Chapter 262: Yvonne, You Will Always Be Innocent

Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Yvonne, You Will Always Be Innocent

"Consultant Jennings, I was waiting for you," Roxanne Sullivan said, a bit reserved.

Renee Jennings smiled. "Waiting for me? Do you need something?"

"I wanted to thank you again," Roxanne Sullivan said, pulling a black plastic bag from her canvas tote. "This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Renee Jennings saw that the plastic bag in her hands was about as thick as a brick and guessed it was probably full of money. She quickly waved her hands. "You don’t have to be so formal. I just happened to stumble upon it. I’d do the same for anyone."

"You have to accept it." Roxanne Sullivan pressed the black plastic bag into her hands. "You saved my life. I’m truly grateful!"

A look of resignation flashed across Renee Jennings’s fair face. "How about this? Why don’t we agree that you’ll donate a portion of it to help stray animals? It was actually the animals that helped you this time."

It was Inky and its friends who had discovered the situation.

"Then could you accept this, and I’ll donate a separate sum of money to help stray animals?" Roxanne Sullivan asked.

Renee Jennings shook her head, her tone growing serious. "I work for the police department. It’s my duty to serve the people."

"W-Well, alright then." Roxanne Sullivan finally relented.

"Go home and get some rest." Renee Jennings raised a hand and gently patted her on the shoulder. "And in the future, don’t be so quick to trust strangers."

Roxanne Sullivan nodded emphatically. "I understand, Consultant Jennings!"

Renee Jennings smiled as she watched her leave. When she turned back, Sawyer and the others were also coming out. "Is the interrogation over?"

"Pretty much," Zachary Conway said, giving her a thumbs-up. "You’re amazing, Renee."

"Yeah," said Levi Hollis. "I heard another victim reported it to the police before, but unfortunately, there was no evidence or any leads at the time, so they had no choice but to close the case."

Sawyer slung an arm around Renee Jennings’s shoulder and grinned. "Well, it’s all good now. We caught the culprit, and it’s all thanks to Renee."

"In that case, I’ll treat you all to lunch," Renee Jennings said, raising an eyebrow slightly. "What are you in the mood for?"

**

A pianist in a black tuxedo sat before the piano, the melodious and soothing tune from his fingertips filling every corner of the restaurant.

"Yvonne, did something good happen today?" Rhona Sinclair asked, gently swirling the red wine in her glass.

Yvonne Morgan raised her glass to clink it against hers and beamed. "Nothing special, I’m just in a really good mood."

Last night, she had learned from Aria Sinclair that Renee Jennings’s family had been in a car accident. She was overjoyed; it was as if even the heavens were helping her.

Rhona Sinclair smiled and said, "Well, I’m glad you’re in a good mood."

After a moment, Rhona Sinclair asked again, "By the way, Yvonne, what’s the latest on that business with Renee Jennings?"

"I don’t know either." Yvonne Morgan shook her head. "I’ve made my peace with it now. It’s just my fate, I suppose. I’m already content with having grown up in the Morgan family for the past twenty-plus years and getting to know a good friend like you."

Hearing this, a look of heartfelt sympathy entered Rhona Sinclair’s eyes. "Yvonne, no matter what, you’ll always be my best friend."

"Rhonda," Yvonne Morgan said, rising to her feet. She walked over to her friend and gave her a gentle hug. "Thank you. I’m so glad to have you."

After dinner, Rhona Sinclair took her hand. "Yvonne, do you want to stay over at my place tonight? We haven’t had a sleepover in ages."

"Can we do it another time?" Yvonne Morgan gave a soft smile. "I have plans with my aunt."

Rhona Sinclair nodded. "Alright, but you have to promise you’ll come over next time."

"Of course." Yvonne Morgan put on a playful pout. "Even if you told me not to come, I’d still pester you until you let me!"

After they parted ways, Yvonne Morgan hailed a taxi and gave the driver an address.

