Half an hour later, seeing a call from Terry's lawyer friend, I smiled.

Michael Sorensen was renowned in the legal world. I'd heard of him during my studies. He had never lost a case. Even when the evidence was insurmountable, he would be able to get his client released.

He called to inform me, "Jade, the car and the card have been taken care of. Remember, even if you and Terry are legally married now, you should know your place, or I can't guarantee the length of your sentence."

That was fast. He must be really eager for me to take the blame.

Unfortunately, his 100% win rate might change…

"Thank Terry for me."

I hung up and called a cab to go home.

When I entered the house, I found the new car keys and black credit card quietly resting on the coffee table. I placed the two pieces of evidence into the drawer.

Before long, Terry came home holding onto Sarah.

She was almost hanging on him, but her eyes were on me. "I'm sorry, Jade. You and Terry are married now, yet I'm still bothering him. Why don't I give you a gift as an apology?"

Terry frowned looking at her pale face and spoke tenderly, "She can't wear jewelry while serving her sentence…"

Before he finished, I interrupted. "You do need to apologize to me. After all, I'm taking the blame for you. But if it's a gift from you, it should be bought with your own money. Don't use Terry's money or it'll be like transferring money from my left hand to my right."

Sarah immediately teared up, as if she had suffered a great injustice. Meanwhile, Terry's face hardened. "Jade, you've gone too far."

Sarah stubbornly lifted her head. "I'll do as Jade says."

I gave her no chance to go back on her word. I immediately drove them to the mall with my new car.

I browsed for a while and decided on an eight-digit diamond ring and necklace. I casually placed them on the counter. Sarah swiped her own card, but there were insufficient funds. She tried another one, but the result was the same.

Her face flushed red with embarrassment.

I looked at her lazily. "Not enough money? Then get on your knees and cry. Aren't you an expert at doing that? Who knows, I might feel sorry for you like Terry did."

Sarah's face reddened, then paled. Finally, tears fell from her eyes.

Terry was utterly furious. He pulled Sarah behind him and stared daggers at me.

"Who are you to humiliate her? You're just a woman who got to where you are thanks to me. If you keep doing this, I'll have to teach you a lesson."

Someone once called me a gold-digger, and he made the guy apologize to me on his knees. Now, he's calling me the same thing.

I met his eyes and pressed him. "What are you gonna do? Kill me?"

Terry's eyes widened as he swallowed hard and took half a step back. Then, he gritted his teeth and growled, "Do you have to make things so difficult?"

I said nothing. He stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed in anger. After repeating "okay" three times, he made a call.

A few minutes later, my phone started vibrating wildly. I opened it to find a news alert, which read:

[Murderer Splurges on Jewelry Worth Millions, Refuses to Pay Injured Girl's Medical Fees]

The accompanying image was a photo of me trying on a diamond ring earlier.

The news reported that the eighteen-year-old victim was paralyzed from the accident, and her family couldn't afford her medical bills, while I, the perpetrator, remained at large, shopping for jewelry worth millions.

The public was outraged. The comments were filled with curses, calling for my death penalty.

I was stunned and stared at Terry in disbelief.

"Did you do this?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if he was having a hard time. "If you apologize to Sarah for humiliating her, I'll remove it from the trending news."

I stared at him and suddenly laughed.

How ironic.

When Sarah caused me trouble, he wanted me to apologize to her.

When he turned the public against me, he still wanted me to apologize to her.

I scoffed and opened my mouth to say something, but suddenly, a middle-aged woman rushed up to me wielding a metal rod.

"How dare you enjoy life after what you did to my daughter? I want you to pay with your life!"

Terry instinctively tried to pull me away but Sarah grabbed his arm tightly.

"Terry, I'm scared…"

That one second of hesitation was enough time for the metal rod to strike the back of my head heavily.

As my consciousness faded, I saw Terry's eyes widen in horror.

When I woke up, my best friend Janet Acorn was sitting by my bed.

