Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 76

76 An Unlikely Rescue

Chandler sighed. “Alright. I’ll take you back.”

“No need. The bus is faster. Oh, here it comes! I have to go!”

Before Chandler could object, she dashed off and boarded the bus that had just pulled up.

He could only stand there helplessly and watch it drive away.

Tatiana, catching her breath, found an empty seat. It was the last bus of the night, nearly empty. She chose a window seat, letting the cool air rushing in soothe her frayed nerves.

Suddenly, someone sat down in the empty seat beside her – a plain–looking man in a jacket.

She glanced around the bus. There were plenty of empty seats, yet he had chosen to sit right next to her.

At first, she thought maybe he just preferred that spot and shifted closer to the window.

Slowly, the distance he had created closed again.

She was looking out the window and didn’t notice until a rough hand brushed against her leg. Startled, she jumped to her feet.

“What’s wrong, miss?” he asked, his face a picture of innocence.

Tatiana pressed her lips together, sat back down, and practically glued herself to the window.

But the man grew bolder. His hand reached out again, this time moving toward a more sensitive area.

“Don’t touch me!” she cried out.

Everyone on the bus turned to look.

The man put on a wounded expression. “Don’t yell, miss. I didn’t touch you. I’m old enough to be your father! Why would I touch you?”

He looked so unassuming, so harmless, that the other passengers immediately dismissed her. Someone whispered, “Thinks pretty highly of herself, doesn’t she? Like everyone wants to grope her.”

“Young people these days,” another scoffed. “Always picking on honest folk!”

Tatiana couldn’t stand it. She stood up. “Excuse me, please let me pass.”

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The man obliged, shifting his body to let her by. But as she squeezed past, his hand darted out and pinched her backside.

Her face flushed, then went pale with fury. She spun around and slapped him hard across the face.

Crack.

The entire bus fell silent.

Ten minutes later, at the police station.

The man, his face covered in scratch marks, sobbed, “Officer, you have to help me! I didn’t do anything, and she attacked me like this! I demand compensation!”

Tatiana trembled with rage. “You touched me!”

“That’s slander! Where did I touch you? Young lady, you need to get checked for paranoia!”

The police reviewed the bus’s surveillance footage. Due to blind spots and obstructions, the camera hadn’t captured the man’s actions, but it clearly showed her scratching his face.

Realizing there was no proof against him, the man grew bolder, crying dramatically about his injuries, demanding compensation, and insisting on a hospital examination.

Tatiana couldn’t explain. Her eyes were red with frustration, but she refused to admit she had intentionally harmed him.

With both sides at an impasse, the police told them to call their families.

Tatiana’s anger instantly evaporated. Who could she call?

After hesitating, she decided to call Chandler. He was a lawyer; maybe he could help.

Her finger slipped. Instead of dialing Chandler, she somehow called Jasper.

By the time she realized, she fumbled to hang up, but he had already answered.

“Speak.” His voice was ice.

“Wrong number! Sorry!”

Just as she was about to disconnect, he said, “You hang up, and you’ll regret it.”

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B

Finished

Her hand froze on the phone.

One of the officers took the phone from her. “Hello, is this Tatiana’s relative? Could you please come down to the XX Road police station?”

She tried to stop him, but it was too late. The call ended.

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