Chapter 304: Wasted Effort

Harriet pleaded in a heartbroken tone, “Stop making a fuss, Wavy. We’ve been up for several nights trying to get you out of this mess.”

Waverly broke down into uncontrollable sobs. “I’m going to save Mindy. Her life matters more than my own! If you guys won’t help her, then you can all watch me die!”

“Enough! Are you thinking of taking your own life again? If you’ve got the guts, then just go ahead and take your own life instead of threatening me with it! You’re being utterly unreasonable! You don’t even know what you’re talking about! Had I known you were this stubborn, I wouldn’t have bothered to save you. I’ve seen rescued dogs show more gratitude than you! All you do is infuriate me to no end as soon as you get released! How could I have a daughter like you?” Alaric bellowed in anger.

Seeing that Alaric had truly lost his temper, Waverly was so frightened that she dared not utter another word. However, she knew she could forget about living comfortably in the future if she didn’t rescue Mindy.

“All right, all right, you’ve said your piece. Wavy is feeling bad enough as it is, so maybe say a little less.” Harriet played the role of mediator, placating both sides to diffuse the tension. Only then did the conflict between the two slightly subside.

Alaric then asked, “Waverly, there are no outsiders here right now, so be honest with me. Were you involved in setting Tiffany up?”

“No, I wasn’t! Not only did I have no involvement in this matter, but I was also completely unaware of it from beginning to end. The reason I helped Mindy escape was because I felt sorry for her. She would have been doomed if Tiffany had caught her. After all these years of close friendship, coupled with the fact that she once saved my life, I couldn’t bear to stand by and watch her die,” Waverly said, instantly denying everything. As she spoke, she covered her mouth, sobbing quietly.

After deep consideration, Alaric said decisively, “Regardless of whether you were involved or not, you can’t interfere with this matter anymore. I plan on sending you abroad for a few years until this matter gradually dies down. Then, you can come back.”

“No, you can’t do that! I don’t want to go abroad, Dad! Please don’t send me away! I’m not familiar with life overseas! How am I supposed to live on my own?” Waverly pleaded through her tears.

Though Harriet couldn’t bear it, she was left with no choice. “This is the best arrangement for you, Wavy. It’s much safer for you to lay low abroad than to stay in this country.”

“Why should I avoid Tiffany as if she’s a plague? This matter has nothing to do with me! All I did at most was shelter Mindy and gave Tiffany a few scoldings!” Waverly exclaimed with indignation.

“Whatever you say won’t change my mind. As soon as dawn breaks tomorrow, you’ll be on the earliest flight out of the country!” Alaric scoffed.

“I won’t! I’d rather die than leave the country!” Waverly cried as she ran up the stairs. Harriet hastily ran after her while Samuel stood to the side, remaining silent and making no attempt to intervene.

We can’t allow her to remain in this country any longer; it might be better for her to lay low abroad for a while. We all racked our brains trying to save her, but she’s ungrateful and even tries to throw herself in harm’s way! It was only today that he realized, not only was Waverly not the brightest, she also didn’t consider them as family at all. Four years had passed, and yet, he was still unable to warm her heart. It was simply too disappointing.

The following morning, the bodyguard from the Goodridge family was just about to escort Waverly onto a private jet when police barged into their home, handcuffed Waverly, and declared, “You are suspected of a sexual assault case. We are taking you into custody now for further investigation and interrogation. If your family members have any objections, they have the right to contact a lawyer to follow up on the further developments of the case.”

Waverly resisted vehemently. “I didn’t have anything to do with the crime! I don’t want to go with you. Don’t arrest me. I don’t want to go to jail!” Despite the Goodridge family’s pleas and protests, in the end, they could only watch helplessly as she was taken away. She had just been bailed out, only to be taken back into custody again.

Alaric was as frantic as a cat on a hot tin roof. After all, he had just spent a fortune and used all his connections to bail his daughter out, only to have her get arrested again just after one night. All that energy and effort had been utterly wasted.

Harriet was on the verge of becoming a waterfall of tears, leaning weakly against the couch as she questioned, “What’s going on? Alaric, didn’t we already bail her out? Why is she being arrested again? She’s not going to be sentenced, is she?”

“It must be Tiffany’s doing; I had a hunch she wouldn’t let Wavy off easily!” Alaric was so worried that he looked as if he had aged by a decade in an instant.

Samuel also expressed his heartache, saying, “If I had known, I would have insisted on sending Wavy abroad last night. Now that she’s been caught, it won’t be so easy to bail her out again!”

Alaric immediately made a few phone calls to his influential connections who had helped rescue Waverly before. However, they all politely declined when they heard he needed their assistance a second time. The underlying message was clear—someone higher up had issued an order, and this time, no one was to help get her released.