Chapter 76

Nikita dismounted her motorcycle, about to speak, when Latisha suddenly stepped in front of her.

Nikita froze, staring at Latisha's back.

Latisha spread her arms, shielding Nikita from the crowd. She was clearly terrified, her shoulders trembling, but she stood her ground without hesitation, a tiny dam against a raging flood.

Her action, of course, branded her an accomplice.

The relatives grew even angrier and moved to shove Latisha aside. But in her panic, Latisha pushed one of the men first. She used all her strength, and he stumbled back into the person behind him.

"You bitch! You think you can get away with murder?"

The man swung at her. Latisha flinched and raised her arm to block the blow, but Nikita was faster. She grabbed the man's wrist and slapped him hard across the face, just as she had done to Yesenia.

The man was stunned. And that slap ignited the crowd's fury.

"To hell with the law! Kill these two bitches and get revenge for our families!"

Their faces twisted with rage, they charged forward. Without a second thought, Latisha threw her arms around Nikita, turning her own back to the mob.

She had already caused Nikita so much pain; she couldn't let her get hurt again. It was the only thought in her mind.

A mix of anger and gratitude flashed across Nikita's numb face. She pulled Latisha behind her and retrieved a collapsible baton from her motorcycle's saddlebag. With a flick of her wrist, the baton extended with a sharp whoosh, the sound making the crowd recoil.

Nikita's voice was ice. "You all called me a murderer. Killing one person is the same as killing a hundred. If you're not afraid to die, come on. I'll send you down to reunite with your families."

Nikita had been doted on her whole life and had a straightforward, confrontational personality. She never responded well to threats. Unleashed, the natural authority in her voice was intimidating.

They thought they could use their numbers to bully her, but they didn't have the guts to actually die for it. They believed, however, that a rich girl like Nikita might just be crazy enough to kill someone.

The ringleader visibly flinched. "You have no respect for the law! The police station is right across the street! You wouldn't dare!" he blustered.

"Wouldn't I? Why don't you test me and find out?"

Who would dare?

The group exchanged uneasy glances, trapped. They were too scared to advance but too stubborn to leave.

The standoff continued until the wail

of a siren broke the tension. Being right across from the police station, a disturbance like this was bound to be noticed.

"What's going on here?!" an officer shouted, and the crowd quickly dispersed.

The police saw the baton in Nikita's hand. Latisha instinctively tried to sidle in front of her, a clumsy attempt to hide it.

In the end, everyone was taken to the station.

The families wanted justice, but the people who had tampered with the car had already been arrested. The Stafford family had paid compensation, and the matter

should have been closed.

However, they didn't believe it and wanted to use the online outrage to extort more money.

Fortunately, Nikita hadn't actually hit anyone, but they still had to call their families to be picked up.

Latisha sat nervously on a bench. If Clifford found out she had come to see Nikita and gotten involved in a public brawl...

She couldn't bear to think about it. She had never imagined things would escalate this far.

As she agonized, she heard a familiar voice.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble you've been caused."

"No trouble at all, it's our job. But this young lady-she doesn't speak, and she looks so quiet and gentle. To

think she'd stand up to a whole

Crowd like that. You really can't judge a book by its cover."