CHAPTER 557: CHAPTER 545

"You... you even went to him?"

"Yeah, I sneaked out to Daddy’s company to see him when Uncle was busy the other day, but he seemed to not know me."

When Adie reached the point, he appeared very composed.

It was because the most difficult time was over. He was no longer sad but a little regretful now.

"Oh, my dear Adie. You’ve suffered so much!"

Joanna’s eyes became scarlet before she pulled Adie into her arms, sobbing. "It’s my fault. I thought you and Abby were very strong and sensible, and I ignored your feelings. Let me say sorry to you. I promise that I’ll never leave you guys again. Never!"

When she thought of how Adie went to Ace pitifully, yet Ace ignored him, a pang of grief grabbed her heart.

Adie would feel that he was abandoned by the whole world when his mother went missing, and his father ignored him.

"But what about Daddy’s brother? Nancy told me that you need to take care of that person. So, you’ll leave one day, won’t you?"

Holding Joanna’s hand, Adie tried to sound her out carefully.

"I’ll think of something. I’ll bring you guys with me no matter where I go. I’ll never leave you guys again."

Joanna held Adie tightly and promised him while sobbing.

"Mommy, I trust you. You love Abby and me the most. You won’t leave us, but Daddy... I think he’s forgotten about Abby and me."

Adie sounded a little sad. "If you can be with Daddy and if we can go back to live on Sun Island again, it’ll be wonderful."

"Just forget about him as if... you’d never had him by your side."

Joanna closed her eyes and let her tears fall. It seemed that she was trying to console herself and Adie.

"Okay."

Adie nodded obediently.

Finally, his rancor was resolved. Joanna’s words gave him a great sense of security.

This sense of security could help eliminate his remorse for not having his father by his side.

They then returned to Carmine Pawnshop hand in hand.

After having a simple dinner, Joanna started to get busy.

She had lost touch with her brother, and Clara was imprisoned. At the same time, Jovan was missing... There were so many issues that she could not rest even for a while.

Based on the difficulty levels of the issues, she decided to help get Clara out of the police station first.

"Miss Joan, you’re just back. Why don’t you rest for a night first before you go there?"

When Nancy noticed that Joanna was about to go out, she felt very sorry for Joanna.

"How can I rest comfortably when Clara is suffering in the cold prison?"

"Yes... you’re right."

Nancy heaved a long sigh. "Miss Clara fell out with her family just to help you. So, you’re the only one who can help her now."

"Don’t worry. It’s just a small affair. I own the most awesome legal team in the City."

While smiling, she consoled Nancy. After that, she went straight to the prison where Clara was without any delay even though night had fallen.

Joanna went to the prison where Clara was and went straight to the point in front of the person in charge. "I want to bail Clara out. How much is it? Just name the price."

The person in charge was an old leader of nearly fifty years old. He had plenty of experience in handling cases, so he had had contact with all kinds of people. Of course, it was not the first time that he had met someone rich and imposing like Joanna.

He buried his head to handle the cases without even glancing at Joanna. He said calmly, "This suspect’s case is a bit special, so she doesn’t have the right to be bailed to wait for the trial. You may go back now."

"Did she murder someone or set a place on fire? Why isn’t she qualified for bail? If my information is right, she did it as a form of self-defense. She resisted the person who caused trouble. Of course, it should be considered proper self-defense. Why is it regarded as a criminal offense?"

Agitated, Joanna argued with the old leader.

"Self-defense?"

Finally, the old leader looked up and shot her a sharp glare. He then suddenly said, "Your information is outdated. The victim died at nine this morning since they failed to save him. Based on the surveillance video, the suspect carelessly killed a person. It wasn’t in self-defense, and she committed manslaughter. You won’t be able to take her away, no matter how ridiculous a sum you offer."

"Man... Manslaughter?"

Joanna was struck dumb on the spot. She never expected that it was so serious.

If someone was killed and if it was labeled a criminal case, there was no way Clara would be granted bail.

"Yeah, she’ll be locked up for three to five years for manslaughter unless she manages to gain the forgiveness of the victim’s family. What a pity!"

The old leader shook his head and sighed with feelings. "I think people like you should stop wasting your effort. Their only son has been killed. Of course, she will never be forgiven."

"People like you?"

Joanna immediately asked, "So, did anyone else come to bail my friend out?"

"Yes, he’s also rich and more relentless than you. He tried to intimidate and bribe me. So, I drove him away."

The old leader recalled that person because he had a deep impression of that person. "He’s indeed a loyal and passionate man."

Joanna could not be bothered to dwell on that. She inquired, "Can I see my friend?"

The leader glanced at the clock on the wall before he raised his brows. "Well, it’s usually prohibited, but I’ll make an exception since you’re so anxious. Thirty minutes will be all you have."

"Thank you."

Joanna gave him a firm bow before she went to Clara’s cell under the supervision of the guard.

It was a cell for six, where six women of all ages slept in bunks and did all their business in the same place. The atmosphere in the cramped cell was nothing less than deplorable, where concepts of privacy and decency were virtually non-existent.

Clara’s hair was let loose as she sat in a corner alone with a numb expression.

"Hey, didn’t you hear me? Come and massage my legs!"

A sturdy woman shouted at Joanna.

She was the leader in that cell. Being the leader of a female gang, she was tied to a few murders and had only been apprehended recently.

The female inmates in the cell were all utterly terrified of her, and they obeyed her blindly. However, the newcomer, Clara, refused to submit to her. Hence, Clara was always being picked on.

When the tenacious woman found Clara ignoring her, she got up and walked to her. The thug then grabbed Clara’s hair and roared, "You’re playing dumb, aren’t you?! I fucking asked you to come and massage my legs!"

"Don’t touch me!"

Clara was not someone to be trifled with. She turned her hand and slapped the tough woman.

"Motherf*cker! You’re courting death!"

Blinded by fury, the valiant woman summoned the rest of the female criminals. "Give that insufferable b*tch a proper lesson!"

They rushed to Clara and hit her. Clara, unable to resist them alone, got her eyes and lips smashed in.

"What are you doing? Behave yourself!"

When the prison guard heard the commotion, he quickly rebuked them, and the group dispersed.

"Twenty-nine, are you okay?"