Chapter 583

Everyone looked at Joanna.

Joanna took a step forward.

She glanced at Preston first, then turned her gaze to Susan.

Joanna's eyes were cold.

Her gaze held undisguised hatred.

She spoke slowly.

"Savior?"

She let out a scornful laugh.

"Even if you saved Preston's life, that's his debt to you. What does that have to do with me? Today, you tried to kill me, and you want me to show mercy? Dream on!"

Evelyn's eyes showed approval.

She had been observing Joanna.

This girl came from a humble background, just a Sterlingny, yet she never wallowed in self-pity.

When she encountered them at home, she always carried herself with dignity.

She possessed a kind of innocence, tempered by years in society yet remaining untainted by its cynicism.

Susan swallowed hard.

"Joanna, I really know I was wrong..."

Joanna ignored her and picked up her phone again.

Susan immediately cried out.

"Joanna! Even if you call the police, it's useless! Without evidence, they won't do anything to me! You're not dead, why won't you let this go?"

Preston was stunned.

He looked at Susan in disbelief.

Was that really something the kind, innocent Susan he thought he knew would say?

Joanna said coldly.

"Perhaps if I had died, no one would have called the police for me. But precisely because I'm alive, I must seek justice for myself!"

Seeing she couldn't persuade Joanna, Susan immediately turned to Preston.

"Preston, save me! I can't go to jail... I really didn't mean to kill anyone, I just wanted to scare her... I didn't..."

Preston stared at her.

"What you did broke the law!"

"Preston, if Joanna doesn't press charges, this whole thing can go away... Can you talk to her? Please!" Susan sobbed uncontrollably, her whole body trembling.

"For the sake of saving your life... just for saving your life, can you ask Joanna to forgive me!"

Preston froze.

A life-saving debt could not be forgotten.

He clenched his fists and looked at Joanna.

Seeing this, Joanna's eyes dimmed with disappointment.

She gave a bitter smile.

"You want to plead for her?"

Preston immediately said.

"No, I'm not, I just..."

He spoke.

"I owe her my life, Joanna. I can't just stand by and do nothing..."

Susan instantly grew excited.

"Yes, yes! Preston, I'm still your fiancée, you can't abandon me..."

She looked at Joanna.

"I advise you not to call the police. The Valentine family's surveillance footage might already be corrupted. As long as Preston helps me delete the footage, this whole matter is over. I have the Sterlingny as a witness that I was just joking with you earlier!"

Hearing these shameless words, Joanna couldn't help but look at Preston again.

She suddenly felt disappointed.

A little sad.

And an inexplicable sense of dejection.

She stared hard at Preston.

"You would really help her delete the footage?"

Preston was stunned.

Susan looked at him.

"Preston! Don't forget I almost died saving you! I was injured on my arm... You'll help me, right?"

Preston's jaw tightened.

He looked at Joanna again.

Joanna clenched her fists.

She looked at the emergency number on her phone screen, momentarily unsure whether to dial.

The next moment, she heard Preston's voice.

"I won't watch her go to jail. I owe her my life. Joanna, I won't give you the footage."

Joanna gave a bitter laugh.

Preston must truly love Susan after all.

That's why he was acting this way.

He had always been a fair and kind person.

But now, for Susan's sake, he had become like this.

Beside them, Susan breathed a sigh of relief.

She looked at Joanna triumphantly.

"Joanna, Preston said he won't hand over the footage. Don't waste your effort..."

Joanna felt like a fool.

Knowing full well Preston would unconditionally protect Susan, why was she still here humiliating herself?

She lowered the hand holding her phone.

But the next moment, her wrist was caught by Preston.

She looked up and heard Preston speak.

"But you were wronged. This was indeed our fault. You should still call the police. When the police arrive, I'll say I instructed her to do it."

Joanna was stunned.

Preston looked at her steadily.

"I know you've always sought true fairness in this world. Even when working as a Sterlingny at home, you never bent your spine. This time, I won't let you compromise for reality. But you're right. I'm the one who owes Susan, not you. So, I'll take her place in jail. That can be considered repaying her for saving my life!"

These words left Joanna bewildered.

Beside them, Susan cried out in shock.

"Preston! There's no need for that! Really, no need! As long as you don't produce the video, or if we go to the Valentine family's surveillance room right now and delete it, this can all be covered up! Preston, why go to such lengths? Besides, if you go to jail, how can we get married!"

As soon as Susan said this, a flicker of relief passed through Preston's eyes.

For some reason, upon making this decision, Preston felt a sense of release.

Finally, he wouldn't have to marry Susan...

In that moment, Preston suddenly had an epiphany.

He realized he wasn't actually in love with Susan.

He had just been bound by a sense of obligation, suffocated by her claim on his life.

So when this opportunity arose, when he could finally repay this life debt, he felt a sudden weight lift.

He looked directly at Susan and spoke softly.

"Let's call off the engagement."

Susan was completely dumbfounded.

"What did you say?"

"I said I'm going to jail, so let's call off the engagement."

Preston repeated.

Susan stood frozen in shock.

Then she suddenly threw herself at Preston, grabbing his wrist.

"Preston, don't joke... I was wrong, I really know I was wrong."

But Preston pulled his hand back.

Seeing this, Susan whirled to face Joanna.

"Joanna! Can you really bear to see him go to jail? Do you know he didn't sleep at all last night, investigating who the culprit was!"

Joanna looked blankly at Preston.

Preston, however, seemed freed from shackles, his whole demeanor radiating relief.

He looked at Joanna.

"Joanna, call the police. It's your right."

Looking at Preston like this, Joanna suddenly gave a low laugh.

"Preston, Susan, you win."

She put down her phone.

Joanna couldn't bring herself to watch Preston take the blame for Susan.

She could only delete the entered number digit by digit, then lowered her gaze.

"I won't call the police."

Susan immediately sighed in relief and rushed to Preston.

"Preston, that's great! We can still get married!"

But the next moment, Preston pushed her arm away.

Susan froze.

Preston looked at her and said.

"Whether Joanna calls the police or not, our engagement is over."