Chapter 71 Eradicate Future Troubles
Marlon frowned instantly.
Withdrawing from Quinton's trial meant withdrawing from the trial of the former mayor.
But the people backing him had put him in this position precisely to go after the former mayor.
After a moment's hesitation, Marlon said, "No! This matter is too important. It's not something I can just withdraw from on my own."
"Since Mr. Rojas finds it difficult, then I'll have to apply to the government myself to have you removed from the trial."
Marlon's eyelid twitched as he said through gritted teeth, "Don't worry, I'll handle it professionally. I won't let personal matters affect my judgment."
"But I really can't feel at ease about your relationship with Ms. Rojas! I think I should contact your superior right now and explain the whole situation."
With that, he pretended to take out his phone to make the call.
"Wait!"
Marlon panicked.
This matter absolutely could not reach his superior's ears.
Otherwise, he really would lose his position.
Marlon took several deep breaths. After weighing the pros and cons, he finally gave in.
"Fine, I'll withdraw from the trial."
Samuel finally smiled.
What he was waiting for wasn't some flimsy apology, but this statement.
He knew very well that what Amelia wanted wasn't Janet's apology either.
It was to eliminate future troubles completely.
Samuel nodded, "In that case, I'll treat this incident as if it never happened. I also ask everyone present not to spread word about today's little scuffle."
Everyone nodded one after another.
"Of course, we don't know anything."
"Right, we were just having coffee and chatting together."
Having received everyone's assurance, Samuel raised his hand slightly, "Then I'll thank everyone on behalf of Mr. Rojas."
Marlon's face was dark.
He couldn't stay any longer and excused himself.
Samuel politely tried to keep him.
"There's still a competition coming up. Won't Mr. Rojas stay to watch?"
"No! I still have official business to attend to!"
Samuel nodded, "That's fine. If you go back now, you'll still have time to write the withdrawal letter to your superior."
Marlon's face darkened again. Unable to even say goodbye, he grabbed Janet and left the Luminance Art Gallery through the back door.
Once in the car, Janet asked impatiently, "Dad, are you really going to withdraw from the trial? If you really withdraw, how will you explain it to your superior? You promised that person you would definitely—"
A slap landed heavily on Janet's face.
The blow made Janet turn her head, feeling dizzy.
It was like countless insects were flying before her eyes.
When she came to her senses, she heard Marlon say coldly, "You dare ask me? This is all your doing! If it weren't for you, how would I have been threatened? How could I possibly withdraw from following this case?"
Janet instinctively shrank her neck.
She bit her lip and said weakly, "I really didn't spill coffee on her."
Marlon laughed coldly and said, "What about threatening her? You didn't do that either?"
Janet's breath caught, and she lowered her head without speaking.
Marlon had an "I knew it" expression.
"Do you know what you did wrong now?"
Janet nodded, "I know I was wrong, Dad. I shouldn't have used you to threaten her. I—"
"Wrong!"
Marlon interrupted her, "That's not what you did wrong."
Janet was stunned, looking confused.
If that wasn't her mistake, then what was?
Marlon closed his eyes and said, "Your mistake was that the moment you saw that Amelia, you lost all basic sense. You underestimated her! That made you blind, which is why you fell for it."
Janet slowly clenched her fists.
She had indeed underestimated her opponent.
She never expected that a woman from the countryside would have such cunning and such good acting skills.
While disappointed, Marlon was also puzzled.
"You've always been calm, patient, and able to keep your cool. What happened today?"
"Samuel is indeed a good man—good family background, capable, a one-in-a-million catch."
"But you've only met him once. How could you become so stupid over him and let someone get a hold on you so easily?"
Janet hung her head in silence.
This wasn't her first time meeting Samuel.
She and Samuel had actually known each other since elementary school.
Back then, they were classmates.
She didn't look like this before. Because of her appearance, she was often bullied.
One day, after being bullied badly, she tried to end her life. Samuel stopped her and told her to be strong.
He told her that if she didn't want to be bullied, she had to fight back.
So he became her only light during that time.
But Samuel didn't recognize her, didn't remember her anymore.
Through countless nights when she couldn't hold on, it was thinking of Samuel that kept her going.
Today, knowing she would see Samuel, she had put so much effort into dressing up.
But when Marlon tried to set them up, Samuel ignored it, refusing on the grounds that he already had a fiancée.
At first, she thought Samuel was just making excuses.
Until—
She saw Samuel walking toward her holding Amelia's hand.
At that moment, she almost couldn't control her expression.
That's why she lost her usual composure.
And because she underestimated her opponent, she was played by that bitch Amelia!
Seeing Janet's silence, Marlon sighed.
"Forget it! This is your first mistake in all these years. I can forgive you, but there absolutely won't be a next time!"
Janet nodded silently.
She wouldn't act on impulse like today again.
The car slowly merged onto the main road.
Janet carefully chose her words before speaking, "So are you really going to withdraw from this case?"
"What other choice is there? We've already given them ammunition. If I don't withdraw from following this case, our losses will only be greater. Right now, at most I'll just get a scolding."
"Is there really no other way besides withdrawing?"
"What other way is there? Not only do I have to withdraw, I have to completely cut ties with this case. Otherwise, if anything happens to Quinton and the others, we'll have to bear that responsibility."
He was in a difficult position now and could only retreat to advance.
Janet pressed her red lips together tightly.
She heard Marlon warn her, "During this time, you stay home and reflect on your mistakes. Don't go out. After things completely blow over, we'll think of other ways. Remember, for now you're not allowed to have any contact with the Richardson family. Even if they slap you in the face, you have to take it!"
Janet nodded, her face pale.
"Yes."
Meanwhile, Amelia was taken by York to a rest room.
The Luminance Art Gallery didn't have a medical room. York told her to run cold water over the burned area first while he went out to buy burn medicine.
Amelia refused directly.
"Don't bother."
"How can that be okay? If you don't apply medicine in time, your hand will blister."
Amelia simply raised her hand.
It was clean and clear, without even a trace of redness from the burn.