Chapter 383
After lunch, Rain met with Prosecutor Han, who was visibly startled to see her.
“Your wife is worried about you, so she asked me to intervene. How’s your lawyer handling the case?” she asked directly, already knowing he had a subpar attorney due to financial constraints.
Han hesitated, his throat bobbing as he swallowed nervously.
“If you’d like, I can recommend a good lawyer,” she offered, her expression stoic.
A smirk spread across his face, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re already handling my case, Prosecutor Lancaster p>
Rain returned his smirk with a sharp one of her own. “Do you think I’m in this position just to rack up wins? My job is to prosecute criminals and seek justice. That doesn’t mean I’ll turn a blind eye if someone is being manipulated or coerced p>
Han’s face paled. His head lowered slightly as he muttered, “I had no choice. If it were just me, I wouldn’t care but Michael involved my family. He blackmailed me with their safety. I’m not like other prosecutors who have the resources to fight him p>
“You need to be honest in court,” Rain said firmly. “Changing your statement won’t be easy, and there will be consequences for your actions. But I can advocate for a lighter sentence if you cooperate fully. You’ll have a chance to return to your family p>
Han’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he looked at her. His lips trembled as he whispered, “Thank you. But to be honest, I feel like I’m already a dead man. As long as my family is safe, though p>
“Your family is safe,” Rain interrupted. “My team is personally ensuring their protection p>
“Why?” Han asked, his disbelief evident. “Why would you do this p>
Rain’s gaze hardened. “Because I sympathize with your wife and because I need answers. I want to know why Michael is so intent on investigating Tim Clayton. Tell me everything you’ve discovered. Leave nothing out p>
Han nodded and he started narrating everything to Rain.
Meanwhile, at the prison where Dina was held captive, her mother, Sylvia, continued to visit her regularly. But this particular visit was far from what Sylvia had anticipated.
“I told you to contact Carla Cartier and have her come see me, didn’t I?” Dina hissed at her mother, her voice low but venomous.
Sylvia frowned, her heart aching as she took in her daughter’s frail, pale figure. “Dina, you need to tell me why you want to meet her. Please… Can’t you just focus on behaving so it might at least be easier to get a parole? What are you plotting again p>
Her words were met with a sharp glare.
“I want to get back at Rain, Mom!” Dina snapped, her voice rising in frustration. “Don’t you see? I’m rotting in this hellhole because of her! No one else can help me out of this but Carla Cartier. She hates Rain as much as I do! The two of us want the same thing, to ruin Rain’s life! I won’t stand for her living happily while I’m stuck here. I’ll make her life a living hell for as long as I breathe p>
Sylvia’s shoulders sagged under the weight of her daughter’s hysteria. She felt utterly helpless. She, too, resented Rain, but what could she do? Her heart had been shattered long ago, watching Dina fall into this mess.
To make matters worse, Tim had washed his hands of Dina. He wasn’t speaking to Sylvia, either, especially after the heated confrontation when he revealed he’d known the truth all along that Dina wasn’t his biological daughter.
Without Tim’s support, there was little Sylvia could do. Her pleas, her tears, even her anger, seemed powerless to change Dina’s fate.
Yet, as she watched her daughter seethe with hatred, Sylvia couldn’t shake the bitter thought that this vengeful obsession might destroy Dina even more than prison ever could.
“My gut tells me that Carla Cartier will do whatever it takes to get what she wants,” Dina said, her lips curling into a wicked, excited grin. “Rain might be in her way, but she has a reputation to protect. She needs someone to do the dirty work for her and I’m the perfect person for that, Mom p>
Sylvia’s eyes welled with tears as she pleaded, “Dina, please… Let’s stop this madness already. I can’t lose you again p>
Dina’s expression darkened, her eyes widening as she glared at her mother. Through gritted teeth, she hissed, “If you don’t bring Carla here within five days, don’t be surprised when you hear I’m dead. I have no hope left, Mom! I’m going to rot in this prison, and Carla is the only chance I have to get out of here! That woman has more influence than the entire Lancaster family combined! I would rather die than rot away in this hellhole p>
Sylvia’s hands trembled as she clasped them together, her heart sinking at Dina’s words. “Don’t say such things, Dina! You’re my daughter! I can’t lose you, no matter what you’ve done p>
Dina scoffed, her tone biting. “You can’t lose me? You already did, Mom, the moment you stood by while Tim threw me to the wolves! Do you think I’ll survive in here with Rain’s name hovering over me? I’m nothing but a walking target! Carla is the only one who has the means and the motive to help me. She hates Rain just as much as I do, maybe more p>
Sylvia hesitated, tears streaming down her face. She had seen Dina spiral deeper into darkness over the months, and now it seemed there was no light left in her. “But Carla can be more dangerous, Dina. She won’t probably help people without a price. What if she uses you and leaves you worse off p>
“I don’t care!” Dina snapped, her voice trembling with desperation. “I’d rather take my chances with Carla than sit here waiting to die! If you love me at all, you’ll do this for me. Or don’t and live with the guilt when I’m gone p>
Sylvia’s heart shattered at her daughter’s ultimatum. She nodded slowly, defeated. “I’ll try,” she whispered. “But promise me you’ll hold on. Don’t do anything rash, Dina p>
Dina leaned back, her cold smile returning. “You’ll see, Mom. Once Carla and I take Rain down, everything will change. I’ll have my freedom and I’ll make sure Rain never knows peace again p>