Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

Chapter 490 May I Ask You A Favor

Jean's thoughts were interrupted. She looked at Zed with surprise in her eyes and asked,"Am I that

stupid in your eyes?"

"No, I don't mean that. I just thought it was nearly impossible to save Shirley from her death wish. But,

You did it. Jean, you truly are amazing!"

Zed complimented her. He was happy inside that he had successfully changed the subject.

"I had almost given up on her. I had never imagined that she would determine herself to die. In my

mind, she loves to take advantage of others and use them in all possible ways. But today, for some

reason, I really didn't feel good seeing her in such a state. She must have felt she had nothing left to

live for. Or else, she wouldn't have tried to commit suicide. It's just that..."

Jean sighed and did not finish her sentence.

"Just what?" Zed asked.

"Just that no matter what, she carried all the hopes of Joy in her life. So in this way, she has to live on

with nothing to live for. Zed, may I ask you a favor?"

Jean looked at Zed and suddenly asked after explaining.

"Sure." Zed replied with a nod.

"Can we somehow put off the examination process so that Joy could dress nicely and see Shirley for

the last time before she serves her sentence?" Jean pleaded with her eyes fixed on Zed.

"I already told Ian about this." Zed replied slowly, and his tone was solemn.

Seeing Zed's expression, Jean asked,"What's wrong, Zed? What's going on?"

"Joy?turned herself in at this morning, but Ian is facing a big problem," Zed told her. He looked back at

Jean and sighed.

"Big problem? What problem is it, Zed? What do you mean by that?" Jean stared blankly and

questioned him.

"Your mother's case is more than 20 years old now. All the witnesses are lost and there's not enough

evidence. On top of that, no one actually saw Joy poisoning your mother. Even though the case has

been filed in the court, it would be tough for Joy to receive a death penalty," he explained

and sighed again.

"You mean without eyewitnesses, we don't have enough evidences to guarantee a death penalty. Am I

understanding you correctly?" Jean asked with a strange expression on her face.

"I'm afraid so. Even Charlie and Kate who were involved in this case didn't witness the actual act of the

murder. Their testimonies were insufficient to sentence Joy to death." Zed explained and nodded.

"Not even with Joy's own confession? But that doesn't make any sense. With Joy confessing to her

own crimes, there is no need for any more evidence. She is of sound mind and body and her

confession is evidence enough." Jean was confused.

Seeing her sad expression, Zed felt terrible to have told her the truth. But he still gave her a nod.

Zed's response hit Jean so hard that she simply closed her eyes and leaned back on the back of the

car seat.

It was hard for anyone to imagine how much time and energy she had spent on that case. It was even

harder for anyone to imagine how much courage she had rallied in order to trick Joy into confessing to

the truth.

But in the end, it had all been for nothing.

How could she face her mother now?

How could she face her grandmother?

"Jean, don't just give up and be sad. If we try hard enough, we might still have a chance to ensure Joy

gets punished for what she has done." Zed tried to comfort her. He was trying to do as much as he

could. He didn't have the heart to see Jean torturing herself like that.

"A chance?" Jean mocked. She looked up at Zed with the tears on her face, and sadly continued,"Kate

is gone, and Charlie is missing for years. He can very well be dead now. We don't have a chance

anymore Zed, don't you see? Back in the days, Joy was ready to bury the truth with her. I scared her

into a confession. In fact, I had nothing that would have helped me prove something. All the clues were

gone or inconsequential.

It was Joy's own guilt and desire of saving Shirley that brought the truth to the light. If she finds out she

won't be sentenced to death, she would not be stupid enough to confess again in the court."

"All the clues were broken? Then, how did you find out it was her?" Zed questioned. He frowned his

brows and looked at Jean.

"Grandma was in a stable condition after the treatment that you sent her outside the country for. She

would be awake and talk to me on a few occasions. It was because of her that I came to know the story

of Kate. Back then, Kate was married to a baster in the north. Joy had forced that marriage to cover up

the truth. Not long after the marriage, she was beaten to death by her husband.

She told the truth to the person who my grandma sent to look out for her before her death. When my

grandmother came to know that Joy had murdered her daughter, she couldn't take it and went into a

coma. From that day onwards, she rarely woke up. And even when she did on a few selective

occasions, it was impossible for a woman as old as her to vindicate Joy.

And added to that was the fact that she could never let go of her daughter's death and it was inside her

for all the years she lived. Every time she woke up, tears would fall down her face. After I was old

enough, she finally told me the entire story and knowing Kate's story, I was finally able to trick Joy into

a confession," Jean explained the story behind the story now.

She had been quite resilient until now, but she couldn't hold it anymore and started crying.

"Zed, I don't know what's wrong with me. On one hand, I want Joy to die more than anything.

According to me, she deserves it for what she did to my mother. On the other hand, I was relieved

when I came to know she would still remain alive. But in that way, the justice for my mother's death

won't be done. How could I be relieved after that? I am such an unfilial daughter. I don't deserve the life

my mother gave me," Jean started moping.

She was totally blaming herself now.

"Jean, stop it," Zed got agitated. He freed one hand from the steering wheel to pat her on the back in

order to comfort her, and continued,"You are a kind and amazing girl, and you knew that Joy truly feels

sorry for what she has done even before she admitted to it. You don't have a heart of stone, Jean. You

shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Leave it to the police, and Joy is sure to get the punishment she

deserves."

"Okay," Jean replied. She nodded and continued,"You're right. And besides, we don't have a say in

Joy's life. Whether she lives or dies is not our call."

"She might live, but her life would forever be under the roof of a jail," Zed told her.

"Wait! I thought you said there wasn't enough evidence to convict her," Jean asked. She looked at Zed

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"You heard me right. The evidences we have are not enough to put Joy on the death penalty, but it is

enough to convince a jury into a life sentence," Zed explained.

"That being the case, I think I can safely say that I won't feel so guilty with my mother for that. I can live

with that." Jean looked happy to hear this. She took a breath and her face finally softened.

"Silly girl!" Zed teased her. He gently rubbed her hair and continued,"It was your kind heart that was

happy for Joy to be alive. But Jean, you should be careful. Otherwise people might take advantage of

your kindness and softness."

"Take advantage of me?" said Jean. She smiled through her tears, and continued,"Impossible. It's you

who I am married to. You would never let it happen!"

"Oh you, what am I going to do with you? One moment, you were crying like a baby. And the next, you

are joking," Zed replied in fake exasperation. After a moment, he continued in a softer tone,"Anyway,

let's get home and fresh up. And wipe your tears, silly, or else, we'll have to deal with the pile of

questions my mother is going to nervously ask after seeing them."

"Will do," Jean nodded. She immediately wiped her face by her hands. It was only then that she saw

the tissue Zed had passed to her. She felt shy and stuck her tongue out.

Zed groaned and took it back. But beneath his spurious tiredness was hidden his concern for Jean.