Chapter 63 You’ve Already
Sided With Doris
Brian noticed the scars marring Doris’s face.
The blood, still fresh, traced startling and unsettling paths down her face.
“What’s going on here? Who’s responsible for this?”
Only a short while earlier, Doris’s constant crying had irritated him. Yet, the sight of her injuries now made him deeply worried.
Having realized her tears were perhaps too much, Doris collected herself.
She relayed to Brian the exact story she had shared with Carol just moments before.
“That simply can’t be true,” Rachel responded firmly, her tone unwavering.
Jeffrey had been her constant companion for years. She believed she knew him better
than anyone else.
In her eyes, her brother could never act as Doris claimed.
This time around, Doris seemed more composed. She closed the gap to Jeffrey, her tone steady. “Given that your sister supports you, I have another question for you. Did you approach me on your own?”
Confronted with her intense stare, Jeffrey backed away, hiding slightly behind Rachel.
“You’re frightening him,” Rachel said, stepping between them.
Doris was not ready to drop the matter. “I’ll ask one more time. Did you approach me on your own? I want the truth, straight from the heart!”
Her stare was sharp and overwhelmingly forceful, relentlessly drilling the same question into Jeffrey, leaving him noticeably rattled.
Jeffrey, naturally shy, found his defenses disintegrating in the face of such intensity.
Overwhelmed, he finally gave a hesitant nod, his voice trembling. “Yes, I did that!”
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Chapter 63 You’ve Already Sided With Doris
With Jeffrey’s confession, Doris appeared content.
She stepped back and faced Rachel, her head held high. “There, you’ve heard it yourself. What more do you need to hear?”
Rachel’s laughter was chilling, tinged with sarcasm. “Seems like you’re set on framing him for a crime, aren’t you? But let’s say Jeffrey approached you–so what? It was just coincidence. He needed help and you happened to be there. He might think you are a kind soul and asked you for help. It seems he was utterly wrong about it.” Her tone was biting, getting straight to the point.
Doris stood there, her cheeks burning with indignation, her emotions a whirlwind of anger and frustration.
Yet, she quickly redirected her attention.
Turning to Brian, Doris continued, her voice heavy with emotion, “Brian, aside from my initial claims, there’s more. I was physically assaulted. He attempted to drag me to the restroom, and these wounds on my face stand as undeniable proof. Brian, he lashed out when I fought back. He grabbed my hair, clawed at my face, and even raised his hand to strike me. Had I not screamed, my face might have been permanently disfigured.” Her voice quivered with each word, laden with distress.
The blood still visible on her face made her words more believable.
Rachel, however, was unconvinced and shook her head in disbelief.
Though she saw the injuries on Doris’s face, she couldn’t understand where they had
come from.
Yet she was sure of one thing–Jeffrey was not capable of such violence. The idea was absolutely ridiculous.
Jeffrey had always been exceedingly timid.
Strangers frightened him; he rarely managed to speak a word around them.
Throughout his time in hospital care, it had taken him weeks to even start speaking
with the medical staff.
Could he even bring himself to hurt anyone? Impossible. He wouldn’t even hurt the smallest creature, be it an ant. How could anyone imagine him harming Doris?
Rachel was adamant–such a thing was unthinkable.
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Chapter 63 You’ve Already Sided With Doris
“Jeffrey, speak up!” Brian suddenly directed his focus toward Jeffrey.
At the sound of his name, Jeffrey cowered even more, retreating behind Rachel, too.
scared to even peek out.
“Brian, Jeffrey’s condition is well known to you. If you have any questions, come to me,” said Rachel, cutting in.
“You suggest I ask you?” Brian’s gaze was piercing as he looked at her. “You weren’t even present. How can you claim to know more than Jeffrey? We’ve already heard from Doris. Now, it’s his turn.” Brian’s voice carried a commanding tone that brooked no argument. “Jeffrey, we need to hear from you!”
Jeffrey shook his head fiercely, clearly terrified.
Yet Brian was unyielding.
“Jeffrey, only by speaking can we uncover the truth.” His insistence backed Jeffrey
further into a corner.
“That’s enough!” Overwhelmed, Rachel finally erupted.
“Rachel,” said Brian, massaging his temples and softening his voice. “You might shield him today, but how long can you protect him? He has hurt Doris today. What happens when he offends someone else? Are you ready to deal with those repercussions? If he has erred, he needs to own up to it and accept the consequences.” The weight of Brian’s words was undeniable, each one hammering down on her.
Rachel paused, wondering if she had misunderstood. Yet it was clear, his words had
been unmistakable.
“Consequences?” A cold laugh escaped Rachel, her gaze cold as she fixed it on him. “What exactly do you mean by consequences? Should Doris retaliate physically? Or perhaps you envision your attorney arranging for his imprisonment? Brian, let’s be honest. You’ve already sided with Doris by forcing Jeffrey to testify, effectively judging my brother beforehand. If that’s the case, his words are pointless.”
Could Jeffery’s revelation alter Brian’s perspective?
Unlikely. His allegiance lay firmly with Doris.
“Rachel!” exclaimed Brian, advancing and seizing her wrist. “You’re upset, but please, hear me out!”
“I’m not interested in listening.”
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Chapter 63 You’ve Already Sided With Doris
Despite her anger, Brian attempted to soothe her, drawing her close. “Just take a moment. I understand your trust in Jeffrey. However, you must see that his illness could cause erratic behavior. Should it turn out to be an unintentional act, one beyond his control, I’m confident both Doris and I would absolve him. I assure you, after today, we’ll visit the hospital together to evaluate his mental state.”
Rachel’s anger intensified with each word Brian spoke.
Pushing him back, her voice quivered with anger. “Brian, leave. I can’t stand to look at you right now!”
In her eyes, no one had the right to slander Jeffrey, Brian included. She stood firm in
her defense.
“Jeffrey is fine. It’s Doris who needs help. Maybe a psychologist should be her next appointment.” Clutching Jeffrey’s hand, Rachel turned to exit.
Yet, Brian blocked their path once more.
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