The cold autumn breeze filled the night. Dim moonlight shone on the hibiscus in front of Hibiscus Garden. The ground was tainted red by all the fallen petals.
Lisa stood on the balcony with a cigarette between his fingers. Sparks flew from the cigarette, and a gloomy expression flashed across his face. He took a long drag before he turned to look at the woman on the bed. The love bites could still be seen on her smooth shoulders.
Time had passed in the blink of an eye. They have been married for three years, but they had actually known each other for fourteen years before that. However, they had only spent less than a year together as an actual couple.
He would lose control of himself every time he desired her.
He could not stop himself from leaving marks on her body.
It seemed like he was marking his territory and declaring his dominance. This woman belonged to him!
Lisa knew why his mind was filled with worries.
Ryujin's men had already had a few conflicts with Hanbin's subordinates at the Southeast Region several times.
There was also a possibility that Woo-bin was still alive!
Lisa immediately thought of Jennie the moment he discovered this information.
Woo-bin knew that Jennie was Lisa's weakness.
He had used his daughter as a means to manipulate Lisa in the past.
*
Kai seemed to be in a good mood when Jennie contacted him. "Jen, you're finally learning to ask me for help!"
Jennie's heart was filled with warmth. She murmured, "Big Brother Kai, I hope this case doesn't cause you too much trouble."
Kai pondered for some time. He said, "Jen, it's impossible for me to prove that the accused is innocent!"
"Yes, I understand."
"The best result we can hope for is a lighter sentence with a decrease in his jail time by a few years. Perhaps we can avoid the death penalty as well."
Kai's tone turned serious as he continued to speak. "However, Jae-wookwon't let Jungkook off easily. After all, he murdered the only successor of the Manoban Family's second son!"
This was also the issue that worried Jennie the most.
"Big Brother Kai, I'll leave this to you. Please do what you think is best!"
"Don't worry. If this case was too difficult for me, no one else in Luo Hai would be able to handle it. I'll do everything I can to help you. It's just that, will the pressure of the Manoban Family be too much for you?"
"Lisa will help me!"
Kai chuckled when he heard that and let out a sigh. "When did Third Young Master Manoban turn into his wife's slave?"
Jennie was slightly embarrassed when he said this.
She thought of Tzuyu when she hung up. She wanted to keep her in the loop to prevent her from getting worried.
Tzuyu was still staying in Upper Mansion. Aside from Lisa and Yeji, the other members of the Manoban Family knew nothing about the relationship between Tzuyu and Jungkook. The Manoban Family's reaction was completely different from Tzuyu's when they discovered that the killer had surrendered himself.
Jennie did not want to see the Old Mistress. She texted Tzuyu and told her to come to the garden between Upper Mansion and Hibiscus Garden.
It was the beginning of autumn. The leaves in the garden had turned a splendid color.
Jennie wore a coffee-colored fluffy woolen sweater and waited near the colorful red and yellow leaves. Tzuyu was dressed in a white sweater. Her complexion was getting more and more pallid.
"Attorney Kai has agreed to take on the case."
Jennie led Tzuyu to a bench and sat down. Tzuyu was so touched that she burst into tears all of a sudden. "Jen, I'm greatly indebted to you for this..."
"You don't have to thank me, Tzuyu. After all, we don't know the final verdict yet. You're staying with the Manoban Family. It's good that they haven't discovered the link between you and Jungkook for now. This will prevent more problems from popping up!"
Tzuyu nodded. "Except for Somi. She's asked me so many questions about the case recently. She seems so interested!"
A dull pain throbbed in Jennie's heart when Somi was mentioned. She furrowed her eyebrows and the corners of her lips curled downward. "Try your best to avoid her. She's evil!"
Jennie had a terrible impression of Somi. She recalled how Somi had manipulated Xia Tao and attempted to get rid of her and Chaeyoung in C City. She had even planned to kill Liang Zihan for revenge.
