Medical Center.
After receiving the carefully selected birthday gift from Adam, Ted firmly declined Adam's invitation to witness Mr. Linden's tragic state firsthand.
Watching Ted practically flee the scene, Adam couldn't help but chuckle.
Maybe one day, if Ted falls in love again or if love sweeps him away like a tornado, he'll ask beforehand:
"Do you play with guns?"
If not, then he can sincerely say, "I loved you once, but not anymore. I don't want to keep hurting you."
But if they do?
Well, then he'll get the same thrilling experience Adam had when he first crossed over—flanked by the magical Amy on one side and Little Red Riding Hood Juno in the distance.
Breaking up? Not an option.
The only way was to endure, cautiously and carefully, until the woman grew tired of him and ended things herself.
That's definitely not cowardice!
It's simply following one's heart while staying within the lines!
---
### Emergency Room.
"What's going on?"
When Adam arrived, he saw two police officers chatting outside an examination room and turned to ask a nurse.
"A female college student..."
The nurse immediately leaned in, chattering excitedly as she recounted the incident in vivid detail.
"From Princeton University?"
Adam's expression shifted.
He knew it was unlikely to be Peggy—or Leonard and Dr. Elizabeth Princeton cosplaying, for that matter—but he still couldn't help but take a look.
The two officers glanced at Adam briefly before returning to their conversation, indifferent.
Through the window blinds, Adam saw a beautiful young woman sitting inside, looking utterly drained. A cigarette trembled between her fingers as she took a shaky drag. Tears had long since ruined her makeup.
Nurse Carol was beside her, gently comforting her and encouraging her to report the incident.
Adam shook his head and walked away.
---
### Nightfall.
By then, the full story had spread throughout the hospital.
After hearing it, Adam immediately called his assistant, Lisa, asking her to keep an eye on Peggy. He even considered hiring two female bodyguards for her.
Then, he called Leonard, warning him to be careful as well.
In this era, Leonard was prime fresh meat—he needed to be extra cautious out there.
Finally, Adam called Juno to talk about what had happened.
"This Princeton student was originally at her apartment when her boyfriend's close friend drove up, saying her boyfriend had sent him to pick her up for a get-together.
She didn't think much of it and went along.
When she arrived, she realized her boyfriend wasn't there—only two other guys.
Her boyfriend's good friend claimed he'd be there soon and suggested they start drinking while they waited.
Then, after a few drinks… things got blurry. She never saw her boyfriend that night."
"She couldn't say no?"
Juno asked on the other end of the line.
But before Adam could reply, she already had the answer:
"Obviously, she did. Otherwise, it wouldn't have escalated to calling the police and seeking medical evidence."
"Yeah."
Adam could hear the shift in Juno's tone. He suddenly regretted bringing this up, considering her other identity, but all he could do now was show concern.
"You and Karen should also be careful. There are a lot of bad people in this world."
"Way more than you think."
Juno's voice dropped, tinged with cold anger.
"Adam, do you know how many sexual assault cases are reported across the U.S. every year? You wouldn't believe it—20% of all women report an incident to the police annually."
"What?!"
Adam sucked in a sharp breath, stunned.
"And that's just the reported cases," Juno continued, her voice icy. "Nearly 50% of them involve couples or happen within marriage. But even if we remove those, the percentage is still over 10%. If we account for unreported cases, the real numbers are terrifying. What you encountered today? It happens every single day. Colleges are especially bad."
The high rate among couples and marriages made sense.
In the U.S., dating often follows a three-date rule before intimacy, but marriage is a much bigger commitment—leading to an average dating period of 4.3 years.
During that time, if a woman suddenly feels uncomfortable, she can accuse her partner of assault.
And marriage is no exception.
At first glance, it seems like a strong protection for women.
But when the percentage gets this high, it overwhelms law enforcement—turning police and society numb to the issue.
Which, in turn, only worsens the problem.
Adam was speechless.
He'd always known this was a serious issue, but he had never imagined it was this widespread.
And knowing Juno's pragmatic nature, he didn't doubt her statistics for a second.
His mind drifted back to the two officers from earlier.
They hadn't cared in the slightest. They had repeatedly pressured the victim, their expressions practically saying, "Why are you wasting our time?"
Because in their eyes, half of these cases—those involving couples and marriages—ended with settlements or dropped charges.
To victims, that meant resolution and closure.
To police? It meant wasted time and resources.
So even officers who started their careers with righteous ideals eventually became jaded, just wanting to wrap things up quickly.
"Why don't I remember this being such a big deal when we were in college?"
Adam asked, puzzled.
"It depends on the place," Juno scoffed. "Female college students report the least because they have the most to lose. They have bright futures ahead of them. If they come forward, they'll face endless humiliation—not just from classmates, but from the entire legal process."
"You mean the trial?"
Adam caught on.
"Exactly."
Juno's tone darkened.
"As a victim, if you go to trial, you'll be forced to relive every single detail. And I mean every detail—more than most novelists could ever imagine.
99% of people break down under that kind of second-wave trauma and relentless humiliation.
Even if you manage to testify, the defense attorney will poke holes in your story from every angle.
Why were you dressed so provocatively?
Were you asking for it?
You were classmates, friends—how can you prove you weren't in a relationship?
More often than not, the victim ends up emotionally wrecked, the case collapses, and justice is never served.
Over time, these crimes continue, but barely make the news.
Because by now? Nobody's surprised anymore."
Adam inhaled sharply, unsettled.
"Should I hire bodyguards for you and Karen too?"
He asked, serious.
"No need," Juno replied with a chuckle, her previous coldness melting away. "It's horrifying, yes, but it's not lawless chaos. As long as we stay cautious and avoid risky situations, random home invasions are still rare."
Adam frowned. "Rare doesn't mean never."
"Relax," Juno reassured him. "Karen and I are always together. And don't forget—we handle scalpels for a living. If someone tries anything? Heh."
She let the implication hang in the air.
"But Peggy? You should definitely keep an eye on her. She's in college, she has no defense skills, and—let's be honest—she's your precious little gem. You can't be too careful."
"I'm hiring her six female bodyguards. Right now."
Adam said without hesitation.
For once, he didn't joke back.
He was dead serious.
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