When she saw me open my eyes, she instantly leaned over, tears dripping onto my hand.

"Jade! You're finally awake! Are you crazy? Why did you agree to take the blame for Sarah Horst? Now, all the evidence is against you! The public is calling for your death…"

I gently grasped her hand and smiled.

"No, we've already won."

That strike didn't hit a vital spot, so I could still move around.

After Janet helped me sit up, I scrolled through my phone to find the credit card record of the car repair fees and called the cops.

With this police report, I obtained more evidence.

Janet and I worked through the night.

As soon as we finished organizing all the evidence, my phone rang. It was Michael's assistant, saying he wanted to see me to discuss court testimony.

Janet anxiously grabbed my arm and said, "You can't go! You'll be alone! Who knows what will happen?"

I shoved a copy of the documents into her hand and casually touched the miniature camera on my collar. "Don't worry, if I can't handle it, I'll ask you to call the cops."

Janet tightened the grip on her phone, her palms sweating.

-

When I pushed open the meeting room door on the top floor of the law firm, I found only Sarah and a few security guards inside.

When she saw me, she smiled. "You owe me big this time. I brought you a lifesaver."

As she spoke, she opened the back door of the meeting room, and an old man in his sixties rushed in.

He fixed his murky gaze on me and said, "It's all your fault. My daughter died because we didn't have money for her treatment, and my wife killed herself. Give them back to me!"

He was all up in my face. I frowned and retreated, but Sarah pressed against my back and cheerily pushed me forward. "This is your chance to get probation, Jade. He's willing to settle if you give birth to a child for him as compensation!"

I stifled the tremor in my voice. "Does Terry know about this?"

Sarah looked at me with pity like I was a pitiful mouse. "Even if he knows, he'll only think you've sold your body to get probation."

The old man lunged at me and tore my clothes.

I struggled desperately and knocked him to the ground. I tried to run away, but Sarah stood in my way. While I was trying to free myself from her, the old man got back up and slapped me hard.

I was trapped.

"Jade, I'm helping you. Don't be so ungrateful!" Sarah said.

She then ordered the guards to pin me down.

I was thrown to the ground.

While I was shaking from the pain, my clothes were torn away, and that disgusting mouth kissed my neck.

Suddenly, the meeting room door was kicked open.

"Get out!"

Terry strode in and kicked away the man on top of me.

He wrapped his suit around me. I could still feel his warmth on the suit.

His anger made the entire room fall silent.

Sarah quickly stepped forward, looking frightened.

"Terry, Jade offered herself to the man to reach a settlement. You have to talk her out of it…"

She trailed off.

Terry stared at me, his eyes cold. "You're willing to throw away your dignity to avoid prison?"

I was stunned, anger boiling in my chest.

When he wrapped his suit around me earlier, I was about to recount my terrifying experiences to seek comfort from him. Only now did I realize how laughable that idea was.

I drew a deep breath, raised my hand, and gave him a hard slap. "Watch your attitude. I haven't settled the score from last time."

The air froze.

It wasn't until Michael entered the meeting room that the tense atmosphere thawed.

The trial date was approaching, and he repeatedly reminded me to take full responsibility for the crime.

I gripped the nearly ripped-off camera and nodded meaningfully.

-

On the day of the trial, Terry was kinder to me than ever before.

Before entering the courtroom, he even embraced me and gently whispered in my ear, "Don't worry, Jade. I won't let you go to prison."

I pushed him away in disgust, saying nothing.

After the trial began, the judge followed the usual procedures and announced my charges. "Jade Wilson allegedly fled the scene of the crime after causing serious injuries to a minor, resulting in her death. The crime is severe…"

The victim's father screamed at me, calling me an evil woman.

Amidst his outcry, the judge continued, "...but upon investigation, it was found that the above crime was committed by Sarah Horst. Defendants Terry Bolton and Sarah Horst, do you admit to coercing Jade Wilson into taking the blame?"

