When Love Turns to Ashes (Beatrice and Caden)

Chapter 13 A Bargaining Chip

Chapter 13 A Bargaining Chip

The next second, Beatrice was embraced into warm arms.

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A faint smell of tobacco, mingled with the crisp and invigorating scent of pine, induced a sense of calm and restraint.noveldrama

This fragrance had lingered throughout her life, making her familiar yet scared. 'Beatrice's body tensed slightly, and tears uncontrollably slid down from the corners of her eyes. She was afraid.

How could she not be?

In a coma, she felt someone brush against the corner of her eye, the action of wiping tears carrying a sense of curiosity.

woke up, she saw

When Beatrice

a policewoman sitting by the bedside.

Gracie Kirk, the policewoman, smiled slightly, making Beatrice reassured.

"Are you awake? Do you want some water?" Gracie got up and considerately poured Beatrice a glass of water."You have some superficial injuries on your body, but they're not a big deal." "Thank you."

Beatrice propped up her body and took the glass.

Until now, she trembled with lingering fear.

Gracie looked at Beatrice and did not ask her questions immediately. She started the interview only after Beatrice gradually calmed down.

How

could there be

conflicting

statements?

"Abdiel is also fine, but you two have conflicting statements now, so I need your testimony." Beatrice paused while drinking water and asked, "Conflicting statements? What does that mean?" The truth was SO obvious.

Gracie said honestly," Abdiel said that he only became suddenly irritable after drinking too much. He also presented a foreign psychological evaluation report and said... that you voluntarily had dinner and watched a movie with him, so he thought you were willing to have sex with him." Beatrice felt nearly out of breath,

sensing her heart pounding with poin.

"Having dinner and watching a movie with someone implies one's willing to have sex with a man? Since when was that a rule? I rejected him!"

"Ms. Lindsey, Abdiel said your mother also agreed," Gracie looked at her helplessly. What?

Beatrice choked up, speechless.

Gracie remained silent for a few seconds and then comforted her, "Your testimony is crucial now, and we will definitely investigate it thoroughly."

Upon hearing this, Beatrice slightly breathed a sigh of relief. At least there was still someone willing to help her.

e detailed the entire process of the incident and also pointed out that the car in Abdiel's possession had been modified, suggesting that this was not the first time such an event had 10.0%

Chapter 13 A Bargaining Chip

Occurred.

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Gracie made a record and finally asked, "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Beatrice pondered for a moment and slowly uttered a sentence.

'Mr. Caden and Madelynn, they saw it."

Gracie paused for a moment, her face looking somewhat awkward.

*Beatrice asked persistently, "Is there any problem?"

Gracie closed her notebook and furrowed her brow."I asked, Madelynn said she didn't see anything, and Mr. Caden said...the same."

As soon as Gracie said that, the glass in Beatrice's hand dropped onto the blanket.

The blanket was wet.

Beatrice hung her head down and remained silent.

She clutched the blanket, feeling bitter in her heart. What was she really expecting?

Madelynn couldn't wait to see her in trouble, and Caden wanted to teach her a lesson in disobedience.

They both made it.

They were truly a perfect match.

Gracie patted Beatrice's shoulder and said, "Take a good rest. I'll go back to the office to conduct an investigation. I'll reach out to you if there's any updates."

With the sound of the door closing, the room fell into complete silence.

Beatrice gazed at the white wall ahead with a pale face, as if all her vitality had been utterly sapped.

How could she, being so weak, possibly turn everything around?

She was not sure how long had passed when a reprimanding voice came from outside the door.

Beatrice managed to get up and walked to the door. Before she opened it, she heard Xander's authoritative voice.

"You idiot! I entrusted you with just one task, and you ruined it!"

Through the glass, Beatrice saw Ryan and Monica, who were opposite to Xander, with pale faces.

Monica trembled and said, "Xander, I really didn't know that Mr. Jimenez would do such a thing. Beatrice was just acting in self-defense..."

"Shut up! Why are you pretending to be so innocent now? Don't you know what she has done? You wanted to collaborate with Abdiel and sent your daughter to him just to fawn on him. He must think that Beatrice wanted to sleep with him. If Beatrice had any dignity, why did she agree to have dinner and watch a movie with him?" Xander stood with his hands behind his back, glaring at Monica.

