latter sounded entirely different from usual.

She felt her heart shattering into pieces!

“What actually happened? Who did this to you?”

Chapter 107 A Peculiar Dream Wrong Ride, Right Lover Chapter 1980 Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!

Chapter 487 The End Pt. 5