After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 116

“Mrs. Evernight, where is Mr. Evernight?”

Aria's voice was calm. “He's upstairs. If you need something, go find him. My business has nothing to do with him.”

It was good enough that Gideon wasn't kicking her while she was down. Aria didn't expect him to help anyway.

***

At the police station.

Aria was taken to an interrogation room.

She saw the so-called evidence.

It was a thirty-second video clip. The footage itself was inconclusive, mostly just audio of Flora speaking, with another woman's voice audible for only a couple of seconds.

“You arrested me based on this?”

When she had reported her own case, she’d provided far more video evidence, and they’d all told her it was insufficient.

The officer knew this was hardly enough to prove Aria was the bully.

He looked troubled. “Ms. Rowan, have you offended anyone recently?”

The officer's hint was all Aria needed to understand.

Flora had just been taken in, and the police came for her right after. It seemed Charles had been busy pulling strings.

Aria, of course, wouldn't confess.

So after the interrogation, she was temporarily placed in a holding cell.

“Ms. Rowan, long time no see.” A lawyer approached with a document. “Are you ready to consider a settlement now?”

Aria seemed a bit dazed.

*Gideon's people? What are they doing here?*

“I was sent by Ms. Keene to negotiate with you.”

The last time they met was when Eveline was taken in.

The lawyer sized Aria up. She looked as thin and pitiful as ever, now locked up on some trumped-up charges.

The holding cell was chilly. Aria was dressed in thin clothes, and sitting on the cold bench made her shiver.

Her lower abdomen began to ache again.

The dull, agonizing cramps forced Aria to curl up slightly.

But in the lawyer's eyes, this was a sign of Aria's impending mental breakdown.

He just needed to be a little more patient, and she would give in.

Just then, Flora was released on bail. Seeing Aria sitting in the holding cell, she raised an eyebrow and stopped in her tracks.

“Well, if it isn't the famous Aria. What are you doing in here? Looking a little rough, aren't you?”

“Did you get arrested? I heard it was Gideon's people who submitted the evidence.” Flora smiled at the lawyer. “Thank you so much, Mr. Reid. You truly are a top lawyer from Evercrest Prosperity Holdings.”

The lawyer glanced at Aria. He knew she was a very capable woman. Ever since he had started at the firm, Aria had been the company's unrivaled top performer.

To be treated like this now, for such a proud woman, must have been an unbearable humiliation.

Aria looked up, suppressing her pain as she spoke. “Seeing you gloat over your cheap tricks is truly disgusting.”