CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: LEFT RING FINGER

He stood at the doorway, pausing for a moment, silent and motionless, finally resting his gaze on the wall.

Jean Ellison was so frightened that she took two steps back; she didn’t dare to look closely at who had entered.

The man at the door took a long stride, walking steadily.

His right shoulder slightly dipped, his left arm jerked backward, and the dark suit slipped off his arm with a very light rustling sound.

He held the collar with one hand and walked towards the figure in the corner, stopping after two steps.

His arm extended, and the dark gray fabric silently draped over Jean Ellison’s shoulders.

The wide back draped down, covering her thighs, touching the back of her knees.

Jean Ellison tilted her head up, saw his face, and opened her mouth in shock.

"Justin..."

Why was he at the door, and why did he come to find her?

She grabbed the suit jacket, wrapping herself a bit more tightly, the shoulder line slipping onto her thin shoulder peak, the hard shoulder pads propping up the empty outline.

"Passed by and heard your voice."

"Weren’t you selling wine? Why are you selling the clothes on your back too?"

Justin Holden still had the mind to tease her, making her want to cry but failing, feeling a sting at the tip of her nose.

He raised his hand, his fingers didn’t touch Jean Ellison’s body, only pausing slightly beside her shoulder, smoothing out a tiny crease in the cloth.

A middle-aged man’s voice sounded from behind, panting, as if angered by what he was seeing.

"You dare think about my..."

Justin Holden slowly turned around, his eyes cold as he glanced at the man, who swallowed the unfinished words forcibly.

"Lawyer Holden?"

The political official climbed up from the ground, clutching his crotch, and came to his side.

"Lawyer Holden, you’re here just in time. I want to file a lawsuit."

"Help me with it, I want to sue this woman for intentional assault."

Jean Ellison moved closer to Justin Holden, instinctively clutching his shirt sleeve.

"Did you hit him?"

Justin Holden looked down at her, his dark eyes calm, asking in a flat tone.

Jean Ellison pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and remained silent.

She really had hit him.

With utmost sincerity, Justin Holden stood in front of her, using his tall frame to completely shield her. With one hand in his pocket, he spoke to the man casually.

"Forget it, there’s insufficient evidence. There are only witnesses who saw you attempt rape but no one saw her hurt anyone."

The political official’s face paled, urgently asking, "Where are the witnesses?"

There was no surveillance in the box, only the two of them. Who could prove that he had just attempted to rape the woman and failed, hence leaving no evidence?

Justin Holden’s expression turned cold, yet he suddenly curled his lip, though it wasn’t a smile.

"Do you think I’m not a person?"

The political official froze, not expecting Justin Holden to protect a waitress when they were clearly of the same social class.

"Lawyer Holden, by doing this, you’re looking for trouble."

Anyone starting a company in Kingswell City has to deal with him, including Keystone Law. He has ways to deal with Justin Holden.

"Seems like, right now, the person in trouble is you."

Justin Holden’s eyelid lowered slightly, his jawline tightened, pulling a razor-thin cold arc at the corner of his eye.

His words were even more pressuring.

Before the political official could react, the police came in, several plainclothes officers leading the way.

Philip Paxton walked in, glanced briefly at Jean Ellison, his gaze sweeping past without stopping.

He presented a document with a metallic badge in front of the political official.

"On suspicion of occupational crime, under Article 159 of the Litigation Law, you are now being criminally detained."

"Here is your arrest warrant."

As he spoke, two police officers positioned themselves on either side, their leather shoes hitting the ground in unison, handcuffing the political official’s wrists with metallic cuffs.

The political official instinctively looked at Justin Holden, his eyes pleading, "Lawyer Holden, I’ve been a friend of your teacher for many years; you can’t just stand by."

"Then go find my teacher." Justin Holden’s tone was indifferent, "If you come to me, you might need to add a few more charges."

Jean Ellison blinked; he really hadn’t changed at all. He never considered anyone a familiar face around him.

The political official was taken away by the police, and Philip Paxton walked up to Jean Ellison.

