Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

The other policemen quickly scattered in an organized way and followed up from behind.

Jean felt nervous as they were getting close to the destination. She looked at Zed and asked anxiously,"Zed, I have a strong feeling of uneasiness. Shouldn't we have called the police?" 'Oh, come on!' thought Zed as

he felt exasperated with Jean.

Jean had always been too kindhearted and could not bear to be cruel to the Wen family. Even after what had happened this time, she was still trying to defend them.

But, Zed would not allow it anymore. He was adamant that she should never be treated again the way they did in the past.

"Jean, you have to think it out," replied Zed stressing each word. He added, "They have gone too far in targeting you this time. They stand to make a lot of money from you and you might get hurt in the process. What's the point of you being so kind to those who are definitely heartless?"

"That's not what I meant," replied Jean shaking her head. She continued to explain,"I'm just worried that there might be too much policemen. If anyone of them accidently reveals the whereabouts to the scoundrels, the scoundrels can get very angry. No one knows what happens when people like them lose their minds. In the middle of all this, we might be put in danger too. I do not want anything bad to happen to you. Should we go back now? I don't care about Shirley's safety. Let us abandon pursuing the cause or reason behind all of this," Jean said without looking at Zed.

Zed's eyes widened as he heard Jean's words. 'Did he hear right?' He then asked incredulously, "What? You're not saying this because you are worried about Shirley's safety......"

"No, of course not," Jean replied quickly before Zed could express his complete thought. She did not know that Zed would misunderstand her like this because of her words a moment ago. She couldn't help laughing and added, "I will not show mercy to her anymore. And I don't care about her safety at all.'"

"But......" said Zed, looking even confused.

"But you've tried so hard to raise the ransom money earlier. Didn't you do it in order to save Shirley?

Although you've told me that you wanted to find out the cause behind Winner's death, I was unsure. Once you ferret out that his death had something to do with Shirley, won't you ruin her reputation and put her in jail?

But then I also know you well, Jean. I thought you'd changed your mind about it. Since I've known you, I didn't think you would be so determined about this," said Zed.

"Zed, I've told this to you before. Joy told me that the scoundrels who kidnapped Shirley are those who killed Winner," replied Jean.

"Do you really want Shirley to go to jail?" asked Zed. He still was confused by what Jean had said and added, "That doesn't seem to be the way you do things. I thought you were just saying it to let out your angst. And what is your purpose in doing so?"

Jean did not answer at once. After measured breathing, she looked at Zed and said, "Well, I won't hide it from you now, Zed. Truth be told, I don't want Shirley die. Rather, I want her to live a bitter life. I would rather Joy witness how miserable her kids got in the end, so that she is tormented by that thought for all her waking moments. I want Joy's heart to break over being able to do nothing but just see her daughter live in pain day after day. You know how they treat me and what they've done to me before. So, I'm doing this to get back at them," said Jean.

As she was speaking, Zed was in shock and took a while to digest the fact that Jean had changed. After remaining silent for a whole 5 minutes, he replied, "All right! I do not see any necessity for you to do so. But since it makes you feel a little less bitter to put Shirley in jail and to see Joy live in torment for her rest of her life, I'm in your favour anyway."

"Thank you, Zed," said Jean in a grateful tone. And she added, "I knew you will stand on my side."

After her words, Jean put her head on Zed's shoulder and avoided making eye contact with him anymore. Deep down, she was still a little guilty for not telling him her real intentions. 'I'm sorry, Zed. Please forgive me for not telling you the whole truth. When everything comes to an end, when Joy finally tells the truth behind my mother's death, I will confess to you entirely.

I have to hide it from you for now in order not let you worry too much, 'thought Jean.

The car moved slowly along. And soon, they arrived at the scheduled place, the YR Wharf.

At midnight, the wharf was hauntingly deserted. Only some areas of the ocean were illuminated by the lamplights.

Zed and Jean got out of the car, and found that Joy had been waiting for them. Seeing Zed accompanying Jean, an amazed expression flashed on Joy's face.

But soon, she calmed herself down and looked at them with a blank face. Rather, Joy ran quickly towards Jean and said, "Zed, Jean, here you come. I'm so sorry for making you come so late at night."

