Chapter 70
Chapter 70:
Pinned to the floor suddenly, Tristan instinctively believed he was being abducted and began to resist. When he realized it was several police officers who restrained him, he froze in shock.
What left Tristan even more astounded was Ashton’s appearance behind the officers. Seeing Ashton unharmed left him utterly bewildered. He quickly exclaimed, “Officers, this has to be a mistake! You’ve apprehended the wrong individual! Ashton’s the one you should be detaining. Release me and arrest him instead!” Even in that moment, Tristan persisted in feigning ignorance.
Ashton, now seething with anger, let out a derisive chuckle and declared, “There’s no error. You are the one under arrest. Your plot was flawed. Your attempt to tarnish my reputation with lies is now public knowledge!” A chill ran through Tristan as he continued to thrash about, retorting, “I haven’t done anything wrong! Officers, ignore his baseless claims. That’s not who I am!”
But before he could plead further, Ashton tossed printed chat logs and transaction records before Tristan. “All the proof is here. Those you bribed have already confessed at the station. The more you deny, the worse it will be for you!”
Confronted with the mounting evidence, Tristan’s composure shattered. He swiftly adopted a sorrowful demeanor and implored, “Ashton, please don’t do this. I just thought it’d be a bit of fun to play a prank on you. Surely, it’s nothing to take to heart, right?”
Ashton responded icily, “You find this amusing? Well, you might find prison amusing, too. Enjoy your stay.” Tristan, certainly no child, could easily foresee the consequences. His body shook uncontrollably, and his voice was choked with tears.
“Please, I know I messed up. For the sake of the bond you once shared with my sister, let this go just this once. I swear I won’t do it again!”
Tristan had taken this risk, believing that Ashton still harbored feelings for Emalee and wouldn’t dare hurt her brother. He figured that even if his scheme was discovered, the fallout would be manageable.
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Clearly, he had misjudged the situation.
Ashton, unfazed by Tristan’s plea, simply directed the officers, “Officers, you have him. Please take him in for questioning.”
As Ashton remained resolute, Tristan collapsed emotionally. Tears welling up in his eyes, he screamed, “Ashton, you bastard! No wonder Emalee never truly loved you, even after two years of marriage. No wonder she left. Even if you throw me in jail, Phillip will have me out in no time! Enjoy this moment all you want! You’ll never have Emalee’s love!”
The police eventually escorted the swearing Tristan away, leaving Ashton feeling detached from the scene. He turned and left without a second glance. Just as he stepped out of Tristan’s house, his phone buzzed. Ashton pulled it out to find several missed calls, all from Rosalie.
He quickly answered the phone, and Rosalie’s voice, laced with concern, filled his ear. “Ashton, I heard about the incident at your school. I’ve been trying to reach you. Are you alright? Do you need any help? Should I get in touch with Aaron for you?”
Ashton felt a surge of warmth from her words. Such concern was a rare comfort. Wanting to alleviate her worry, he responded, “I was assisting the police with their inquiries. All is well now; I’ve cleared my name, and the police will be making a statement soon.”
Relieved, Rosalie let out a sigh. Her voice warmed as she suggested, “That’s great to hear. Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight to celebrate?”
Ashton almost declined, aware of how much he had already leaned on Rosalie lately, and considering the responsibilities still on his plate. However, before he could respond, Rosalie added softly, concern creeping back into her tone, “And while you’re here, could you please check on Selena? Her condition seems to have deteriorated since this morning.”
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