CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: WE’RE ALL SCOUNDRELS

Justin Holden went upstairs, turned the corner on the fifth floor, and saw that Jean Ellison’s door was open.

He quickened his pace, going up, as a little girl holding Jean Ellison’s phone leaned against the door frame. Seeing him return, she wasn’t surprised at all, and waved the phone at him.

She made the call.

Justin Holden frowned, stepping past her, and walked straight into the room.

"Where is Jean Ellison?"

The little girl remained silent, the smile on her face vanished, and her naturally drooping brows as she tossed the phone onto the nearby sofa.

She sat on the sofa, raising her head to look at Justin Holden.

Shouldn’t he be concerned about whether she found Claire Caldwell?

Justin Holden’s gaze was sharp, staring straight at the little girl’s face. If she dared to do anything outrageous to Jean Ellison, he wouldn’t mind sending her to a juvenile detention center.

Last time on the rooftop, not calling the police was already showing great leniency.

She’s still pestering Jean Ellison; what does she want to do?

He took steps towards the little girl, the atmosphere around him turning cold. The little girl, at a loss, ran from the sofa straight to the bathroom.

"Sister Jean, help!"

Jean Ellison, hearing the sound, came out wrapped in a towel, shielding her behind.

"Don’t be afraid, there’s pest control..."

Her voice cut off abruptly; outside, it wasn’t a pest, but clearly a beast instead.

She stood in the hallway, at the end of which was the living room, her view framed between two walls, a narrow rectangle entirely filled by the man’s tall figure.

Justin Holden’s cool gaze scanned her bare feet to her face, flushed from steam, a dark storm brewing in his eyes.

Damp strands of black hair clung to the back of her neck and the side of her face, with droplets trickling down the hair tips.

Her face was bare of any makeup, her skin looked clean and radiant; her features were clear, eyes bright and calm after the mist had dispersed.

Droplets slid from her shoulder, following the clear line of her collarbone, rolling down, disappearing into the deeper recesses of her chest.

The towel was very white; the inside of her thighs even whiter.

Her hand grasped at her side, fingers knuckled with tension.

Her long legs were smoothly slender, water droplets slipping down the skin on the outside of her thighs, her pink toes slightly curled.

"Ah."

She shouted and pulled Sarah Allen back into the bathroom.

Through the semi-transparent glass door, a tall and short figure whispered to each other.

"Why is he outside?"

"I don’t know."

"Liar."

"Okay, fine, it was me who called him."

"Why did you call him, didn’t you promise me..."

"I changed my mind. Who knew he wouldn’t even pick up the phone and just came running up."

A moment later, the two of them came out.

Jean Ellison had changed into conservative long pajamas with long sleeves, the top button undone revealing a slender, fair neck with lingering water droplets.

Her hair loose, with big watery eyes, she looked at Justin Holden.

"The call was accidentally made by mistake; there’s nothing much here, you should go back first."

"It’s so late, sorry for disturbing you, Lawyer Holden."

She was polite, in contrast Sarah Allen was bristled.

"No!"

"Lawyer Holden, I have something to say to you."

Sarah Allen thought for a second, unwilling to deceive Lawyer Holden. It’s a rule of their profession to do the job when paid.

She’s been severely sleep deprived these past few days, carrying a magic artifact, scouring through Kingswell City, and finally returned here.

Claire Caldwell is in this building, to be exact, in this unit.

She’s been staking out the area for days, figuring out who lives in each household. In this vicinity, Jean Ellison was the only young woman.

She’s also about the same age as Claire Caldwell, isn’t that a coincidence?

The muscles at the back of Jean Ellison’s neck suddenly tightened, making her spine straighten stiff and rigid—she could feel a slight sweatiness seeping between her shoulder blades.

Her fingers curled, lightly biting her lower lip, leaving a faint tooth mark on her lips.

She glanced back over her shoulder, wondering if she might pass out now. No matter how bad Justin Holden could be, he wouldn’t stand by and watch her die, surely leaving no time to hear Sarah Allen’s words.

Jean Ellison slowly closed her eyes, giving a feigned swoon, when a deep, familiar male voice reached her in the next second.

"I’m not interested in what you have to say."

"Don’t disturb anyone in the future."

Justin Holden’s pupils focused on Sarah Allen’s face, his lips pressed into a line, speaking even slower and clearer than usual.

His powerful aura spread, and everything around seemed to freeze over.

Sarah Allen opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.

Jean Ellison reopened her eyes, a flicker running through her brow. Her clenched fingers quietly unclenched.

It seems he truly believes Claire Caldwell is dead.

Her heart inexplicably felt as if pricked by needles, so painful that she couldn’t bring herself to be happy.

"Isn’t it about time you returned?"

Jean Ellison hurried to send them off; with Justin Holden here, who knew what Sarah Allen might reveal.

"She should be the one leaving."

Justin Holden glanced at the nearby little girl, noticing she seemed darker and skinnier than the previous days.

Sarah Allen clenched the hem of her clothes, casting a cold, murderous gaze upon his face.

"You’ll regret it, when you come begging me."

Feeling wronged, she ran out carrying her backpack.

Jean Ellison wanted to chase after her. A little girl going out alone at such a late hour wasn’t safe, but her wrist was encircled by a large hand.

With a forceful yank from the big hand, her head spun, pulling her body in a different direction, forehead pressed against a solid chest.

His grip was so strong he practically lifted her with one hand; she struggled but couldn’t escape, looked up at him.

"You’re too cold-blooded."

"I’m cold-blooded? If I were cold-blooded, I wouldn’t have come upstairs to check if you’re dead or alive."

Justin Holden effortlessly pulled her closer, her chest pressing against his lower chest.

The moment her two soft mounds brushed against him, his throat bobbed, and the darkness in his eyes deepened.

"How can a little girl do me any harm?"

Jean Ellison wasn’t scared of his anger; he’d given her the cold shoulder for so many years she’d grown used to it.

She seemed to hear him give a derisive snort.

"You’re like a little chick, anyone could give you trouble."

Almost forgetting, she’s now under ninety pounds, not even five foot three, skinny to the bone.

Though Sarah Allen was younger, she appeared healthier and sturdier.

"You see, you wouldn’t dare to harm me."

Gaze holding steady, her pretty and sincere face reflected in his dark eyes, but her eyes, those were just like Claire Caldwell’s.

His brow furrowed, his gaze upon her darkening, and the knotted Adam’s apple on his long neck bobbed violently, eyes slowly reddening at the corners.

"How can you be so sure I wouldn’t harm you?"

"Jean Ellison, are you unaware of how attractive you are, or how men can be wicked?"

"I’ve warned you, those two people around you, including that guy with the last name Pei, they all have ulterior motives."

Jean Ellison blinked her large eyes, not even flinching, she’s heard this so much it’s become tiresome.

"You’re judging others by your own egotistical standards."

She maintained a proper, serious tone. Justin leaned down, the bridge of his high nose touching hers, closing his eyes as his crow-black lashes fluttered lightly against his eyelids.

"I’m the same as them, a villain all the same."