Chapter 780: Mind Your Own Business

Book:Became A Queen After divorce Published:2024-6-3

The sky darkened, covered with thick clouds. Amidst this desolate landscape, the old prison seemed particularly oppressive.
Polished leather shoes echoed lightly against the cold cement floor.
A young man in a well-tailored suit cut a tall, handsome figure as he silently followed the guards to the end of the corridor.
Using the surveillance, his gaze fixated on the room farthest inside, where everything appeared blurry due to insufficient lighting.
Yet, he still caught sight of that figure, his eyes as cold as unyielding ice.
The square-faced, small-eyed guard respectfully stood aside and said, “Mr. Foley, that’s Danielle.”
The young man clenched his fists silently, took a deep breath, his stern features remained unchanged, but his deep-set eyes revealed a hint of complexity and hesitation that flashed by. “I know.”
“She’s been here for over half a year. Despite being mistreated, she never cries, causes a scene, or fights back. She completes her assigned tasks honestly, and even helps the older inmates. She looks like a well-behaved girl, nothing like a murderer.”
As the guard spoke, the man suddenly turned his head, his gaze sharp and chilling. “Has she shown any unusual behavior recently?”
“Bullying among inmates is common. As prison guards, as long as they behave, we can’t and dare not interfere too much,” the older guard said with a helpless smile.
The man remained silent, his gaze fixed on the screen for a long time.
In the small room, there were only a few iron beds, each with a straw mat and nothing else.
Amidst this dirty and disorderly environment, she sat quietly, reading a book, wearing an oversized prison uniform and a ponytail. Her face, pale from lack of sunlight, showed neither joy nor sorrow, occasionally revealing a faint smile and dimples.
The young man instinctively wanted to reach out and touch her face, revealing a glimpse of a crisp white shirt cuff against his well-defined wrist.
Seemingly dissatisfied with her condition, a middle-aged woman came over, her hands on her plump belly, and looked down at her from a higher vantage point. Danielle, who was reading, finally noticed her and smiled.
“Who’s this?”
Why does she look so familiar?
Kelvin suddenly stopped, pointing at the woman.
The guard took a closer look and smiled, “She’s been in for smuggling contraband, so she’s been here for twenty years. This woman is fierce!”
He seemed to remember something, his face suddenly darkened, “Why did you put her and Danielle together?”
“Mr. Foley, forgive us. Recently, there’s been a crackdown on illegal activities like gambling and drugs, so the prison has become more crowded than before.”
“Oh.”
Kelvin looked at the woman; she was in her early twenties and looked almost the same as before she was imprisoned, due to her delicate features and appearance.
It seemed like she was doing well in prison.
Just as the guard was about to say something, he turned and left, gently closing the door to the monitoring room.
As he walked to an open playground, the man found a step and sat down, taking out a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.
The flame reflected in his eyes, like a fiery serpent, as he brought the cigarette slowly to his lips, his brows furrowed, his index and middle fingers delicately holding the cigarette.
With a deep breath, he exhaled slowly after a moment. The blue smoke billowed out, veiling his young and handsome face, his expression somber.
Taking another drag, he abruptly stubbed out the cigarette and threw it to the ground, crushing out the flickering ember. Then, he retrieved his phone, and with a press of his fingers, dialed a number. “Chris, any news on her?”
On the other end of the line, a drowsy voice crackled, tinged with sleepiness. “Mr. Foley, what can I do for you?”
“Find out if Danielle has had any unusual activities recently, or if she’s been in touch with anyone,” he instructed, without room for negotiation.
Chris hesitated for a moment…
New Year’s Day!
What a rare, beautiful day. Everyone embarked on collective outdoor labor.
Danielle wore a thin, oversized blue and white striped prison uniform, her small figure huddled within the clothes.
Her hands were bruised and itchy from the cold. She dared not scratch for fear of exacerbating the condition.
“Look at you, so delicate. Just washing some clothes has made you like this!”
The woman speaking was strong and robust, standing at 1. 7 meters tall and weighing at least 160 pounds. When she moved, the floor trembled slightly.
With a dry grass stem in her mouth, she disdainfully looked at the petite woman before her. She snatched Danielle’s clothes and tossed them to a middle-aged woman nearby. “Wash these properly for me, and be careful not to damage them.”
Taken aback, Danielle hastily reached out, “Maren, I can do it myself. No need.”
“You want your frail arms and legs look worse?”
After washing clothes all winter, her hands were red and swollen.
“I’m fine.”
“Quit talking nonsense. Since you regard me sister, it’s my responsibility to take care of you. Keep dilly-dallying, and I’ll smack you.”
Maren draped her coat over her shoulders, one hand in her pocket, emanating a domineering air of superiority.
“Why are you so good to me? Don’t you hate me?”
Why?
Maren’s expression faltered, a mix of sympathy and indulgence in her demeanor. Perhaps it started when she saw the letter in her clothes!
Those who had been hurt always meddle in others’ affairs, seeking comfort in similar souls.
Maren had also loved, hated, and even became what she was now for that person.
Seeing Danielle, she seemed to be looking at herself from twenty years ago, timid and innocent.
She grabbed Danielle by the neck, pulling her close until their eyes met. She gave her a harsh stare. “The most useless thing in this world is tears. Remember, be tough on yourself, and even tougher on others, or you’ll be the one who pays the price.”
“Thank you, Maren.”
“Yeah, heard you’re getting a reduced sentence, getting out next month?”
Maren instinctively reached for the half-smoked cigarette in her pocket and put it in her mouth.
Danielle took the lighter from her hand and lit it.
The blue smoke curled up, and she tried to take a drag, the fiery smoke entering her lungs, making her eyes water.
A faint blush appeared on her pallid face.
“You’re hopeless, can’t even learn to smoke in over half a year. What can you do? Get lost, you’re making me feel annoyed.”
“Take care, Maren. Smoking is bad for your health, better smoke less.”
Danielle awkwardly touched her head, gently reminding her.
“You’re such a busybody, hmph.”