One Sleazy Word from the Green Tea, and I Dialled 911 Chapter 2

In the mediation room at the police station, Patrick's mother, Miranda Elkin, was pointing a finger at my nose, screaming. "Eleanor Vance! Did all that reading rot your brain? Huh?"

"You're not even married yet and you're sending your own man to jail?"

"How do you expect the Elkin family to show its face in public?"

Patrick sat in a chair, his handcuffs removed. He had one leg crossed over the other, a look of profound boredom on his face.

Jessica was curled up in Miranda's arms, sobbing.

"Aunt Miranda, it's all my fault."

"I shouldn't have made that joke."

"Eleanor took it seriously. I don't blame her."

"She was just trying to uphold justice..."

"You hear that?" Miranda looked at Jessica with pride. "Listen to how sensible Jessica is! And then look at you!"

"You're a block of wood! Not an ounce of humanity in you!"

I took out a tissue and wiped the spittle from my face. "Mrs. Elkin, public humiliation is also against the law."

Miranda was so enraged she raised her hand to strike me.

The officer rapped his knuckles on the table. "Hey! This is a police station! Sit down!"

Miranda sat down, seething.

The officer reviewed the report. "After a preliminary investigation, we found no signs of assault on Ms. Jessica. It appears this was indeed a joke."

He glanced at me. "The reporting party was acting out of civic duty."

"Since it's a misunderstanding, just sign the papers, and we'll mediate this."

Patrick snorted. "Mediate? Not a chance."

He stood up and walked over to me. "Eleanor, all my friends were there today. I've been completely humiliated."

"You want me to forgive you? Fine." He pointed to Jessica's feet. "Jessica had to run all over to the hospital in these heels. Her feet are blistered."

"You, right now, get on your knees!"

"Lick her shoes clean!"

"And then say, 'I was wrong, sis.'"

"Do that, and I'll pretend this never happened."

Jessica waved her hands in a show of protest. "Oh no... Eleanor, you're a lady from a good family, this would dirty your hands..."

But her foot, clad in a diamond-studded stiletto, inched forward.

Miranda chimed in from the side. "It's what she deserves! If you do something wrong, you get punished."

"You still think you're some high-society princess? Keep being stubborn, and I'll make sure your father's company goes bankrupt by tomorrow!"

"Jessica is your little sister. What's wrong with serving her a little?"

I looked at Patrick. "Are you sure?"

He tilted his chin up. "Of course. You won't do it? Then the engagement is off!"

"Your family's finances are a little tight right now, aren't they?"

"Without my family's investment, your father will be jumping off a building!"

I had tolerated him for the sake of our families' business alliance, but I would not tolerate this.

I took out my phone.

And opened the camera.

"Here," I said. "Repeat your demands."

Patrick slapped the phone out of my hand. It hit the floor with a crack. The screen shattered.

"You dare record me? You pathetic waste of space, you can only live inside your little rulebook."

"Do you really think I wouldn't kill you right now?"

He grabbed my collar and shoved me against the wall. His fist was raised.

The officers immediately rushed over to restrain him. "What do you think you're doing? Trying to assault an officer now?"

I leaned against the wall and straightened my rumpled collar, then glanced at my shattered phone on the floor.

"Destruction of private property, value exceeding five thousand dollars, a significant amount."

"Attempted assault."

"Patrick, your criminal record is about to get a little thicker."

Patrick kicked a chair over. "Fine! Fine! You want to talk law with me? Let's talk law!"

He pointed at Jessica. "Jessica, call our lawyer."

"Sue her! Sue her for defamation! For slander!"

"We'll demand one million dollars in emotional damages! Not a penny less!"

Jessica wiped her tears away, a triumphant smirk appearing on her face. "Brother, do we really have to do this?"

"Eleanor didn't mean any harm..."

"Call him! Call him now!"

Miranda also stood up, glaring at me. "Eleanor Vance, you brought this on yourself."

"The engagement is off! We're calling it off tomorrow!"

"Let's see how you explain this to your father!"

With that, the three of them turned and stormed out.

I knelt and picked up the broken phone. I removed the SIM card.

A small smile played on my lips.

Cloud backup complete. Recording uploaded.

Call off the engagement? That suits me just fine.

But before that, I was going to teach them what the law really means.