Chapter 177 - 176: Julian Fletcher Forces Me to Please Him

Chapter 177: Chapter 176: Julian Fletcher Forces Me to Please Him

Julian Fletcher’s wound was bandaged. He walked over to me. "Cece... let’s go home."

I was still in a daze, but I snapped back to reality. "Go home by yourself..."

This murder case was getting more and more complicated.

I still didn’t know what was happening with Asher. He was in Victor Quinn’s hands... It must be a living hell for him.

A mental hospital... that’s no place for a person to be.

"I’m the only one who can protect you." Julian Fletcher frowned, gripping my wrist. "Don’t be stubborn."

"I don’t want to go back with you right now." I shook off Julian Fletcher’s hand.

’Just the thought of going back and seeing Erin Whittaker made me angry.’

’I had to find a way to get into tomorrow’s charity gala. I had to meet the president of Astraeus Group.’

"Did you ask Erin Whittaker about the president of Astraeus Group?" Seeing that I wasn’t listening to him, Julian Fletcher resorted to threats again.

’I knew it.’

I looked up at him. "Heh, Erin Whittaker really has the biggest mouth."

"If I introduce you, your chances of success will be much higher. You know that," Julian Fletcher said in a low voice.

At the mention of the president of Astraeus Group, a dark cloud seemed to hang over Julian Fletcher.

He was jealous of the president of Astraeus Group, yet he also resented him.

This mysterious mogul had always refused to meet with him, not even giving him the courtesy.

And yet, this same person had helped him in the past.

Julian Fletcher felt the man was looking down on him.

"You’d be that kind?" I sneered.

"Come home with me. Stay by my side, and I’ll make the introduction for you," Julian Fletcher said in a low voice.

I frowned. For now, I had no choice but to compromise.

"Cece." Zeke Shaw came running over after taking a call. "That guy, Jack York, suddenly dropped the case. He said he provoked Asher on purpose. The officer handling the case is a friend of mine. I had a word with him, and he agreed to issue a formal pardon and bring Asher back."

I looked at Zeke Shaw, overjoyed. "Really?"

Zeke Shaw nodded. "Yeah."

I was overcome with excitement and grabbed Zeke Shaw’s arm. "Then let’s go right now!"

Julian Fletcher watched me, his expression complex, before lowering his head with a sarcastic chuckle.

Zeke Shaw shook his head. "There’s a process we have to follow. It won’t be that fast. Try not to worry, I’ll push things along on my end."

I nodded.

’Even when Asher gets out, I still need to meet the president of Astraeus Group.’

’He’s the only one who can protect me and Asher.’

’If I can work with that mysterious mogul, Asher’s position in the Lancaster Family will be more secure, and he won’t be so vulnerable.’

...

Julian Fletcher and I went home. His driver came to pick us up.

He and I sat in the back, a heavy silence between us.

He glanced at me several times, as if wanting to say something but holding back. "Cece... you should finish reading your parents’ journal."

I didn’t answer. I’d been planning to do that anyway.

"Sebastian Lancaster is on the guest list for tomorrow’s charity gala," Julian Fletcher began, glancing at me. "But... he’s in a mental hospital. As his plus-one, if he doesn’t show up, you can’t attend either."

’I eyed Julian Fletcher warily. How was he going to threaten me this time?’

"I’m on the guest list, too. You can attend as my plus-one." Julian Fletcher offered, extending an olive branch.

I sneered, my gaze falling on Erin Whittaker, who was waiting anxiously in the courtyard. "If I go as your plus-one, what about Erin?"

Julian Fletcher frowned and said nothing.

The moment we stepped out of the car, Erin Whittaker rushed over, her eyes filled with tears. "Julian, I heard you were hurt! What happened..."

"I’m fine." Julian Fletcher kept his distance from her.

"Julian... about the charity gala tomorrow... you promised I could go with you. The gown has arrived. Should we try them on?" Erin Whittaker said quickly, afraid he would go back on his word.

’So, Julian Fletcher had already promised her.’

’He promised someone else, and now he’s offering the same thing to me. What an asshole.’

I scoffed and turned to leave.

"Cece..." Julian Fletcher grabbed my wrist. He looked at Erin Whittaker. "Sorry, I have to take my love."

’I was actually surprised. Julian Fletcher wasn’t treating Erin Whittaker very well today.’

Erin Whittaker’s face went pale with anxiety. She had been trying so hard to use Julian Fletcher to climb the social ladder, and now it was all going down the drain, wasn’t it?

"Julian... but you already promised me..." Erin Whittaker pleaded, her eyes turning red.

Julian Fletcher remained silent, offering no explanation.

I struggled to pull my hand free, but Julian wouldn’t let go. "Cecilia Caldwell... whether or not you get to meet the president of Astraeus Group at tomorrow’s gala depends on how cooperative you are with me today."

His patience was clearly wearing thin. "Besides me, who else in Meridia can get you into the charity gala?"

I stared at Julian Fletcher. "So? What’s your plan? Take both of us? You wish."

Julian Fletcher’s grip on my wrist tightened. "I’m taking you."

Erin Whittaker turned and ran off, crying.

I sneered. "I’m not that desperate."

"Do you have any other choice?" Julian Fletcher asked.

’To be honest, I really didn’t.’

"Fine, President Fletcher. If you take me, what are your conditions?" I said, looking at him. He wouldn’t be kind enough to just take me with no strings attached.

"Don’t take that tone with me... Cece..." Julian Fletcher pleaded.

"And what tone should I take with you?"

"Like you used to," he begged. "Can you do that?"

"Heh... You mean please you, like I used to?" I laughed. "Fine. Just you wait."

I wrenched my hand from his grasp and stalked away.

’This is why you should always leave yourself an out...’

’The Julian Fletcher of the past had already burned all his bridges with me.’

...

Back in my room.

I flopped onto the bed and continued reading my parents’ journal.

"Today, Cece blended in with the other children, just like a normal kid. I’m so happy."

"Documenting our Cece’s first group photo."

"Cece and Shaun."

"Cece is getting so clingy with Shaun. And Shaun only listens to her."

"One of the kids deliberately had their family bring over an aggressive dog. It scared Cece, and Shaun got hurt protecting her."

Most of the journal entries were about me and Shaun growing up together.

"Today, Cece hid somewhere in the orphanage. Daddy couldn’t find her and was worried sick. What a little troublemaker."

"Cece made friends!"

I could tell how happy Mom and Dad were back then.

In the photo were younger versions of me, Asher, and Charlie.

We were on the playground, squatting in the grass, though I couldn’t tell what we were doing.

"Cece, if you cut an earthworm in half, it can grow back. Why can’t people do that?"

"When people die, they’re just... dead."

"What about the soul? Could it exist in another form? Could we capture it with calculations, and then... put that soul into a new body?"

Suddenly, my head started to throb again. A voice exploded inside my mind.

’Who brought up that topic?’

’Was it Asher?’

BANG BANG BANG! Someone was pounding on the door. It didn’t sound friendly.

"Silvia Lynch! Get out here!" It was Erin Whittaker.

’Julian Fletcher must have gone out. Otherwise, Erin Whittaker wouldn’t be arrogant enough to come and start trouble with me.’

I didn’t want to deal with Erin, so I just lay on the bed, my head throbbing, trying to remember something.

Suddenly, the window slid open, and the curtains billowed in the wind.

I instinctively looked up and saw half a head peeking in. A pair of large eyes, innocent and full of sorrow, were looking at me.

"Cece..."

My heart clenched. I shot to my feet as if I’d been electrocuted and rubbed my eyes.

’Am I seeing things?’