He wore a dark gray casual suit, his features rugged. No matter how much he disguised as plainclothes, he still had the aura of a cop.

"Jean, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

He didn’t know why Jean Ellison was at the Celestial Spire, but he was sure she wasn’t someone who would degrade herself. He completely trusted her.

Jean Ellison shook her head and asked, "Did you see my colleague? He’s supposed to be outside keeping watch; I came in for an undercover report."

She hadn’t heard anything in her earpiece, making her a bit worried.

Justin Holden’s eyes through the glasses fell on Jean Ellison’s profile, showing a hint of resentment and jealousy.

What was this about?

She pretended to sell wine in front of him, couldn’t reveal the secret work, but spoke casually with Philip Paxton.

The rule of not disturbing her private life seemed to be directed solely at him.

Philip Paxton continued to inquire, "What does your colleague look like? There were hundreds of people downstairs, and many have been taken to the police station."

Jean Ellison didn’t know how to describe him; she gestured with her hand, "About this tall, with a tattoo on his right arm, he looks intimidating but has a good personality."

Her description was too vague, Philip Paxton was about to shake his head.

"Looks like Goliath Lewis, stubbled face, dresses sloppily, might be holding a camera."

Justin Holden’s voice was cold and sharp.

Jean Ellison frowned; in his eyes, was Vic like that?

Not resembling Goliath Lewis, just a bit sturdy with a six-foot-three height and a two-hundred-pound build.

As for dressing sloppily?

Does he even know what West Coast style is? Sagging pants and layered hoodies are Vic’s style.

Jean Ellison felt he was misleading, just about to speak.

Philip Paxton remembered, "Is he your colleague? He should have been taken to the police station too. We ran into him downstairs; he was disguised as a woman, acting furtively, pretending terribly. He was caught as a vagrant."

"Seeing the police coming, he must be worried about me, trying to change clothes and come upstairs to find me."

Jean Ellison pressed her lips, feeling a bit guilty.

She was so focused on tracking the news that she forgot to assure Vic of her safety.

"Don’t worry, it’s just a simple questioning. He’ll be released soon."

Philip Paxton reassured her, just reaching to touch her shoulder, when a large hand blocked him.

"Officer, this is my clothing, and I’m a bit particular about cleanliness."

Justin Holden stopped him from touching the suit jacket on Jean Ellison, his hand paused in mid-air, then retracted.

Philip Paxton’s face was darkening, with only a sports top, he couldn’t take it off to lend to Jean.

After a long pause, "I’ll take you home."

Jean Ellison was about to follow him out when Justin Holden stepped forward, reaching to grab her wrist.

"I should take her home; perhaps Reporter Ellison has a new case she needs my help with."

As soon as Philip Paxton entered, he noticed the fallen waitress’s shirt in the corner of the box.

Seeing the large suit draped over Jean Ellison, he guessed what had happened moments ago.

He was naturally going to get to the bottom of this in the interrogation room.

Justin Holden mentioning a case gave Jean Ellison some concern, causing her to pause.

She noticed the policeman at the door had been standing there for a long time, seemingly wanting to say something to Philip Paxton.

"You go handle work first. I’m really fine."

"I even hit someone..."

She wanted to say she had hit and kicked the man but thought that Justin Holden, being always rigidly persistent, wouldn’t take it well.

"Anyway, rest assured."

She managed a slight smile, comforting Philip Paxton, saying she was just a little shaken, needing some rest.

"Okay, I’ll listen to you."

Philip Paxton’s gaze over her was full of fondness, at least it seemed so to Justin Holden.

This hypocrite was even more troublesome than the pretty boy before, seeming to have known Jean Ellison for quite a while now.

"Lawyer Holden, I’m counting on you."

Jean Ellison deliberately kept a distance; she was still wearing his suit, and it would be easily misunderstood if she wasn’t careful.

After all, he was already married.

Jean Ellison subconsciously glanced at his left hand, the fingers long and jade-like, nails neatly trimmed, the nail beds smooth and even.

Why no ring... Perhaps it’s because it’s too precious and left at home.