Chapter 232: Sudden Rescue

The pain somewhat reduced her fear as Ellis remembered she had brought her phone. She hurriedly fished it out of her pocket. There were criminals afoot, and she needed to call for help! Unfortunately, just as she gripped her phone, the taller man knocked it out of her hands.

The tall man scoffed at her futile attempt and continued to hold his hand aloft, ready to strike. As the second slap was about to land on her face, the natural light returned. The door, that had been firmly shut, swung open!

The action was abruptly interrupted, and the tall man turned to his shorter accomplice, berating him, “I told you to close the door; why didn’t you lock it properly?”

The shorter man was sure he had locked the door and defended himself, “I did lock it, and I bolted it too!”

How could a bolted door open? Both men turned their gaze to the entrance. Two men had entered from outside. Seeing what was happening, they demanded, “What are you doing?”

Ellis couldn’t tell who the newcomers were, but from their reprimand, it was clear they weren’t in league with her attackers. She desperately cried out, “Help me, they’re bad guys!”

The newcomers responded, their tone respectful. “Ms. Harper, don’t be afraid!”

Were these men actually from the property management? Before she could ponder further, they charged forward, adeptly kicking the knife out of the shorter man’s hand, and soon all four were tangled in a scuffle, leaving Ellis momentarily forgotten.

If she didn’t run now, she’d surely get hit again! With that thought, Ellis quickly seized the chance to escape.

Once outside the property office, a problem arose: Where should I run to? If Victoria could arrange for someone to pose as a delivery person and send attackers into her community, her own home wasn’t even safe anymore. Could there be someone waiting there to beat me up too?

For a moment, she didn’t know where to go. Maybe it was best not to stay in the complex. Should I find somewhere near the police station? No, I need to call the police!

With that realization, Ellis sprinted from the community and hailed a cab on the street. Once inside, she immediately told the driver, “Sir, take me to the nearest police station!”

After instructing the driver, she urgently dialed 911. Once the call connected, she quickly described her situation in concise terms. After she finished, the operator reassured her, advising her to head to the nearest police station and provided an address.

As soon as the taxi stopped in front of the police station, Ellis hurried inside. The officer who greeted her had clearly been briefed by the dispatcher and was aware of the basics of her situation but needed her to provide a detailed statement. She was also informed that their department had received another call from the property management of her community.

As she began to emphasize that her attackers had wielded a knife, a shadow suddenly loomed over her.

2:19 PM

Both Ellis and the officer looked up to see a face filled with concern. Why is Morty here? What is he worried about?

The officer asked, “Sir, what is your relationship to her?”

“I’m her friend, here to support her.” Morty pointed to the girl beside him.

Ellis eyed Morty with confusion. “Do you know him?” the officer then asked her.

Still puzzled, Ellis didn’t take her eyes off Morty and nodded. “Yes.”

Once Morty’s relationship was confirmed, the officer gestured for him to sit next to Ellis.

Morty glanced at her swollen cheek, his gaze filled with complex emotions. Under such scrutiny, Ellis grew even more baffled.

Taking advantage of a moment when the officer was focused on typing, she asked, “Why are you here?”

“Someone told me,” Morty said openly. He had warned Ellis about Victoria’s actions, but she had refused to hire a bodyguard. He had assigned someone to protect her discreetly, yet he had underestimated Victoria’s vengeful nature. Victoria chose not to strike while Ellis was usually out, but rather where she lived, seizing the opportunity when his people couldn’t enter Serenity Estate. As soon as his contact saw Ellis running scared from Serenity Estate, he reported it to Morty.

“Trouble usually means there’s something sinister; if Ellis wasn’t facing something terrifying, why would she be so panicked!” His person had followed her to the police station while quickly investigating what had happened, and Morty had rushed over as well.

“Who told you?” Ellis pressed.

“After you finish your statement, I’ll tell you,” Morty said, continuing to examine her face.

Having someone stare at one’s face, even without malice and with obvious concern, still made Ellis uneasy, almost creepy. Already finding Morty odd and mysterious, the more she looked at him, the more she wanted to peel back his facade to see if there was some unspeakable secret hidden inside. Why else would he act this way?

“How many times did Victoria hit you? Your face is so swollen, the fingerprints are clearly visible,” Morty said, not exaggerating as the marks were indeed stark.