Chapter 193

Kieran looked at her with even sharper eyes, full of hatred: “You just wanted her dead.”

Maybe it was because I was soaked all over, with my clothes sticking to me, and when the wind blew, there was a kind of cold that went right into my bones.

So Alarieka shivered all over.

She opened her mouth: “I…”

The voice suddenly stopped because her voice was really hoarse and unpleasant; the words didn’t make sense, and maybe only she knew what she was saying.

It was in that brief pause, Kieran narrowed his eyes a bit, his gaze more intense: “You what?”

Alarieka frowned and held back a cough in her throat, “I’m not-”

The two men who were angry wouldn’t listen to Alarieka’s explanation.

Patrick gritted his teeth and said, “You’re not? You’re nothing, everyone saw what you did, and you still dare to argue?”

Patrick sneered and said, “I thought you still had some humanity, but I didn’t expect you’d actually dare to do something like this.”

Alarieka took a deep breath, her clear black-and-white eyes meeting Kieran’s dark ones. She raised her hands and grabbed Kieran’s wrists with both hands.

Her voice was hoarse but firm. “I didn’t do it. If you don’t believe me, just check the swimming pool’s security footage. A six-star hotel’s swimming pool wouldn’t be without surveillance.”

Kieran stared at her with his dark eyes for a few seconds, like he was checking if she was lying.

It was just that Kieran still looked terrible, and Alarieka looked at him, like she was back in those old days.

She only looked into Kieran’s eyes for a few seconds, then awkwardly looked away.

Alarieka lowered her head, her wet hair hanging down the sides of her face, covering part of it. She said quietly, “I admit to what I’ve done, but this thing, I didn’t do it, so I didn’t do it.”

In the huge venue, you could only hear Alarieka’s hoarse voice.

“Even if we took ten thousand steps back, if I really wanted to do something to Roschelle, how could I possibly do it right in front of you guys? Isn’t that obvious? I wouldn’t be that stupid.”

“Alarieka, I…”

Alarieka looked up and glanced at Roschelle, who was being held securely by Patrick.

Roschelle looked pale, weak, and gentle, hesitated and said, “Alarieka, actually, actually… I was really disappointed in you.”

A few words easily reignited the anger between the two men that had already started to die down.

Patrick sneered. After he helped Roschelle sit steadily on the stool, he walked over with big strides.

“Enough, it’s not whatever you say now."

“Mr. Argent, I thought we should just call the police and stop wasting time talking to her.”

Alarieka’s eyelashes fluttered.

The McIntosh Piano Competition semi-final was just the day after tomorrow. As long as things could be sorted out tomorrow and her name cleared, Alarieka would let them do whatever they wanted.

She was just about to nod and say okay.

But over there, Roschelle coughed a few times, her voice light, like she was playfully complaining.

Patrick’s face suddenly changed, and even Kieran’s face got a lot darker.

Patrick strode forward and raised his hand.

Alarieka caught her breath. She saw Kieran let go of her collar, step back a few paces, and stand off to the side like it had nothing to do with him, watching Patrick walk toward her.

Patrick was furious, his hand about to come down. Alarieka closed her eyes and ducked her head, waiting.

The onlookers around held their breath, waiting to see Patrick slap Alarieka.

The slap she expected didn’t come. Alarieka opened her eyes and saw Patrick standing in front of her, looking down at her. His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and he was gritting his teeth.

His hand was still raised high, but he struggled and hesitated, not letting it fall.

Alarieka moved her fingers.

Roschelle whispered, “Patrick, don’t do it. Alarieka was just a little girl.”

Patrick seemed to be driven crazy by what Roschelle said and growled, “She was just a little girl, so what about you? Did you just deserve to be bullied?”

Patrick’s slap landed right on Alarieka’s cheek.

In an instant, Alarieka’s cheek burned with pain. Patrick had used a lot of force, and even half of Alarieka’s face hurt along with it. Her ear buzzed, and the crowd’s shocked cries sounded like they were coming from behind a wall—really muffled, couldn’t make them out.

She got slapped on the side of her head, and her hair fell over her cheek, covering up the five-finger handprint Patrick left on her pale cheek.

Alarieka heard the fierce, drum-like beating of her heart in her chest, and it slowly calmed down.