Chapter 471

Chapter 471 Two Options

I had thought I would be released soon since it was a summon for investigations and not an arrest. However, it seemed like it was merely wishful thinking on my part. They did not release me even till late at night.

What made me even more frantic was how I was broken off from all forms of contact with the outside world. As much as I had been through many hardships and matured a lot, it would be a lie if I said I was not scared about what I was going through at this point.

That night, I was all alone when a police officer came to me and flatly remarked, “Someone is here to visit you.”

A pang of joy hit me when I heard that, and without hesitation, I followed behind him.

Upon walking out, I realized it was Lincoln. That made me disappointed as I had thought it would be Michael.

“Ms. Garcia, it sure doesn’t feel good to be inside for the whole day, isn’t it?” Lincoln coldly muttered as he sat down opposite me.

I tamped down the roaring rage in my chest as I took my seat. The hint of guilt residing in me, if there was any, had entirely faded away at that point. I might appear as cold as ice on the outside, but I was in a full-blown inferno deep inside.

“Isn’t this all part of your setup? Did you already bribe the police to charge me with the crime of causing intentional hurt? I’ve said before that I didn’t do it on purpose. Why are you still doing that?”

There was no way I could wrap my head around why Lincoln would do that. How could he be so heartless? Did he not spare a thought for Michael and Amaury’s feelings?

“How smart you are. You’ve got the right answer with one try.” His tone was still as calm as before.

The lack of denial was enough to prove that he had given his silent agreement and, undeniably, I was mad about it.

“Don’t you think you’ve crossed the line? Don’t you see how cruel your actions are toward me?” I spoke stoically with an icy glare while trying to keep my cool.

“I know what I did will bring you trouble. I have no intention to land you in jail either. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Lincoln’s face remained the same even when faced with my questioning. The gaze he shot at me was still as calm as how he always appeared to be.

I had to admit that I looked a little too immature in front of an experienced man like him.

“No intention of sending me to jail? Then why am I locked in here right now? Is this not what you wanted to see?”

His words sounded so much like sarcasm to me, considering my situation at that point. I could not believe that the thought of settling things amicably with him had even crossed my mind once.

“Anna, you’re actually a good girl. But you’ve hurt Michael’s mom, my wife. She’s my beloved woman in my entire life. Like how Michael loves and protects you, how can I allow anyone to harm my woman? Having lived with her for a whole decade, I’ve already gotten used to her nonsense. But because of you, she’s lying on the hospital bed now! She hasn’t talked to me or even opened her eyes for a year!” Lincoln stared at me as he went on and on, as though he just needed a listening ear to hear him pour his heart out.

Surprising enough, upon hearing his confession, the deeply-rooted resentment within me had seemed to fade away. Even though I hated him for doing all those things to me, I knew he was doing it for the sake of the woman he loved, just like how Michael would do to me.

I realized I had only thought about my feelings but never concerned about his. And somehow, that made me a little guilty.

Even with that said, it did not mean that I no longer bore a hatred toward him. I could relate to the pain he was going through, but there was no way I could pretend that nothing had happened after what he had done to me.

“If I am you, I’ll surely be in pain too. I’m also very guilty and regretful, but since things have gotten to this stage, there’s no way we can go back to how we were no matter what you do. Instead, your despicable tactics will only estrange your relationship with Michael and Amaury.”

I could not be sure if I would be able to forgive if I was in the shoes of Lincoln, but the only way out for me now was to fight for Michael and my happiness.

“I know what you want to say. But I’ll be frank with you. Never mind if Michael hates or blames me, I won’t let you two be together. You’re the one who hurt his mother, so there’s no way you two can get together!” Lincoln responded indifferently.

From his tone, I figured there was nothing I said that would make him change his mind.

“So you’re sending me to jail just because you don’t want us to be together?” I took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil of emotions in me before asking coldly.

“You have two options now. First, take the money and leave as far as you can from here. Second, a jail term for you. If you choose the former because you hope that you can lead a happy ending with Michael, think again. Even if that’ll happen, it’ll only be many years from now. He’s in his prime now; do you think he’ll be willing to wait for you till then?”

Regardless of which option it was, his ultimate motive was to break my relationship with Michael.

The truth was, he had tried to negotiate with me, but I firmly rejected him. Perhaps that was why he was forcing me to make a decision now.

I burst into bitter laughter as distress overwhelmed me. None of the options Lincoln offered were reasonable and fair to me. All I wanted was something as simple as leading a peaceful life with Michael, yet it appeared so out of reach for me.

“I won’t make a choice. I believe Michael will think of a way to help me. He will never watch me go to jail without doing anything.” Those words came from the bottom of my heart. I was positive Michael would never allow such a thing to happen to me.

“I’ll give you two days to consider. If you can’t come to a decision after two days, then don’t blame me for being heartless. I don’t want to do this to you either. I always believe that you’re a good girl and think it’s our honor to have a daughter-in-law like you. If not that you hurt my wife, I’ll never do this to you. I used to like you so much, but I can’t believe you’d disappoint me!” Lincoln stood up and spoke harshly.

Initially, he was indeed very nice to me. He would even stand up for me when Josephine was against me. If not that she was in a vegetative state, he would, perhaps, still love me like how a father would.

In fact, I felt a little suffocated by what he had said, so much that I had an impulse to reveal the truth. But that said, I ultimately quashed it with my willpower.