Chapter 501: Wang Is Very Worried About Granny Mae
Chapter 501: Chapter 501: Wang Is Very Worried About Granny Mae
Addie Sutton wasn’t after a reward. She politely refused the money and hurried out of the hospital.
She never expected the person to be a police officer—and a director, no less.
What was even more surprising was that two years had passed, yet Director Leto still remembered her.
Raleigh looked at her and said, "See? Good things happen to good people!"
If Director Leto hadn’t been so concerned about Addie Sutton’s disappearance and asked Renee Jennings for help, they might not have had a single lead even now.
"Really?" Addie Sutton asked, her head hung low as she listlessly prodded the noodles in her bowl. "Do good people really get rewarded?"
Sensing they had said the wrong thing, Raleigh shot a helpless glance at Renee Jennings.
Renee Jennings spoke gently. "Addie, don’t you like the noodles?"
Addie Sutton looked up to meet her gentle gaze and quickly shook her head. "No, not at all. The noodles are delicious."
Renee Jennings added, "If you don’t like them, you don’t have to eat them. I can take you out for something better later."
Addie Sutton stopped eating, a look of confusion and surprise surfacing in her eyes.
"I have three other friends." A faint smile touched Renee Jennings’s lips. "We can all get a late-night snack together tonight."
Addie Sutton’s eyes widened, a hint of anticipation creeping into her voice. "Really? Can I... really?"
’She’d been worrying about what to do tonight.’
’She didn’t want to go back to that house at all.’
’She couldn’t understand it. If they didn’t love her anymore, why would they report her missing?’
’Shouldn’t they have just ignored her, let her live or die on her own?’
Renee Jennings nodded gently. "I think that would be great. You can tell everyone what’s on your mind. Maybe we can help answer some of your questions."
A warmth spread through Addie Sutton’s chest, and her eyes began to sting. "Thank you."
"Shall we get going, then?" Renee Jennings said. "First, to the police station to give your statement?"
"Okay." Addie Sutton bobbed her head enthusiastically.
It wasn’t until they were in the police car that Renee Jennings noticed Addie was wearing Jane Conway’s clothes.
She placed an order with a courier service online, asking them to buy two outfits from a department store.
While Addie Sutton gave her statement, Renee Jennings and Goldie waited in the lounge area, browsing the photos of clothes the courier sent over.
Director Leto invited her to his office for tea, but she declined.
’She felt more at ease sitting out here.’
Just then, a policewoman approached her to discuss Ashlyn Gable’s desire to settle.
"A settlement is possible," Renee Jennings said flatly. "Have her apologize on all her platforms and admit she slandered me with fabricated rumors for personal gain."
"Understood." The policewoman went to the interrogation room and returned a few moments later.
"Consultant Jennings, Ashlyn Gable says she’s only willing to offer a monetary settlement."
"Money?" Renee Jennings let out a soft laugh. "What makes her think I’m short on cash? I will only accept an apology on all her platforms. There’s nothing else to discuss."
"Understood." The policewoman returned to the interrogation room.
"She won’t take money?" Ashlyn Gable’s face was a mask of disbelief. "Isn’t this whole thing just a ploy to squeeze money out of me? Go ask her. I’ll delete the video and pay her fifty thousand. Is that enough?"
Renee Jennings got a call and went to the station entrance to pick up the delivery from the courier. When she returned, she saw the same policewoman standing in the lounge area.
"Looking for me?" she asked.
The policewoman looked conflicted. "Consultant Jennings, Ashlyn Gable wanted me to ask... if fifty thousand would be enough..."
Renee Jennings pressed her lips together, a flicker of resignation in her eyes. "I’ll talk to her myself."
The policewoman let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"When Addie comes out, could you please give this to her? Let her pick an outfit to change into." Renee Jennings handed the policewoman the bag and walked straight to the interrogation room where Ashlyn Gable was being held.
She pushed open the door and walked in.
Ashlyn Gable’s face registered shock when she saw who it was. "You..."
Renee Jennings’s expression was placid as she spoke. "So, you’re the one asking if fifty thousand is enough?"
"That’s right." Seeing Renee in person, Ashlyn Gable thought she was getting somewhere. She lifted her chin arrogantly. "Fifty thousand, and this all goes away."
Renee Jennings scoffed. "You think that’s going to happen?"
"Not enough?" Ashlyn Gable’s brow furrowed in displeasure. "Sixty thousand, then?"
"Sixty thousand?" Renee Jennings rolled her eyes. "Didn’t you gain more than sixty thousand followers from this?"
Ashlyn Gable said warily, "My follower growth has absolutely nothing to do with this matter."
"You used me for clout, and now you’re saying it has nothing to do with you?" Renee Jennings stepped in front of her, her beautiful eyes narrowing. "No one wants your money. Apologize on all platforms. For every platform you used to slander me, you will post an apology."
Seeing Renee turn to leave, Ashlyn Gable yelled desperately, "One hundred thousand! Is one hundred thousand enough for you?"
Renee Jennings paused. She glanced back, her voice laced with frost. "Are you incapable of understanding plain language? I don’t want your money. Just apologize."
"I already offered to delete the video and pay you one hundred thousand, and that’s still not enough for you?" Ashlyn Gable shouted, refusing to back down. "Fine! One hundred fifty thousand! How about that?"
’If she apologized, the persona she’d worked so hard to build would be ruined. Would any of her fans stick around?’
Renee Jennings didn’t even bother to respond, walking out without a backward glance.
Back in the lounge, the policewoman handed the bag to her again. "Consultant Jennings, Addie Sutton isn’t out yet."
"I know. Thank you." Renee Jennings took the bag and glanced at Goldie, who had been waiting patiently.
She got up, walked over to the water cooler, and filled a disposable cup with water for it.
Goldie was indeed thirsty and lapped up the water quickly.
Renee Jennings stroked its head and asked gently, "Sunny, you said there was something you needed my help with, didn’t you? What was it?"
Now that she’d brought it up, Goldie started barking. "WOOF WOOF WOOF~ Miss, I’m really worried about Granny Mae!"
"Granny Mae?" Renee Jennings blinked and asked curiously, "Is she your owner?"
Goldie shook its head. "No, Granny Mae isn’t my owner. I don’t have an owner."
It had been a stray its whole life.
Renee Jennings’s brow furrowed slightly. "Then who is Granny Mae?"
Goldie said, "Granny Mae is a good human. She always feeds me, and she protects me when other dogs pick on me."
Renee Jennings nodded in agreement. "Granny Mae does sound wonderful. Can you tell me why you’re so worried about her?"
"Because I haven’t seen Granny Mae in days and days!" Goldie’s furry face was etched with sorrow. "I’m so, so worried about her!"
Renee Jennings smiled softly. "Granny Mae is a good person, and you’re a good doggy."
Goldie stared at her with wide, unblinking eyes and asked tentatively, "Miss, can you take me to find Granny Mae? Help me ask her if she’s doing okay."
"Of course," Renee Jennings said. "Do you know where Granny Mae lives?"
Goldie replied, "It’s not far from that place you went to today!"
"Alright, I understand." Renee Jennings looked at the dog, her expression softening.