June watched in shock as Ethan was taken out of the room with his mother hot on his trails and in tears. She couldn’t believe it.
“We need to go,” Thomas said when she remained rooted to her seat.
Lucy looked pale as she sat in the room while others made their way out of the place. “I don’t believe it.” She voiced June’s thoughts.
“Ethan Lontoc? He… I don’t think he… He had no reason to… Why would he kill my father to frame his wife… how can-”
“We will dissect this later.” June rose to her feet. “For now, we need to get out of here.”
The trio soon made their way out of the court, everyone occupied with thoughts on the general situation. They got to the car park and met with April, her mother and the lawyer.
April smiled as soon as she saw them. “Look who we have here, Mother.” She walked up to them. “How does it feel to be an epic failure?”
June stepped forward, shielding Lucy. “For someone whose husband will spend the rest of his days locked in prison you sure look happy.”
“I can’t help but be happy. I mean, he dug his grave when he thought he could stab me in the back. The law just caught up with the real offender.” She placed her hands in her pocket. “At least Lucy would rest easy knowing her father’s death has been avenged.”
The scenario was comic to April who couldn’t hide her joy. She would always be a step ahead. That was a statement she planned to prove to all of her enemies who tried to pin her down. She was a phoenix and would always rise.
This was only the beginning of her reign.
“Of course we are.” June said, “Unless we have the wrong person in jail, we are rightfully pleased by today’s outcome. Remind me again why you are so happy?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation, June.” A scoff, “I owe no one an explanation.”
“Not even your mother-in-law who just lost her son and husband?”
Evelyn stepped forward. “I will not stand here and watch you accuse my daughter of something she has been proven innocent of.” She snapped. “Are you so pained that your traps failed to catch my daughter?”
“You never cease to amaze me, Mother,” June said with a bitter taste on her lips. “One would think I was the adopted daughter.”
“You should never have come back.”
“I won’t.” June stepped back. “Congratulations, April. I must give it to you, I didn’t see this landslide victory coming. Perhaps I underestimated just what you are capable of.”
“The truth will always prevail, sister. The long arm of the law always catches up to offenders. What you witnessed today is proof of the sovereignty of South City Laws.” April said in mockery, eliciting small laughs from her mother and lawyer.
Stepping closer, she whispered. “This is just the beginning, sister. I will make you regret testing me.” She stood straight. “I hope you have a good time celebrating this win. I too will join the celebration, seeing we both got justice served.”
June bit her tongue as her sister entered a black jeep and zoomed off the premises. She didn’t need a soothsayer to know that the battle line had been drawn.
“She framed him,” Lucy said in disbelief. “She framed her own husband.”
“We need to be more careful. She is not to be underestimated.” June said to Lucy and the lawyer. “For now, we lay low and focus on the company. If we are going to stand her, we need to double our efforts.”
With that, they entered the car and left the place.
….
Days passed and June continued with her work. However, her relationship with Rafael seemed to dwindle as he barely came home from work. It seemed like he avoided everyone like a plague.
That night, June decided to confront him. After dinner with Luis and her mother-in-law, she stayed up, waiting for her husband to return. Two hours passed with her on the couch but there was no show.
She retired to her room to shower and sleep, only to hear his drive-in. After bathing, she dressed in decent clothes and headed to his office.
After a few knocks without an answer, she squeezed the handle and found it locked. An unusual thing when it came to Rafael was his unhealthy relationship with his work.
She went to the kitchen, sitting room and even Luis’s room but there was no sign of him. Just when she decided to return to her room, she spotted an odd sight down the hall.
Rafael’s bedroom door was open. Ajar. The same room he had warned her never to enter – A room that was always locked and prohibited from entry. She closed the gap between her and the door and looked into the dark.
Her breath caught when she saw a form on the floor. Rafael was lying on the floor, seeming knocked unconscious. Stunned, she rushed to him, placing his head on her lap and shaking him awake.
“Rafael! Rafe! Are you okay? Darn, somebody help!”
June struggled to get out her phone, the dim light rays shadowing his face.
“Don’t call anyone,” Rafael muttered, opening his eyes.
“What’s going on? I need to call Carson! Are you hurt anywhere.”
Rafael shook his head struggling to speak. “Don’t call him. Please..” His voice depicted a vulnerability that made June freeze.
“What can I do?” She asked in a mix of confusion and worry. “Tell me, how can I help?”
“Take me to bed.”
“!!!”
“Help me up,” Rafael said when she suddenly went quiet.
June slapped herself in the head for thinking the unthinkable in such a dire situation. Immediately, she got to work, helping him up and placing him on the barely-made bed.
She heaved a sigh when she successfully completed the task, only noticing the state of the room afterwards. It was clear that the room had been lived in for some time, which made her assume all the while they thought he was at work, he probably holed himself up in here.
Rafael groaned and June was returned to reality.
“Are you feeling pain anywhere?” She asked, worried once again.
“First drawer,” Rafael managed to speak. “Drug..”
With the swiftness of an eagle, June opened the drawer and caught sight of a tablet. It was a stomach pain drug. Was he feeling hurt in his stomach? She thought and quickly looked around the place for a cup.
Thankfully, there was a fridge by the corner. She dived into it and immediately got a cup and a bottle of water. She returned to Rafael’s side, helped him up and fed him the drug.
As soon as she touched him, she realised he was running a temperature. Her brows squeezed as she felt his body and it was hot, too hot. She needed to do something.
Rafael lay on the bed, sweating and wincing in discomfort. The sight of him was both ethereal and weak. June rushed to the freezer, took out an ice pack and got to work.
June spent the night taking care of Rafael until his fever went down and he seemed a bit more rested. Soon enough, June fell asleep beside him.