Stealing Your Heart

The woman looked like she was in her fifties, but it was also possible that she only looked that old because she was in a terrible condition. She had short hair and she was a thin and petite woman. Her eyes were in a daze until she saw the two men walking in.

Shen Peichuan stood beside Zong Jinghao and shared the information by whispering, “I’ve looked into this woman’s file. She murdered her own husband, and the file suggested that it was a premeditated murder. She was sentenced to life without parole.”

The woman eyed them warily. “Who are you? What are you doing here?” demanded the woman.

She was especially wary about Shen Peichuan because he was there that morning to interrogate He Ruilin’s cellmate. It seemed like Shen Peichuan was investigating He Ruilin’s death.

Shen Peichuan didn’t bother wasting any time and cut to the chase, “You killed He Ruilin.”

The woman looked a little surprised, but she defended herself, “What kind of nonsense are you spouting about? What proof do you have?”

Shen Peichuan grinned and replied, “I showed you my credentials this morning when I drop by to investigate the matter, so you must know who I am by now, don’t you?”

The woman remained quiet but nodded.

Shen Peichuan continued, “Naturally, evidence is needed to prove if someone is guilty, and I would’ve shut you up with proof even if you never asked for it. When you killed your husband, your fingerprint and DNA were left on the crime scene. I ran some tests on the skin we collected from He Ruilin’s fingernail, and the skin’s DNA matched yours. Your neck is injured, and it is obvious that it was caused by fingernails. You claimed that you did it to yourself, but how itchy would you have to be to scratch so much that you bleed? You lied at the time because you wanted to hide the argument you had with He Ruilin, but I know the truth. You didn’t kill her on purpose. Someone else ordered you to do so, am I right?”

The woman was petrified and she stared at him for a long time before she suddenly knelt down.

Shen Peichuan backed away and growled, “What are you doing? You should know that confessing to your crimes is the only way to lower your sentence. Staying quiet will only make your punishment that much harsher. There is no point in kneeling or begging me. The only way to help yourself is to tell us everything you know. Why did you kill her? Naturally, I would be able to figure everything out, even if you don’t confess. You can only interact with a few people within the prison. I can get to the truth quickly, even if I have to interrogate everyone.”

Shen Peichuan was being both the bad cop and the good cop.

The woman had her head down and confessed between sobs, “I knew it. I knew things would be discovered eventually, but I was blinded by my desire for my freedom. Warden Han asked me to do it. He said that he would help me get my sentence lowered if I kill for him. As you know, my husband is dead, but I have a daughter who just started her first year at the university. She is the only one I care about, and I thought that maybe I could still care for her once I am released.”

Zong Jinghao’s face was hidden by the darkness, so no one could read his expression.

however, seemed surprised by how quickly the

that

was still in high school, and she was just a teen at the time. My husband gambled, so we didn’t leave any money for her. On top of that, she was burdened with heavy debts. She had been working hard all these years to raise herself. Moreover, when she dropped by to visit me, she would even give me some money because she was worried about

heartbroken she became. She knew she hadn’t done right by her

That is the only reason I… I know I was wrong, and I know I shouldn’t

woman felt. She simply couldn’t let

a young lady to survive in this city without any support or power. She will have to work harder than anyone else just to survive. If you step forward and tell the judge everything you know, I will help your daughter get a job as soon as she

The woman wanted to help her daughter by keeping her daughter away from their village. Everyone there knew about how she had killed her husband, and if her daughter had to stay there, everyone would discriminate against her for having a

woman never confessed. The woman thought that Shen Peichuan

into trouble. Please, don’t let her get onto the path of self-destruction,” said the woman. She knew just how hard it was to survive in a society like that, and she knew

her daughter, but no one

some trouble? She wouldn’t have any family to help her, so who could she turn

was straightforward when he said, “I’m not a local here, and I am thankful that you trust me. I am also grateful for your honesty and your confession. If she ever gets into any trouble, or if she ever needs money

woman

her and helped her up before instructing, “Please don’t tell anyone about meeting us. Just act like nothing ever happened. Can you do

we don’t set off any

The woman nodded.

said, “Looks like we were right

have been recruited by

around to leave. Shen Peichuan told the security guard who was on the lookout,

woman called out for him and informed him, “My daughter studies in Hua Qing University

out of her pocket. That was the money her daughter gave her during

must lead a hard life