Cherry’s gaze was really too sticky. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Purple Summers couldn’t help but touch her own arm, soothing the goosebumps that had started to form.

"Aren’t you worried that he’ll find you annoying, clinging to him all day?"

Cherry was slightly taken aback, turned to look at her: "Will he?"

"I don’t know." Purple glanced at the back that had already disappeared from sight and sighed, "But if he doesn’t find you annoying, I’d be really impressed with him!"

Cherry seemed deep in thought, saying nothing.

Purple felt that Cherry had changed a lot, as if Alexander Summers had said, she was treating Gavin Graves as a lifeline, constantly focusing on him.

Nathaniel Summers was already gone; she couldn’t afford to lose Gavin too.

...

The break ended, and Purple as the prosecution began the closing arguments.

"This case is quite simple. A woman went to a man’s house; the man attempted to initiate relations, the woman refused, the man ignored the woman’s wishes, and eventually was counterattacked by the woman, resulting in an injury to his left eye—this is a very clear case of attempted rape."

As Purple spoke, she walked to the jury, smiling at them: "But... this case is also very complex. Do you know why? You’ll understand once the defense lawyer presents their closing arguments. I can guess what she might say."

She reached out her hand, counting off points: "She willingly went to a stranger’s house, willingly took off her clothes, didn’t scream loudly when he pounced on her, didn’t desperately resist; although she said to let go, sorry, her voice was too soft, equivalent to flirting. She didn’t clearly express a refusal, in the man’s eyes, this was playing hard to get, or even deliberate seduction—

So, how can we accuse Timothy Diaz? He’s just an innocent man with high adrenaline, unable to control his impulses, who made a mistake any man might make upon seeing a beautiful woman. What did he do wrong?"

Purple paused here, intentionally scanning the jury’s expressions, "If Timothy Diaz is not at fault, then is it Ms. Madison Richards, who was nearly assaulted, who is at fault? It’s... ridiculous!

Every year, fifty thousand rape cases are recorded in the country, with 80% committed by acquaintances. These are just the tip of the iceberg, because 90% of victims choose not to report! Why do so many choose silence? Why?

Because reporting is ultimately to seek remedy for loss, to get some form of justice for the harmed self! If the consequence of reporting is further harm to oneself, why report? What’s the point?!

The incident occurs, yet no one condemns the perpetrator’s crime, nor supervises the department’s failures. Everyone’s eyes only focus on that poor woman—concerned if her clothing was too revealing, if her behavior was too frivolous, if she cried out loudly enough for help, why she didn’t fight to the death to protect her chastity?

Then our media start bustling, promoting women to strengthen self-protection awareness, sparking various versions of self-defense techniques online.

What kind of world is this? To prevent rape, relying not on law, not on morality, but on women’s self-defense consciousness?"

Purple amused herself with her own speech, laughing self-indulgently: "Ah... I truly feel that women are too burdened, they not only have to take care of their own lives but also help men, preventing them from becoming rapists.

If we truly believe that a woman’s clothing and behavior can incite men to commit crimes, that even when a woman says ’no,’ a man might feel she’s playing hard to get, then it’s an insult not only to women but also to most normal men!"

Purple looked at them, her lips slightly curved up, smiling calmly: "Perhaps we should forget about men and women, put gender aside, we are all human. As humans, we should be kind and upright."