Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 474

From the moment I walked into the room, I spotted him, but his face... it was the same one Hannah had captured on her camera at the airport just two days ago.

When I softly called out "Jerome," his eyes narrowed sharply, fixating on me with a steely gaze.

I looked at him, a teasing smirk playing on my lips, and said coolly, "You think a new face can fool me, Jerome? No matter the disguise, you can't hide. You've been out too often; you really think the police wouldn't notice?"

His expression was odd, his pupils constricted, yet his face remained eerily motionless.

"I knew it was you the second I saw you at the airport," I said with mock gravity.

Jasper, who was desperately holding onto a struggling Jessica, glowered at me and spat, "Aaliyah, you'd better keep your mouth shut!"

"Oh... is that a threat?" I locked eyes with Jasper. "You've finally dropped the act, Jesper."

My plan wasn't just about riling up Jerome; it was about infuriating the Dawsons. Only by sowing seeds of resentment among them could they possibly become even more foolish. "My silence is irrelevant; after all, the police don't take orders from me!"

Jaylan grabbed my arm with vicious fury, glaring at me with pure rage. Hannah, who was right behind me, stepped forward, but before she could intervene, Jerome's voice cut through, "Let her speak." Jaylan, seething with anger, violently released my arm. I stumbled to one side, regained my balance, and brushed over the spot where he had grabbed. Then, I shifted my gaze back to Jerome, our eyes meeting once again.

"Jerome, don't you think that Hazel lying here today is your doing?" I took a step towards him. "As the eldest of the Dawsons, your conduct has been disgraceful, leading your siblings astray. You believed a nanny's slanders and killed your own flesh and blood, causing Hazel to take her own life, while you just walked away. Do you really think you can escape?"

Jerome's gaze darkened at my words, his fists clenching tighter.

"Getting angry with me is pointless! Do you know who kidnapped your son in the first place?" I challenged him, my eyes filled with defiance. "You're such a fool, played for a sucker, even killing your own son! You're worse than a beast!"

I'd been itching to lash out at him, and today I finally had my chance.

"That sweet boy, the night he died, he came to me soaking wet to say goodbye! With his big watery eyes, he said, 'I'm leaving! Don't look for me! They won't feed me, they beat me, and tell me to keep quiet. I have to go! I don't know where, but someone is coming to get me!"

"You're lying!" Jaylan finally erupted with a roar, like a wild beast in its final throes.

"Lying? The same night you had your goons kidnap me, they shoved me into a drain pipe, and that's when the boy came to say farewell! He told me not to look for him anymore. Such a good boy, and you didn't deserve him."

He looked at me, his eyes redder with bloodshot fury.

"Don't look at me like that; if I was afraid of you, I wouldn't be here! I'm just here to pay respects to my children's grandmother and to speak some truths," I continued unabashedly. "I've wanted to confront you with the truth for a while now, Jerome."

A strange silence fell over everyone in the room, including the previously ranting Jessica.

"Do you know? Zora is the mastermind behind all this drama. She's been your brother's trusted advisor. Your siblings went to all the trouble of swapping Evan's DNA results, and you believe Clara, the woman by your side, is some innocent little doe?" I laughed darkly.

"Zora used Clara to switch the reports, played you for a fool, and in the end, you ended that poor child's fate with your own hands. You arrogantly thought you could control everything, yet you couldn't even protect your own child. And you still have the audacity to aspire to greatness! Jerome, that's not how dreams work!"

Jerome's breathing became labored, his eyes shifting to Jaylan with a coldness that spoke volumes.

I seized the moment, "And your clever little brother, trusting Zora above all, brought her into Hazel's ward. Who would've guessed she'd be so vicious, sowing discord, and together with your dear sister, they caused Hazel's death. Now you're left as a fugitive wanted by police, while Zora walks free. Where's your dignity now, Jerome?"