Half an hour later, she arrived at Zoe Morgan’s home and gently pressed the doorbell.

"Yvonne," Zoe Morgan said as she opened the door, taking her hand with a warm smile. "I already registered your fingerprint. Why did you ring the doorbell?"

Yvonne Morgan cooed, "But I’m a guest, Auntie."

"You silly girl," Zoe Morgan chided. "Your aunt doesn’t like hearing you talk like such a stranger. Don’t do it again."

Yvonne Morgan stuck out her tongue playfully. "I know."

"I made your favorite cola chicken wings," Zoe Morgan said, pulling her inside and getting a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet for her.

"Thank you, Auntie." Yvonne Morgan hugged her affectionately. "I love you the most, Auntie."

Zoe Morgan was all smiles, feigning exasperation. "Oh, you. You’re such a sweet-talker, always getting your aunt all flustered."

"I’m telling the truth, I’m not just trying to flatter you," Yvonne Morgan said with a serious expression, even raising three fingers. "If you don’t believe me, Auntie, I can swear an oath."

"I believe you, you don’t have to swear." Zoe Morgan walked to the kitchen, brought the cola chicken wings to the coffee table in the living room, and handed her a pair of chopsticks. "Eat up while it’s hot."

Yvonne Morgan took the chopsticks, picked up a chicken wing, and put it down after just one bite.

Seeing this, Zoe Morgan frowned slightly. "What’s wrong? Is it not good?"

"It’s delicious," Yvonne Morgan said quickly. "I’m just not in a good mood today, so I don’t have much of an appetite."

"Are you feeling sick?" Zoe Morgan asked, her expression growing tense.

Yvonne Morgan’s eyes were already brimming with tears. "I’m fine, Auntie, but I heard from Mom that Renee... she..."

"Renee Jennings?" Zoe Morgan frowned. "Did she bully you?"

"No." Yvonne Morgan shook her head, her voice catching. "I heard Mom say that Renee... she passed away in an accident."

"What?" Zoe Morgan’s eyes flickered, a look of shock spreading across her face. "H-How is that possible?"

Yvonne Morgan didn’t say anything, just covered her face and began to cry softly. "Auntie, seeing Mom so upset makes me so sad, too."

It took Zoe Morgan a long moment to come to her senses. Her eyes gradually grew moist, their rims turning red.

’She’s really gone...’

Yvonne Morgan secretly watched this unfold, a flash of annoyance and displeasure flickering in her eyes.

’All these people kept saying they would never accept Renee Jennings, but now that they’ve heard she’s dead, every last one of them is acting so heartbroken.’

"Auntie," Yvonne Morgan said as she pulled out a tissue to wipe away the other woman’s tears, her voice full of self-reproach. "It’s all my fault. Because of me, the Morgan family never brought Renee back... If they had brought her back sooner, maybe she wouldn’t have gotten into that car accident..."

"Silly Yvonne," Zoe Morgan said, hugging her, her voice filled with sorrow. "It’s not your fault. It’s your aunt’s fault."

Yvonne Morgan furrowed her brow and asked in confusion, "Auntie, how could it be your fault?"

Zoe Morgan’s eyelashes trembled as she gently shook her head. "Yvonne, don’t let your imagination run wild. You just need to know that you’re innocent. Yvonne, you’ll always be innocent."

"I understand." Yvonne Morgan nodded obediently. "I’ll listen to you, Auntie."

「Meanwhile, at a luxurious club in Zenvia.」

Vincent Morgan had come here to drink for two nights in a row, downing glass after glass until he was dead drunk before he was willing to leave.

"Is that... Vincent?" Sylvia Brooks happened to be passing by the door of a private room and glanced inside through the crack.

The club’s owner, Ian Lockwood, who was friends with both of them, said with a sigh, "Yeah. I don’t know what’s gotten into him the last couple of days, but he’s been drinking like a madman. Why don’t you... go in and try to talk some sense into him?"