As Joy was speaking, Jean looked at her and replied in a helpless tone, "As long as Shirley is not safe, there is no way we will feel at ease. Joy, it's almost time. Haven't they showed up yet?"

"There are still twenty minutes to go. Let's wait for some more time. Wait, Jean, who are these guys?" asked Joy suddenly. She looked at the people who stood behind Toby, with an uneasy look on her face. "Well, they are all Zed's guys," Jean looked behind her and replied flat.

"Zed's guys?" Joy's voice went up a notch in surprise, "Zed, are they your bodyguards? Not at all. I'm afraid that once the scoundrels find out that we have come here with so many bodyguards, they probably will not send Shirley back. Or they won't even show up since we have so many people here. And I might not have the chance to see Shirley anymore......"

With a brief pause, Joy continued in a flurried tone, "Zed, kindly tell your guys to retreat for now!"

Zed and Jean exchanged looks, and then Zed raised his hand gesturing Toby and others to quietly leave.

Toby, as the leader of the bodyguards, followed Zed's orders while the rest followed behind. Their cars disappeared soon in the darkness of the night. Soon, the peace of the wharf was restored as if they had never been there before.

Joy took a look around, and the realization that it was only her, Zed, and Jean standing at this big wharf relieved her from all worries. With a smile on her face, she said, "Zed, I'm sorry. I can only apologize for this, but we have to take Shirley's safety into account before anything else. I really dare not piss the scoundrels off, or I'm afraid that another tragedy like Winner's might happen to Shirley."

Hearing Joy broach Winner's topic, Jean probed in a curious tone, "Joy, how do know that the scoundrels who have kidnappered Shirley are the ones who killed Winner?"

"Shush......" Joy hastily quietened Jean and then, quickly looked about her nervously. Making sure that there was no fourth person on the wharf, she added in a tense tone,"Of course, one of the scoundrels told me this. And he even told me some details of Winner's death that were spot on. This is why I'm sure it must be him who killed my Winner."

"Him? Only one scoundrel did that?" asked Zed.

"I don't know," Hearing Zed's question, Joy suddenly did not know how to answer for a few seconds. After a brief pause, she added, "Well, they use a voice changer every time they called me, and I can't really tell whether it's a man or a woman, and that too is it one guy or more."

After not getting any valuable clues from Joy, Zed looked at the sea in silence.

Jean turned and looked around, and still found no one else there. She said in a deliberately casual tone, "Why haven't they come yet? Have they changed their minds to not come here?"

"No. They will come definitely. I'm sure about that," replied Joy firmly.

Jean was surprised at Joy's words, and she looked at her doubtfully.

Suddenly, Joy realized that the words came out of her mouth too quickly and too firmly. She smiled with an embarrassed expression and tried to further explain, "I mean, it's one hundred million dollars after all. Who would be able to say no to it?"

As Joy was speaking, Jean nodded her consent and stayed ostensibly silent. But meanwhile, she couldn't help sneering in her heart.

'You just keep pretending, Joy, as long as you wish to! And let's wait and see, you'll regret once the truth comes out, 'thought Jean internally.

A few minutes passed and it was now the scheduled time. All of a sudden, the sound of a motorboat came breaking the silence of the night. Jean was startled and looked in the direction from where the motorboat was coming.

After focussing for a couple of minutes, she saw a red motorboat rapidly approaching them and making quite a commotion.

As the motorboat got closer, Jean discovered three more motorboats in which six to seven tall, strong young men stood alert and tense.

Getting surrounded by such a huge number of scoundrels, Jean's expressions underwent a tremendous change.

She was kind of frightened on facing so many of them, but on the flip side, was glad that they had called the police long back. Otherwise, they would've been no match for the scoundrels. After all, it would have been just Zed and a few of his subordinates against such a large number of hefty young men. In fact, the situation cold have become so critical by then, that not only Shirley but Zed and Jean's lives would have also hung in balance.

After all these thoughts raced through Jean's mind, she took a look at Joy standing next to her.

Joy was aghast at the very sight. Apparently, it never occurred to Joy that the number of the scoundrels could be this large. She was ashen white and trembling with fear. 0000000