Wasn’t I the Female Lead of a Regret Novel? [Novel] Chapter 48

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CHAPTER 48

“Release her.”

Pale as a sheet, the team leader hurriedly gave the order to his subordinates.

The locked detention cell swung open, and Vendia stepped out on her own two feet.

“So you pin down a suspect relying solely on the testimony of someone who accepted a bribe, without even bothering to verify the facts?”

“That was… a temporary oversight on our part…”

“Do I really need to waste my time looking at someone so unqualified ever again?”

Ignoring the sweating team leader completely, Denross’s gaze swept over Gregory before shifting away.

“That will never, ever happen again!”

Grasping the subtext instantly, the team leader bowed his head. If sacrificing a single man could hush up the entire incident, it was practically a win for them.

“Gregory Hexadion! As of today, you are dismissed!”

“Wh-what? Team Leader, this is… I was wrong! Please, give me one more chance!”

Sobbing uncontrollably, Gregory pleaded on his hands and knees. Approaching him, Vendia looked down at the man with utter disdain.

“You should have known when to stop.”

A flare of anger surged inside Gregory, but at the mention that Denross was her husband, he realized exactly whom he needed to beg to. Unwillingly, his trembling hands reached out and clutched the hem of Vendia’s skirt.

“I was wrong. I must have lost my mind! Please, I beg of you, forgive me just this once…”

“Look at that, you even had to strip off the uniform you loved so much.”

Meeting her icy glare, Gregory’s face flushed bright red with sheer humiliation and disgrace. Yet, biting down on the tender flesh inside his cheek, he stammered out in desperate earnest, “Please… have mercy…”

“Take this opportunity to switch careers. Try becoming a real estate agent.”

Without a shred of mercy, Vendia turned away coldly.

“P-please! Just spare me this once!”

As a pale-faced Gregory frantically tried to grab her again, the officers stepped in to block him.

Vendia walked briskly toward the woman who was Ceracil’s mother. Without a second’s hesitation, her hand flew across the air.

“Agh! What do you think you’re…”

“You just killed Ceracil a second time.”

Her voice, steeped in genuine fury, was deadly enough to tear her apart. Ultimately, the woman shut her mouth tight. Vendia glared at the woman cupping her reddened cheek with bloodshot eyes, then turned on her heel and brushed past her.

The officers winced in shock and hastily cleared the path for her.

Stepping out of the station first and walking down the hallway, she spotted Ron a few paces ahead, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Gazing straight ahead with a dark, heavy expression as if he had suffered a shock, Ron’s eyes slowly shifted toward her.

The moment his crimson eyes met her blue ones, his closed lips parted.

“…Are you married?”

“You married that bastard? You?”

“How many times are you going to ask?”

“Did you deceive me?”

“When did I ever deceive you?! You never even asked! Besides, I only found out today myself, that you’re Marlon Shonfleck!”

“Is that even the same thing?!” Ron snapped furiously.

Vendia’s face crumpled in frustration. Ever since leaving the police station, Ron had been tailing her like a man who had just been scammed.

“You hid the fact that you have a husband! You lied about being married!”

“I told you he’s not my husband! We’re divorced!”

Finally, Vendia stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and yelled. Following behind her, Ron came to a sudden halt, keeping a pace of distance between them.

“What exactly did I deceive you about? Why does my marital status mean I tricked you? Did I ever say I wasn’t married? Why are you throwing such a tantrum, of all things?!”

Her head was already spinning with complications, and Ron adding to the chaos made her feel like exploding. Gasping for air, Vendia plopped down and crouched right where she stood.

“Hey, are you al…gah…”

Startled, Ron reached out, but realizing she hadn’t fallen, he pulled his hand back and roughly ruffled the back of his hair.

“Oh… Sasha. Let’s stay out of this.”

“I think that would be wise.”

A distance away along the street, Yulije and Sasha, who had followed them out, took one look at the situation and swiftly backed off.

“We didn't even know each other’s real names, so what is there to deceive?”

Vendia felt completely wronged. Had they ever exchanged their real names in the first place? Sure, she had recently learned more about him, but he had still been hiding his identity. They were nothing more than a landlord and a tenant.

“…Why did you get married? Was it an arranged marriage or something?”

“Something like that. More importantly, how do you know him, Ron?”

“Met him a few times when I was a kid.”

The look on his face made it painfully obvious that they weren’t fond memories.

“Unbelievable. I knew it the moment you said that Chris guy or whatever was handsome, but I didn't think your taste in men was underground level.”

Just listening to his commentary made it clear how intensely Ron loathed Denross.

“So what’s your real name?”

“Vendia Rose. I’d love to throw away the family name, but for now, that’s what it is on the registry.”

Hearing that, Ron repeated her name several times under his breath.

“Miss Dia.”

Suddenly, another voice cut in between the two of them. Ron and Vendia both turned to look behind them.

Unlike Yulije and Sasha, who had vanished into thin air, Denross was walking straight toward them.

Watching Denross approach, Vendia unbent her knees and stood up from her crouch.

Just as the news articles had reported, he seemed to be investigating the Shadow Phenomenon, dressed in a dark navy dress uniform with a longsword strapped to his waist.

He hadn't changed at all. The striking face that always commanded everyone's attention, the completely emotionless, smileless expression, and those glacial blue eyes so similar to her own.

The only subtle difference was a faint trace of exhaustion resting upon his features.

“Thank you for today. I appreciate your help.”

It was help she hadn't wanted. She didn't need a thing from him. Still, since it was thanks to Denross that she got out so quickly, she offered a clean, straightforward expression of gratitude.

Denross didn't answer. Instead, he simply stared fixedly down at her.

“How did you know? About the deposit records and the registry.”

“I merely looked into it, and it came up.”

“And that I was at the police station?”

“That, too, merely came up when I looked into it.”

Those were documents that couldn't possibly just 'come up' with a quick look. Yet his answer was unbothered, as if he had no intention of elaborating.

“Long time no see.”

Standing beside Vendia, Ron addressed him in a crooked, sarcastic tone.

However, Denross’s gaze didn't shift to Ron for even a fraction of a second. It was as if Ron were an invisible man. Sheer, total dismissal.

“I’ll pay you back for the favor.”

“That won't be necessary.”

“No, I definitely will. I can afford to pay back that much now.”

Vendia injected force into her voice, putting on a front.

She knew it was childish pride. Even so, she desperately wanted to let him know that she was living perfectly well without him.

“Do you believe this can be converted into money? If so, how much do you intend to repay?”

Calm blue eyes looked at Vendia without the slightest flicker of emotion as he asked.

“Listen to the way this bastard talks…”

“How much do you want?”

Cutting off Ron, who was about to step forward, Vendia stared directly into Denross’s eyes.

“I shall leave that to Miss Dia’s sincerity.”

In other words: figure it out yourself.

“Fine. I’ll prepare it.”

Hiding her discontent, Vendia answered.

His deep blue eyes captured Vendia, who was undeniably different from before.