Corrupting His Innocence (Innocence Series #1)

Chapter 28

28

"The great entrepreneur Lauren Alarcon has been dragged into jail for a case of sexual assault," Mags announced after reading an article on the internet.

"It's a good thing you finally agreed to this, Juliet," Saffron commented as we both plopped down on the couch. "After months of convincing you, tanging si Azarel lang pala ang makakapagpapayag ng tuluyan sa'yo na magsampa ng kaso laban sa baboy na 'yon."

Akala ko kasi, kapag ginawa ko iyon noon, Azarel would get mad at me. Kasi kapag nakulong ang tatay niya, paniguradong masisira ang pamilya nila.

The funny thing is, no matter how badly I was hurt before, I never considered taking revenge against Azarel. Despite everything that happened between us, I still care about how he feels... so I didn't want to make a move that might affect him.

"Azarel will surely be a great lawyer," I mindlessly uttered. I saw it. I witnessed it. You can really tell that lawyering is for him.

After his oath-taking, a lot of opportunities came his way. Pero siya at ng kuya niya, nag-focus sila sa kaso ko. Knowing that they couldn't represent me in court due to a conflict of interest, Azarel initiated to find me a good lawyer whom he knew could win my case.

Azarel kept his promise this time. Hindi niya ako pinabayaan. At every hearing, every cross-examination, he was there. He was always there to guide me. He was always there to calm me when I had to face his father. We had strong evidence and a witness, and I didn't know how Azarel managed to convince Aster Lopez to reveal what she knew back then.

Doon ko lang din nalaman na una pa lang, Aster already suspected that all the pictures Tito Lauren released were photoshopped. But she still gave him the benefit of the doubt because of my history with men. It's insulting, but at least the truth was revealed now, as the pictures were proven to be edited in court. Azarel made it happen.

He really helped me get the justice I never knew I needed.

God.

That guy.

"Matris mo, teh. Malapit nang mapunta sa talampakan mo," natatawang sita sa akin ni Claiborn kaya agad ko siyang inirapan.

"Hindi dahil tinulungan niya akong mabigyan ng hustisya kahayupan na ginawa sa'kin ng tatay niya, pwede na ulit kami."

Right after I said that, biglang tumunog iyong cellphone ko. I don't know if destiny is really playing with me, but Azarel's name was flashing on my screen... Sabay-sabay pa na nabaling ang atensyon namin doon dahil nakapatong siya sa center table.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Ano kaya ang kailangan neto? I mean... the case is done. Before, he always called to give updates on its progress. And I always entertained him. Ngayong nakakulong na si Tito Lauren, may rason pa ba para mag-usap kami?

"Azarel," Saffron muttered suspiciously. "But the gardener is missing, huh?"

Humalagapak si Claiborn. "Hintay tayo hanggang next week, baka magbago ulit."

"Oh shut up, please," I snapped at them while rolling my eyes. "I don't think we can be together again. Right now, we're both busy building and growing our careers. Nalipasan na kami ng kalandian at sa ngayon, wala muna kaming panahon para doon."

"Muna?" Ishmael asked with a teasing smile on her angelic face. "So, may chance sa future?"

"Gaga!" pabiro kong hinila ang dulo ng buhok niya. "Wala siguro. Ewan. Bahala na."