Chapter 433: Creating an Opportunity to Meet

Chapter 433: Chapter 433: Creating an Opportunity to Meet

Sawyer quickly pulled her away. "Penny Thorne, did you use to date Sean Quinn?"

"He’s too terrifying." Penny Thorne repeated the words manically. "He’s a demon. No, he’s worse than a demon."

Renee Jennings rinsed the saliva from her arm with rainwater, her tone indifferent. "Sean Quinn used to love you very much, didn’t he?"

Penny Thorne’s expression grew vacant. "Did he love me?"

She could barely remember that Sean Quinn had ever loved her.

The past flashed before her eyes, frame by frame, like a movie.

Tears welled up in Penny Thorne’s eyes as she choked out, "Yes, Sean Quinn used to love me so much. But later... he hated me. He hated me so, so much."

Renee Jennings followed her lead. "Can you tell me why?"

"Because I did something wrong." Penny Thorne began to cry helplessly. "I made a mistake, and Sean Quinn got angry. He was furious."

Sawyer asked, "What did you do wrong?"

"I..." Penny Thorne trembled. "It was just an accident."

Renee Jennings’s eyes narrowed slightly. "An accident where you did what?"

"I... his..." Penny Thorne covered her mouth and whispered, "I... ran over... his wife and child."

Renee Jennings frowned slightly. ’It seems what Sean Quinn said was most likely true.’ "Are you willing to come with us to the police station and give a statement?"

"The police station?" Penny Thorne thought for a moment, then said excitedly, "Okay, I’ll go with you to the police station. I killed Sean Quinn’s wife and child. You can arrest me."

She wanted to go to prison.

Going to prison was better than living this inhuman existence.

**

In the interrogation room, Penny Thorne recounted her past with Sean Quinn and confessed to the crime of intentionally hitting his wife and child with her car.

The details of her confession matched what Sean Quinn had said perfectly.

Furthermore, Penny Thorne added that she hadn’t been forced into marriage by her aunt back then. She had simply thought that Sean Quinn’s family was rich, and that if she could live with the Quinn Family, her life would definitely be better than it was at her aunt’s house.

Sawyer stared at her in disbelief. "You were just a kid back then, and you were already thinking like that..."

"Life forced my hand." At that moment, Penny Thorne was remarkably calm, appearing like a completely sane person.

As Renee Jennings and Sawyer left the interrogation room, they both felt a little heavy-hearted.

Both Penny Thorne and Sean Quinn had made mistakes.

Life is truly like a game of chess. One wrong move, and every subsequent move is wrong.

With that, Sean Quinn’s case was concluded for the time being.

Renee Jennings left the police station and drove to the wildlife conservation center to check on King’s little brother.

Owen Dunn told her that once King’s little brother recovered from his injuries, he would have a chance to fly again, but it would take time.

Renee Jennings breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as there’s hope."

Sometimes, animals are just like people; they can’t accept becoming disabled.

Renee Jennings smiled. "Dr. Dunn, thank you for all your trouble this time. I’ll treat you to a meal some other day to thank you."

"Some other day?" A gentle smile appeared on Owen Dunn’s face. "Is Miss Jennings busy today?"

Renee Jennings blinked, immediately understanding what he meant. "I have time today. Is that convenient for you, Dr. Dunn?"

"It is." Owen Dunn nodded. "I can get off work right now."

Actually, it was his day off; he didn’t have to come to the center at all. He had only come in because he heard Renee Jennings was stopping by to see King’s little brother.

"Okay." Renee Jennings asked, "What would you like to eat, Dr. Dunn? Do you have any dietary restrictions?"

"No restrictions." Owen Dunn smiled. "I’m not a picky eater. Whatever Miss Jennings likes is fine."

Renee Jennings couldn’t think of many options off the top of her head. "Is hot pot or barbecue okay?"

"That’s fine."

"Then I’ll send you the restaurant’s location. We can meet there?"

Owen Dunn hesitated. "If it’s convenient for Miss Jennings, could you possibly give me a ride?"

Renee Jennings let out a blank "Huh?"

Owen Dunn looked embarrassed. "My car is getting serviced; it’s still at the dealership. I took a taxi to the center."

"Oh, I see." Renee Jennings nodded. "Then you can ride with me, Dr. Dunn."

"Thank you." Owen Dunn looked grateful.

As dusk fell, the car sped down the highway. The cabin was quiet. Renee Jennings gripped the steering wheel, her expression completely focused.

She was worried he might try to strike up a conversation.

Owen Dunn tilted his head, watching her reflection in the glass of the window, a smile playing on his lips.

He didn’t say a word to Renee Jennings the entire way, worried about distracting her from driving and worried about annoying her.

It wasn’t until the car stopped that Owen Dunn finally spoke, offering a compliment, "Not many women can drive so steadily."

"Is that so?" Renee Jennings was a little pleased. "It’s probably because I was concentrating so hard."

She had asked Michelle Fuller to make a reservation, so they didn’t have to wait when they got to the restaurant.

"A friend of mine highly recommended this restaurant," Renee Jennings explained after they were seated. "You can get barbecue and hot pot here."

"Perfect," Owen Dunn said with a smile.

Renee Jennings handed him the menu. "Dr. Dunn, take a look and see what you’d like to eat."

"Okay." Owen Dunn took the menu.

After he finished ordering, Renee Jennings noticed he had also chosen a dessert and raised an eyebrow. "You like cake?"

Owen Dunn smiled back. "I ordered it for you."

Renee Jennings froze for a couple of seconds before saying, "Thank you. Aren’t you having any?"

"Then I’ll have to trouble Miss Jennings to pick one out for me."

"Okay."

After Renee Jennings finished and placed the order, she took a few sips of tea and forced herself to start a conversation. "Dr. Dunn, are you usually busy with work?"

"It depends." Owen Dunn also took a few sips of tea. "I’m busy most of the time, but I still take days off. After all, a person needs to relax sometimes."

"True." Renee Jennings agreed. "A good work-life balance is important."

Owen Dunn also started a topic. "I sometimes find time to watch your livestreams. The last one was at the zoo, I think."

Renee Jennings: "That’s right, at the Lion Park."

"Thunderbolt and Blaze are very cute."

"They’re total frenemies."

"..."

Once they started talking about animals, they found they had plenty to say.

Renee Jennings asked for advice on some animal health issues, while Owen Dunn expressed his envy of her ability to communicate with animals.

The meal was very pleasant.

When Renee Jennings went to pay the bill, she discovered that Owen Dunn had already paid.

She turned to look at him, frowning slightly. "Dr. Dunn, didn’t I say it was my treat?"

"I’m not in the habit of letting a woman treat me to dinner," Owen Dunn explained. "How about Miss Jennings treats me to a cup of coffee instead?"

Renee Jennings nodded. "Okay. Next time, I’ll have it delivered directly to your center."

That wasn’t what Owen Dunn meant. He was just trying to create an opportunity to see her again.

At the restaurant entrance, Renee Jennings turned her head and asked him, "Dr. Dunn, where do you live? I can give you a ride."

"No need to trouble yourself, Miss Jennings." Owen Dunn smiled. "I can just take a taxi home."

"It’s no trouble." Renee Jennings waved her hand dismissively. "It’s just a step on the gas."

Owen Dunn said, "Where I live isn’t far from here. I might just walk home to help with digestion."

Hearing this, Renee Jennings nodded with a wide smile. "A walk after dinner makes you live to ninety-nine. In that case, Dr. Dunn, I’ll be going. Goodbye."