Chapter 59

Zoey asked again, "What about your family?"

"They're out of town, quite far away," Ruby replied.

"And your friend isn't answering the phone, so you're just staying outside?" Zoey glanced at the nearby hotels and pointed, "You should find a place to stay with your child. You can't just wait for your friend."

Zoey could guess why her friend wasn't answering the phone.

Ruby was a woman who was often subjected to domestic violence, and she could always talk about her inner turmoil.

The first time, her friend might be sympathetic, feeling sorry for her and taking her in.

The second time, maybe the same, but by the third or fourth time, she would think Ruby was particularly annoying.

Ruby slowly lowered her head, "I have no money. All the money at home has been squandered by him!"

Zoey looked at Ruby and frowned, "You don't even have money for a hotel?"

"Yeah, I have less than a hundred dollars left. I thought it would be enough for the next few days, but who knew... I can't even afford a cab now."

"Where does your friend live? Even if you take a tour around the city, it shouldn't cost more than fifty dollars." Zoey was now a bit speechless with herself, wondering why she got out of the car.

"If I get a hotel, I won't have money for food."

Zoey asked her unnecessarily, glancing at her, "Oh, then you figure it out yourself. I'm leaving now."

It wasn't that she was heartless, but she also had no money.

And her salary barely covered her own living expenses. If she gave it to Ruby, she would go hungry. So she decided to stay out of it.

She turned to leave, but Ruby called out to her, "Officer Brown, wait!"

Zoey turned back, giving her a cold look, "What's the matter? I have no money."

"No, it's not about money. Can you help me talk to my husband? My child has school tomorrow, and I haven't heard from my friend. I..."

Zoey guessed her intention, and she hated this kind of thing the most.

She replied extremely coldly, "Sorry, I'm off duty now. If you need help, call 911. It's free to call 911"

Ruby didn't expect that this young-looking girl, who was also a police officer, would have no sympathy at all.

Zoey responded to her so coldly. But Ruby had no one else to turn to.

She could only cry and beg Zoey to help her. She was about to grab Zoey's clothes, but Zoey quickly dodged.

"Officer Brown, I called the cop earlier today. We've met."

"Sorry, I said I'm off duty. If you need anything, call 911." Zoey watched her cry even more, and everyone passing by glanced at them.

"Officer Brown, can't you just be kind?"

Faced with Ruby's repeated pleas, Zoey's attitude became even more unkind, "You reported domestic violence, and we have handled it. You reconciled in front of us, and we gave you a warning. You said you didn't need it, right? Now, after leaving the police station, you got beaten again, and you don't want a divorce. You want me to plead with your husband? Plead for what? For him to hit you lighter next time? Isn't this your own doing?"

Ruby felt even worse being lectured by a young girl like Zoey. "Officer Brown, you can say this because you're young, inexperienced, and not married, so I don't blame you. When you get married and have kids, you'll understand. Divorce isn't that easy. My daughter is still young. Having a father is better than not having one."

Zoey wouldn't be convinced by Ruby's foolishness, "So, you think your so-called motherly love is great? You'd rather let her have a father like that than admit she's living in an unhealthy family? In such a family, what's the difference between having a father and not having one?" Zoey really wanted to laugh at Ruby, who was extremely foolish.

Ruby thought of all she had endured for her child over the years, and Zoey's words made her cry even more, "No, when you have kids, you'll understand."

Zoey didn't want to hear about her misfortune. She had already been bothered by Emma today and didn't want to be bothered a second time.

Besides, Emma had paid for it!

Zoey's eyes unconsciously looked at the girl Ruby was holding. The girl seemed numb to Ruby's crying. There was no trace of the innocence and liveliness of a seven or eight-year-old on her face instead with indifference.

Her indifferent eyes were very out of place on a seven or eight-year-old girl.

At this moment, she was blinking and looking at the unfamiliar Zoey.

Zoey didn't want to deal with Ruby's foolishness and turned to leave.

"Officer Brown!" Ruby called out to Zoey again, "For the sake of us both being women, please help me."

Zoey hated people who were foolish and wanted others to be foolish with them.

Her patience had reached its limit, "Can't you still go to your friend's place?" With that, she left without looking back.

She didn't care about Ruby crying and shouting her name repeatedly.

Zoey was afraid of being stuck with her, so she quickened her pace and returned to the car.

Robert was smoking. When he saw her return, he stubbed out the cigarette with his foot and asked, "Who was that?"

Zoey got into the passenger seat first, and Robert followed.

She briefly recounted the situation to him.

"That's it, Officer Davis," Zoey said as if reporting for duty.

After hearing it, Robert didn't find it surprising, "Domestic violence is common. Not just in your precinct, but even in our criminal investigation department, we get a few domestic violence cases every year. But you know, the ones that reach us are usually where the man accidentally kills the woman, or the woman can't take it anymore and kills the man."

He shrugged helplessly, "The funniest thing about these cases is that when we ask the suspects why they didn't just get a divorce instead of killing, they all say they wouldn't divorce. Isn't that ridiculous?"

For the first time, Zoey felt she could relate to Robert. Because it was indeed ridiculous!

She commented, "Those who don't get divorced are asking for it. If they are willing to bear it, there's no need to report it. Who has time to listen to their suffering?"

"Exactly. There's a book that says marriage is a woman's second choice," Robert suddenly got serious and advised Zoey, "So, you better be careful when choosing a boyfriend."

Zoey had never included having a boyfriend in her life plan, let alone getting married and having kids.