Chapter 113
“Y-You’re here,” Rosalie said dryly, shifting slightly to let Jonathan in.
“Did you wait for a long time, Rosie?” Jonathan smiled and walked to the table. He noticed the scattered copies of case files on the table that Rosalie hadn’t had a chance to organize yet.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly as he picked up a few pages and glanced at them. “What’s the matter? Are you looking at the case again?”
Rosalie’s body stiffened slightly. She had mentioned this case to Jonathan before, but she didn’t know his true identity at that time. Now that she knew it, discussing this case brought about an inexplicable sense of embarrassment and unease.
After all, even though she might believe she was innocent, the car accident had undeniably occurred, and the person who died in that accident was his fiancée!
Seeing that she didn’t answer him, he looked up at her and asked. “What’s wrong. Rosie?”
“Just looking over it casually, she answered and gulped.
“By the way, you’ve always claimed that you were wrongfully accused. Looking at these documents, are you trying to clear your name?” He was chatting casually, but a deep gaze flickered through his eyes.
Rosalie bit her lips. Of course, she wanted to clear her name. However, the witnesses from back then were impossible to find now, and the physical evidence seemed irrefutable.
During her three years in prison, Lillian had spent a lot of money, time, and effort trying to clear her name, but to no avail. Now, out of prison, she barely had any money. She even needed to ask her friend to borrow a few thousand dollars for medical expenses that she couldn’t afford.
Having been a lawyer, she knew well how expensive it could be to clear her name. Reopening the case, hiring lawyers, and conducting new investigations required substantial funds.
Without concrete and compelling new evidence, the police wouldn’t allocate resources to reinvestigate. Everything would have to be done on her own, but she simply didn’t have the financial means to do so.
Suddenly, she stared straight at him. “What about you? Don’t you want to find out the truth? Why did your fiancée drive toward me? Was there anything hidden? Don’t you want to know why the woman you loved would do such a thing?”
He suddenly chuckled. “The woman I loved, huh?” The slight rise in his tone made it sound like he had heard a joke.
fiancée. Wasn’t she the woman you loved?” His reaction puzzled her.
“Melanie was your
He set down the papers in his hand and walked leisurely over to her, looking down at her. “Rosie, you’re half wrong in that statement. Melanie was indeed my fiancée, but she was not the woman I love.”
She was taken aback, and his voice continued in her ears. “Haven’t you ever heard of the marriage of convenience?”
Her eyes widened suddenly. Of course, she was well aware of marriage of convenience. However, she never thought someone like Jonathan would need such a thing.
After all, with the power of the Youngblood family, Jonathan practically ruled Strico. Even if he did ally with the Hamilton family, at most, it would be a beneficial addition rather than a necessity.
Besides, it wasn’t just her who thought so. Many others probably did as well.
Discussions about Jonathan online often highlighted his deep affection for Melanie, leading people to believe he must have loved her.
That was why he got engaged to Melanie at the young age of 24, remained single, and did not have any dating rumors even after her death.
“But… you were considering a marriage of convenience? You were merely 24 years old back then,” she asked hesitantly. “Why not?” he countered. “Since I have to marry a woman in my lifetime, what difference does it make, whether sooner or later? Melanie was quiet and obedient enough. The marriage of convenience to the Hamilton family could benefit the Youngblood family’s shipping business. Why not take advantage of it?”
His words were entirely business-like, and Rosalie couldn’t help but feel a subtle sense of shock.
This man seemed to be devoid of any romantic sentiment, treating marriage much like a business transaction.
What was truly important to a person like him?
“But now, I do think it wouldn’t be bad to marry a woman I find interesting.” With that, he stared at her with a burning gaze. and a hint of a smile played at the corner of his lips.
hidden as if he was alluding to something
meanin
Rosalie looked away uncomfortably. His words seemed to carry som She told herself not to overthink it. They were from two completely different worlds, never meant to be on the same path.
After all, once she handed him the gloves, there probably wouldn’t be any more intersections between them.
“Well, I’ll give you your gloves now,” she said hurriedly, attempting to bypass him and retrieve the gloves.
“No need to hurry.” He grabbed her arm and slowly bent down, meeting her gaze at eye level. “You haven’t answered my previous question. Do you want to clear your name?”
Of course, she wanted to. How could she not? Not clearing her name would mean carrying the burden of that accusation for the rest of her life, unable to hold her head up high.
“What difference does it make if I want to?” she countered.
“If you truly want to clear your name, I could help you,” he offered.
She was taken aback. “Do you believe that I wasn’t drunk driving back then?”
“Whether you were drunk driving or not doesn’t matter to me,” he murmured. “It’s just about clearing your charge of drunk driving. If you’re willing to pursue this, I can find the best lawyer, search for loopholes in the case, and possibly get your conviction overturned.”
The glimmer of hope in her eyes was replaced by a tinge of melancholy. She understood his point, following the principle of innocent until proven guilty. If they could find any doubt or inconsistencies in the case, she might have a chance for
vindication.
However, this didn’t necessarily mean that she would be proven completely innocent.
The process of exonerating a suspect would often lead to controversies about their innocence.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like the idea?” He naturally noticed the change in her expression.
“I want to uncover the truth of what actually happened in that accident. Why did all the witnesses back then testify that I was drunk driving? What’s the story behind the physical evidence? And why did the blood test conducted by the police show that I was indeed above the legal limit for alcohol.”
These series of questions had been her lingering doubts over the years.
Without clarifying these matters, the accusation would always fall on her. Even if she were acquitted due to lack of evidence, in the eyes of others, she would still be a criminal.
Jonathan’s expression gradually darkened, and there seemed to be a touch of coldness in his deep black eyes. “Once we clear your name, is the so-called truth behind certain matters really that important?”
