Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 421

Geneva snatched the phone from my hand and scrutinized the photo. After a moment, she slowly shook her head. "I've never seen this guy before. With a look like that, you'd think he'd be unforgettable, but...' "Maybe he's not from Goldenvale Town?" I questioned, my suspicion piqued by Geneva's response.

"Possibly! I wouldn't forget a face like that!" Geneva scoffed, her meaning clear without further words.

"The guy's bad news!" I dismissed the man with a wave of my hand, adding, "The Dawson brothers can always find the most creepy people possible! How did I marry into that family? Alas..." I abruptly covered my face in embarrassment.

Geneva laughed and draped an arm around my shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up. Everyone gets it wrong sometimes. People are hard to read. And let's face it, the Dawsons are good actors. No wonder you were taken in. It's normal! Now that you've woken up and cut your losses, that's what counts. Doesn't matter how long it took to see this guy for what he is. Better late than never!"

"Geneva, spare me the comfort talk. 'Better late than never'? I've got three kids with him before I realized whether he was man or monster. How blind could I be? Just thinking about it gives me nightmares!" Geneva, hearing this, laughed boisterously and playfully punched my shoulder. "Oh, come on! Is it really that dramatic?"

With a dead-serious face, I replied, "It really is. All this stress is eating me up inside. I can't sleep at night. How foolish must I be to be strung along by such a person? Sometimes, I just want to jump off a building and start all over."

Geneva quickly turned to me. "Remember what you said just now. Don't entertain such dark thoughts!"

I looked at her, reassured. "Don't worry about that. He's not worth it. I wouldn't throw my life away over him! I meant like in those books where people get to start over. I'd choose to stay single for life rather than give him another glance. The very thought of him leaves such a dark shadow in my mind!"

Both Geneva and Hannah, who had been listening, burst out laughing.

I went on, "Sometimes, I feel so disgusted with myself, like I can never scrub off the filth, no matter how many showers I take. Let's just drop it!"

Geneva was laughing so hard she slumped onto the couch, gasping for breath.

I sighed, feeling utterly defeated. "I'm seriously curious. Did I wrong someone so badly in a previous life to deserve this punishment?"

I cursed myself endlessly, as if possessed. Geneva was laughing hard, struggling to catch her breath.

Turning to Hannah, I handed back the phone. "Send this photo to your boss. Check if it's useful and don't overlook any clues."

Hannah smiled coyly and winked. "Don't worry, I've already sent it to the boss!"

I nodded in approval. "Smart cookie!"

Geneva straightened up, smiling. "Indeed, Hannah's quick-witted. Really, Allie, with her on your side, we're all a lot more at ease. These guys are so brazen to go after you so openly."

"The guys who kidnapped me last time still haven't been identified. I mean, what kind of karma is this? Am I destined to be entangled with these people? To fall into their traps from miles away? How can I just accept that?"

I settled myself on the couch, drawing up my knees and relaxing, "People online have been tearing into me, saying I got what I deserved. Putting my parents in danger... Truth be told, though, they're not wrong I did bring trouble home, endangering my own family. So, their accusations are spot-on. I'm a total mess. If it weren't for my three kids and my folks, I swear... I would go all out against these creeps!" The more I talked, the angrier I got, unable to vent the frustration and rage boiling inside me.