Thelma could hardly believe what she was hearing; she felt her worldview had been severely shaken.
“I don’t smoke! You all know I’ve never smoked!”
Chris was also furious, but he softened his voice to comfort her. “Don’t worry. Once the police finish their investigation, they will clear your name.”
Thelma didn’t expect things to turn out this way. She missed her chance to participate in the competition to save someone, and not only that, her throat was injured, and it was uncertain if it would recover. Her calf was also hurt, and it might leave a scar. But at least the child was saved, which gave her some comfort. She never expected that her good intentions in saving someone would lead her to be suspected of arson.
For several days, she remained in a daze. During this time, Ali came to visit her. She was completely out of it, speaking only a few words with him. Then, after her throat had recovered a bit, she was taken to the police station for questioning as a suspect in the arson case.
At 21, she was in the prime of her life, and she should have been on stage shining brightly. Instead, because she saved someone, she found herself in a predicament. This was the first time her kindness had been so trampled upon.
After staying at the police station for about a week, she was released due to insufficient evidence. The first thing she did after coming out was to find the family that ran the breakfast stall, but they had already moved away, and no one knew where they had gone.
During her time at the police station, she was unaware of the situation outside. After she was released, she discovered that the incident had caused quite a stir, and many newspapers and magazines had reported on it.
However, none of the media had a unified stance; they all criticized that family for being ungrateful, claiming they were trying to extort compensation from others while going against their own conscience.
Perhaps due to public pressure, the family moved away from Brackenfield overnight. Later, Thelma learned from the newspaper that the owner of the bun shop had died in the fire, while the owner’s wife, attacked by public opinion, had committed suicide with her child.
When Thelma received this news, she couldn’t quite articulate what she felt inside.
Although Thelma’s suspicion was lifted, the school still suspended her classes, and she had to wait for further notice on when classes would resume.
Her throat was severely injured, and the inflammation lasted a long time, which also affected her vocal cords, causing permanent damage. It was likely she would never fully recover.
Even though her suspicion was lifted, she still felt immense pressure during that time. Being labeled an arson suspect, her voice ruined, and missing out on her dream stage, she might never be able to stand on stage and sing again.
Her sister, worried that she would overthink things alone, didn’t let Chris and Susan take her back to Mapleton city but kept her in Brackenfield. The once lively, positive, and cheerful Thelma suddenly became quiet, her whole demeanor turning dazed.
That night, Ava took her out to relax. By then, her throat had mostly healed, and Ava suggested she drink some alcohol to sleep well and welcome a new day tomorrow. Ava also said she was her best friend and would always stand by her side to support her, even if she couldn’t sing anymore; she could earn money to support her.
She felt comforted that even in her lowest moments, she still had good friends supporting her.
So she took Ava’s advice and planned to get drunk.
The emotions that had been bottled up for so long were suddenly released, and before she knew it, she was drunk.
“You going back like this will worry your sister. How about this: I’ll get you a room, and later I’ll call your sister to say I took you to my dorm to sleep. How does that sound?”
At that time, she was feeling hazy and just vaguely agreed. Later, Ava went to book a room, helped her onto the bed, and in the middle, worried she might be thirsty, gave her a bottle of water.
Having drunk too much, she fell asleep shortly after.
She was awakened by a knock on the door. Not knowing if it was because of the alcohol, Thelma felt dizzy and extremely hot.
Ava wasn’t in the room. Thinking the knock was from va, she didn’t think much of it, struggled to get up, and opened the door.
However, standing outside was not Ava but a strange old man, looking to be in his fifties. The strange heat sensation became more pronounced, and Thelma felt her rationality starting to blur. She rubbed her forehead and asked, “Who are you?”
The man clearly noticed something was off and quickly asked, “Miss Thelma, are you okay?”
Miss Thelma? This person knows her?
The man helped her sit back down on the bed and said, “Wait a moment, I’ll call the sir over.”
Thelma was completely confused. The strange feeling in her body was growing stronger—hot, unbearably hot—and there was an impulse, a shameful kind of impulse. She didn’t know what was happening to her.