Somi was gradually becoming a permanent member of the Manoban household now. Jennie realized that Somi was rotten to the core when that woman tried to push her into the pond.
"Yes, I know. But I realized that she had really changed when she returned this time."
A doubtful look flashed in the depths of Tzuyu's eyes.
Jennie had wanted to say that the Somi they had interacted with in the past was just a fake personality she created to trick everyone in the past. To tell the truth, she had always been like this.
However, she quickly changed her mind. After all, this matter did not have anything to do with Tzuyu.
"Jennie, you should still be wary of Somi though..."
Tzuyu hesitated for a moment. Her hesitation indicated that she had something else in mind.
Jennie could sense a hint of uncertainty in Tzuyu's wavering gaze.
"Don't worry, I trust Lisa!" Jennie said firmly.
She had never considered Somi as a rival because of her faith in Lisa.
Tzuyu nodded. "You may say that, but..."
She could not bring herself to continue. If Jennie trusted Lisa so much...
"Tzuyu, tell me what you heard!"
Jennie had a bad feeling about this.
"Before Taecyeon's murder, the Old Mistress had thought about getting Lisa to file a divorce with you..."
Tzuyu stopped halfway and observed Jennie's expression. Jennie's heart dropped when she heard this. She pursed her lips, but her gaze was empty.
"The Old Mistress has disliked me for a long time. She didn't know that Somi was alive then, so she could never force her grandson to marry a woman who had a heart transplant. But everything changed when she found out that the woman was Somi. Naturally, she's not going to let that opportunity pass now!"
Tzuyu heaved a sigh. She continued, "The Old Mistress is just being silly. You and Lisa are a match made in heaven. Why is she meddling with your relationship?"
"The Old Mistress single-handedly raised Somi, and Lisa happened to be there at that time as well. They kept her company ever since they were children. Watching them grow up together gave the Old Mistress an idea. She wanted them to marry each other in the future so that they would remain with her."
Jennie sneered coldly. "But Lisa focused his attention on me after we met each other. The Old Mistress couldn't bear that her relationship with Lisa was now strained!"
Tzuyu noticed that Jennie had analyzed this with a rational mind. She was highly in awe of her intellect.
"The Old Mistress has mentioned this numerous times since I had moved into Upper Mansion. You've probably guessed the reason as well." Tzuyu sighed after saying that. "I never gave birth to any children despite being married to Taecyeon for several years. Now that devil has been punished for his crimes...
"A few days ago, the Old Mistress told Lisa that the Manoban Family line might end if they didn't hear any good news from you soon!"
Jennie could imagine the scene when she heard Tzuyu's description. She simply sneered. However, she could not confess to Tzuyu that she was secretly using birth control pills all along.
"What did Lisa say?" Jennie valued Lisa's opinion highly.
Tzuyu thought that it would be better to lie, but she was worried for Jennie's future. "Lisa merely said that he'd wait and see..."
Jennie's heart sank.
She had initially assumed that it did not matter whether she had a child with Lisa. Jennie thought that Lisa would simply tell the Old Mistress that he would always stay loyal to her.
Apparently, he had yet to make up his mind!
She felt a stabbing pain in her heart. His tender affections toward her instantly turned into insults.
Their lovemaking sessions every night were nothing but missions that needed to be accomplished now...
Jennie's expression darkened. Tzuyu realized that she had been saying more than she needed. "Jen, don't let this bother you. I was merely reminding you to be prepared for everything!
"Our circumstances are completely different. Taecyeon and I never loved each other. Now that he's dead, I have no choice but to leave the Manoban household. I don't belong here and I don't plan on taking anything with me."
Tzuyu held Jennie's hands as she spoke. Her words were undeniably sincere.
"Don't act rashly. Your mother is still in the hospital. Make sure that you have an edge over the Manoban Family in case they decide to treat you cruelly in the future! Do you understand?"
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*DO NOT VOTE PLEASE*