The audience gasped in shock.

Sarah's smile stiffened. She immediately looked at Terry nervously.

Terry's face hardened. He stared at me coldly, as if he wanted to shred me to pieces right there and then.

"What's the meaning of this, Jade?"

I calmly pushed away the materials Michael prepared for me. "I want to submit three new pieces of video evidence and a police record."

The clerk presented the evidence, which was then projected onto a screen.

When Sarah saw the contents on the screen, blood drained from her face, and Terry stood up furiously.

The first video started playing. In the video, Terry kicked open the door while holding the trembling Sarah in his arms. He told me, "If you take the blame for her, I'll find the best doctors from all over the world for your mother."

Next, my calm voice could be heard saying, "In that case, let's go get our marriage certificate today." The video paused.

My defense attorney, Michael, immediately stood up. He adjusted his glasses and spoke steadily and forcefully, "Your Honor, this video proves that the defendant voluntarily took the blame. She even used it to coerce marriage and property. Even if her husband, Terry Bolton, indeed has the intention of having the defendant take the blame, the defendant is a conspirator."

He paused and looked at me with a blatant threat in his gaze. "Ms. Wilson, are you sure you want to do this?"

The judge turned to me. "Defendant, do you acknowledge what he said?"

"I object!" I stood up, my voice clear. "Moreover, I wish to change my defense attorney."

Michael frowned and wanted to say something, but I interrupted him. I looked right at him and spoke each word clearly, "Michael Sorensen is a lawyer that Mr. Terry Bolton 'arranged' for me. I did not hire him. Therefore, I request to change my defense attorney. From here on out, I will represent myself."

Michael's expression changed dramatically. "You…"

Before he could finish, the judge's gavel struck. "Mr. Sorensen has a conflict of interest in this case. Please leave the courtroom right away."

Michael was escorted out by the bailiff, looking livid. Before leaving, he glanced back at me, sending warnings with his eyes.

I took a deep breath and said, "Your Honor, I now request the second video to be played."

The video showed security footage from a mall. In the video, Sarah's card was declined. She blushed with embarrassment.

I leaned against the counter and could be heard saying, "Not enough money? Then get on your knees and cry."

Terry pulled her behind him and took out his phone to make a call. Then, he stood protectively in front of her, his eyes fierce. "If you keep doing this, I'll have to teach you a lesson."

The scene shifted to a screen recording from my phone. A news alert popped up:

[Murderer Splurges on Jewelry Worth Millions, Refuses to Pay Injured Girl's Medical Fees]

The comments section was filled with curses aimed at me. The video returned to the security footage.

With a trembling voice, I asked, "Did you do this?"

Terry closed his eyes, and his tone softened. "If you apologize to Sarah for humiliating her, I'll remove it from the trending news."

Right after he said that, a woman burst into the frame holding a metal rod. Following a terrified scream, the camera shook violently, then went dark.

The video stopped there, and the courtroom fell into silence.

I turned to the judge and said, my voice steady, "Your Honor, Terry Bolton used cyberbullying to threaten me to apologize to Sarah Horst. As a result, I was brutally assaulted with a metal rod and was hospitalized. I had to pretend to compromise, or my life would be continuously threatened."

In the audience, Terry clenched his fists tightly. He subtly gestured to someone nearby, and a man suddenly shouted, "Objection!"

Michael, who had seated himself in the front row of the audience, strode up to the defendant's table. "Your Honor, I've accepted Mr. Bolton's request to be his defense attorney."

He then turned to me, his eyes sharp. "Ms. Wilson, you've shown no proof that Mr. Bolton threatened you. Can you prove that he paid for the trending news? Can you prove that he orchestrated the cyberbullying?"

After that, he turned back to the judge. "If Ms. Wilson insists that my client, Mr. Bolton, did all that, I demand she provide direct evidence."

The courtroom fell silent. All eyes were on me.