Monica flinched, biting back tears, and dared not speak.

Ryan defended, "Dad, Monica just considered that Mr. Jimenez came from a noble and rich family, so she wanted to introduce Beatrice to him. She didn't know about his character."

Xander was already seething with anger, and upon hearing Ryan's absurd defense, his fury only 10.0%

Chapter 13 A Bargaining Chip

intensified.

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He raised his hand, wishing he could wake Ryan up, and angrily rebuked, "How could I have such a loser son like you? You fool! Being led around by the nose by a woman! If you had even half the wit of Caden, today wouldn't have unfolded this way!" Ryan looked increasingly awkward.

Beatrice let go of her hand holding the doorknob. Going out like this would only embarrass Ryan 'even more.

Ryan had always been very kind to her.

She couldn't bear to let him suffer.

At this moment, a cold and deep voice interrupted.

cold, solemn, and dark figure approached slowly. He looked composed and restrained.

Caden looked indifferent, and a hint of coldness could be seen in his eyes.

"Dad, Abdiel is fine now. It was pointless for you to scold Ryan."

"What else can I do? Now the Jimenez family demands an explanation. If this scandal spreads, it'll disgrace the Baldwin family. Ryan shouldn't have married a married woman, especially one having a troublemaker who's always up to seducing men!" Xander frowned and glanced at Monica. His implication was evident.

The troublemaker was Beatrice.

Monica tightly bit her lip, wanting to retort but not daring to.

Caden's expression turned cold and indifferent. He calmly said, "This matter can be negotiated. They can reach an out-of-court settlement, otherwise, if we really investigate further, Abdiel's true colors will be exposed. Then it won't be us seeking cooperation with them, but them begging for cooperation."

Smart

people could tell easily that Abdiel was proficient at such

tricks.

If it had been investigated further, Abdiel would not only suffered an injury on his head. The Jimenez family would suffer as a result.

The Jimenez family took advantage of the fact that Abdiel was being attacked and made a fuss hoping to gain more benefits in cooperation.

There was room for negotiation on business.

Xander looked at Caden with satisfaction and said, "Fine, do as you said Ryan clenched his fist and retorted, "No way! That bastard almost... How can Beatrice accept an out-of-court settlement? Isn't that the same as admitting that she tacitly approved of Abdiel's actions?"

Xander was about to throw a tantrum.

Caden hurriedly said, "Beatrice will agree."

Xander responded softly, "It's on you."

After hearing their conversation, Beatrice didn't know how she had returned to bed.

She buried her head in her arms, her lips trembling.

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Chapter 13 A Bargaining Chip

She

realized

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that she was

just a bargaining chip for Caden's business.

That was why he lied to the police, saying that he didn't see Abdiel misbehaving with her!

A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and she showed half of her face, gazing lifelessly at Caden as he entered.

Caden walked to the bedside and looked at her haggard face, reaching out to touch her.

But she avoided him.

Caden casually turned the ring on his finger, his tone calm, "Did you hear us?"

Beatrice remained silent.

Caden said coldly, "The police will come to you again. You have to sign a settlement agreement, which is good for your mother and Ryan."

Upon hearing him say these words himself, Beatrice heard her own rapid and unrhythmic breathing. She bit her lip, trying her best to keep herself from making any sound.

Until she swallowed the taste of blood in her mouth, along with all the grievances.

She had no choice but to do it.

Not only for the sake of herself but also for Monica and Ryan.

Beatrice raised her eyes to meet Caden's gaze and smiled, "Well, Uncle Caden, are you satisfied?"

Caden's hand, which had been twirling his ring, paused for a moment. He simply nodded, still the same ruthless businessman in the realm of commerce.

"I'm tired. I won't see you off."

After speaking, she turned over in bed, with her back facing Caden.

Caden walked out of the ward, his face gloomy.

Keith followed up and whispered, "Mr. Caden, do you need me to explain to Mr. Ryan?"

"There is nothing to explain."

"1

got it. Ms. Bradford has been waiting downstairs for a long time."

"Let's go."

Caden glanced at Beatrice in the ward and then left.

Chapter 14 The Public Opinion