Chapter 21
Robert brandished a sheet of paper and pen from his side as if they were a weapon.
Leaning in and staring into it with my tired eyes, I could see it was our contract marriage agreement.
He addressed me harshly, shoving the paper to my face. “Sign this Lily to terminate our contract marriage agreement. I don’t want anything binding me to a murderer. If you check the bottom part, you’ll see I have already signed mine. Sign yours let’s get this sham of a marriage over with.”
The detective after getting hold of himself, tried to stop him, a disapproving look on his provoked face. I can’t believe Robert pushed him away like that. “Mr. Wilson, this is not the right time or place to do this. I suggest you wait and get your lawyer to handle this.”
Robert washed him with a cold glare. “I’m not leaving this station until she signs this. Try to stop me and I swear I’ll make sure you lose that badge around your neck and your license forever,” he threatened ruthlessly before returning his cruel gaze to me.
The chief detective tried to protest again but I managed to stop him. All the commotion was giving me a bad headache. The chief detective had tried his best for me and I was grateful. It seemed everyone at the station was against me except him. He was the only one looking out for me. The last thing I wanted was for him to lose his job because of me. I knew Robert was capable of doing such because of how rich and powerful he was. He has transformed into something I couldn’t recognize anymore a ruthless soulless monster that cares for nothing but his own selfish desires
I was surprised the policemen around were not intervening and making attempts to send them out of the station for causing this level of commotion. They only observed from a corner. Perhaps, they were paid off too to do nothing or maybe were afraid because of the influence and power Robert’s family held in the state.
“Don’t worry chief detective,” I said, holding his hand from my cuffed wrist to stop him from protesting further. I looked at Robert with a grave expression and sniffled in a painful sob. “I will sign it. I will sign the papers.”
“Good,” he commented with bared teeth.
I could see Scarlett beaming recklessly like a child behind him. She must be very happy her wish was finally coming true. She had been giving me the devious look she had on her face the other day she sabotaged my presentation at the conference room. That was enough to tell me she must have had a hand in this. I didn’t know she managed to pull these kinds of complicated tricks off but one day I pray nemesis catches up with her.
I never thought Robert would want to terminate our marriage contract agreement so soon. I thought he’d wait till it expired. In the contract, it was stated our marriage would last for four years. We were only two and a half years into it.
Nevertheless, that didn’t matter. Our marriage started crumbling right from the moment we signed the marriage contract and consummated it in court. There was no denying it needed no saving. He married me just to keep his grandpa happy. Now that his grandpa was gone, I was pretty much useless to him.
At this point, I was tired of fighting for a love that never truly existed. Tired of fighting for a man that was never worth it from the start. I can’t keep forcing him to love me because he never will. His heart has and will always belong to Scarlett. If I continue fighting, he’ll only hate me more and continue to treat me like trash. I don’t want my baby to grow up knowing his father didn’t love his mother. I don’t want him to grow up knowing his father never wanted him from the beginning, so it’s time to let go.
I was uncuffed and after I finished signing the paper, Robert eagerly snatched it. He thoroughly went through it to make sure everything was intact.
“Thank goodness this was never a real marriage, and we didn’t have the proper wedding my grandpa wanted. Can you imagine what the world would think, knowing my own wife murdered my grandfather in cold blood?”
“I didn’t do this, Robert,” I said quietly as I was cuffed again.
Angrily, he stopped staring at the paper and focused his attention on me. His jaw was clenched tight and shaking and I could feel the heat that emanated from his blood boiling. “Not only are you a traitor and a murderer, you’re also a liar. Don’t you ever get tired of giving yourself a bad name? The evidence was clear and you have every reason to do it. You wanted to get back at me for not believing you and firing you from work, for threatening to sell your worthless properties, for rejecting your love, I could keep going on if you want me to…”
“No…” I shook my head weakly so he could stop. “There is no need. You don’t have to.”
“Admit you did this Lily, and just maybe, we may consider reducing the death sentence waiting for you in court because we will make sure you get it,” he said with no trace of sympathy in his voice.
I stared at the man I have loved dearly ever since I was a preteen looking at me like I was something that came out of a dumpster. Tears burned at the back of my eyes and a sharp pain pierced deep in my heart.
Before, I had feared I might never get the courage to get over him. But I have come to accept the harsh reality that we were never meant to be. Accept that for one to thrive in life, you have to cut some people off. Robert was one of those kinds of people and from today henceforth, I’m cutting him off for good. After all, no one dies of heartbreak. That is if I even live long enough to experience it.
“The only crime I ever committed wasn’t murder, Robert,” I said quietly to him. “It was simply loving you. I don’t think anyone has ever loved you the way I did. I loved you to the point I was willing to sacrifice myself for your happiness. But not anymore. I’m over all that shit now. Sooner or later, you’ll regret what you’ve done, and you’ll realize what a huge mistake you made. And by then, it might just be too late.”
With that said, I turned to the chief detective and gave him the go-ahead order. He gave a firm nod in understanding and started guiding me down the hallway to where the cells were.
“Start counting the remaining days you have left to live, Lily Jones,” I heard Robert say behind me but I didn’t react neither did I look at Martin’s furious face as we passed him. I locked my heart in my chest and kept my head low.
Suddenly, Scarlett swished in to block me, causing me to lift my gaze. The chief detective growled in frustration. But before he could say something, Scarlett lifted her fingers, letting them dance in the air. An expensive-looking ring glinted on her fourth finger.
“He proposed,” she revealed with a playful grin. “We’re getting married. How does that make you feel?”
“Great,” I said with a dry smile. “I wish you two the best in your marital journey. You can have him. He’s all yours for all I care. Now, if you’d excuse us?”
Her brows furrowed, and she glared at me indignantly before stepping aside. Maybe she expected me to react differently, but I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction anymore.
We were halfway to the cell when I felt something like a mallet was smashed into the side of my head from nowhere, causing me to wince as my steps faltered.
“Are you okay, Mrs. Wilson?” The chief detective noticing this, asked in concern as he supported me from falling. “Perhaps I should call the medics?”
“No…” I muttered, managing a smile. “You don’t have to. I’m fine. Just a little headache. It will subside. And it’s Miss Jones now.”
He shrugged and tried to mask his worry, but I could tell he was still concerned. He opened the cell and uncuffed my wrist, letting me in.
“If you need anything don’t hesitate to call for my attention,” he said kindly. “I’m Detective Carter by the way.”
I nodded and gave him a small smile. But as I made my way into the cell, I felt that throbbing pain in my head again. Only this time it got worse. My vision blurred and I struggled to keep my eyes open. The ground beneath me felt like it was made of jelly, everywhere spinning around me.
“Chief Carter…” I called out and tried to turn to him as he was already making his way down the hallway.
But the pain became unbearable. My knees buckled and gave up underneath me, causing me to plonk onto the floor like a log.
My entire body felt like it was on fire, yet I couldn’t move a muscle. I felt paralyzed. I could barely feel my breath as it echoed in my ears. I never knew breathing could be so difficult until now. My eyelids grew heavy, fluttering uncontrollably as I tried to keep it open.
“Someone help…” I cried out in a whimper, feeling tears roll out from the corner of my eyes.
That was when I saw a shadow rush in and crouch beside me, touching the side of my neck.
“Someone call the medics, we’re losing her!” He shouted as darkness overtook me.