Chapter 471


    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 tillte


    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 tly 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.


    Theck 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 re while trying to keep my cool.


    “I know what I did will bring you trouble. I have no intention tond 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 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 tillte


    at night.


    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.


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    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 rte 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 rtionship 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 mes 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 rtionship 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 bitterughter 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''te to a decision after two days, then don''t me 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-inw 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.