Rachel sat quietly at the dining table, eating her breakfast of waffles, scrambled eggs and bacon. She peeked at George who was eating at the opposite end of the table.
Something was off.
Maybe he had a lot on his mind or maybe he just didn’t feel like talking. It felt like he was keeping his distance from her, avoiding her.
During this period, precisely since the evidence showed Morris was behind her father’s case and when Morris also tried harming Sophia, George had been acting strange. He was distant.
He didn’t treat her poorly or anything like that but he wasn’t himself like the way he was when they first got married. He answered all her questions whenever she asked any but he never really ‘talked’ to her.
Most of their conversations so far were either about her father in prison, Mrs Patricia who was receiving treatment privately or Morris and Judith…..
They hardly talked about ‘each other’ these days.
Was it because they were in their twelfth month of marriage and they only had two weeks left based on their one year contract? Is that the reason why he has been acting strange?
Well, she already wanted to stay for a longer time with him. They would have a ‘serious’ marriage this time around, not bound by any contract. Also, they would have children if they wanted.
She wanted to stay with him as his wife and lover, she wanted to build a family and her life with him. She loved him.
Rachel sighed. Maybe he was just overwhelmed by what was about to happen today….
The shareholder meeting was today in about two hours. Morris didn’t know that Sophia was heading here soon with the police force all the way from The Central American Police Station. Today was going to be the last day that Morris and Judith would spend in this villa.
There was absolutely nothing even Morris could do about it. The evidences Sophia submitted to the police officers were just a lot and not just that, they were authentic and strong evidences.
Morris and Judith were really done for this time…..
Just yesterday, Judith had bumped into her. Instead of apologizing, she smirked at her saying; “Oh, forgive me. How do I even address you right now? It’s not like you’re really part of this family anymore. In less than three weeks, I’ll be seeing you out. You’ll finally be where you really belong, just like your father!”
After saying that, Judith laughed and walked away. It had taken Rachel everything within her strength not to walk over and smack the face of that irritating woman.
Well, it didn’t matter anymore. Today would be her end.
~~~~~*~~~~~
Judith stood in front of a large mirror in her bedroom and smiled pleasantly at the sight before her. She turned around, looking at her reflection in the mirror……
Beautiful.
She smirked, rubbing out a speck of hair from her three-piece suit. She never knew a cloth like this could make you feel confident, powerful and in control.
Today, during the shareholder meeting, she was going to stay by Morris’s side and sit on the chair that normally belonged to Patricia.
Who cares what happens?
Everyone would know that she was the new chairwoman in the waiting. That she was taking the position that rightfully belonged to her….
Judith laughed.
She was finally getting all the things she dreamed of for years. Morris would finally marry her and she would become the real woman of this villa and company. Everyone would finally respect her and stop looking down at her. She couldn’t wait for everything to be complete.
All that was left was to confirm if Patricia was really dead and bring an end to everything.
Judith picked her purse and turned around, taking one more look at her reflection in the mirror before heading out for the shareholder meeting.
Today was going to be an amazing day. She could tell.
~~~~~*~~~~~
The board members were all seated, waiting for the meeting to start. The door to the conference room opened and Morris walked in with Judith by his side.
Morris settled down at the head of the table while Judith moved to the other side to settle on the chair that normally belonged to Patricia.
“What are you doing? That is not your position!” A familiar voice asked.
The board members suddenly broke into small groups, muttering and mumbling things to each other about what was going on.
Judith and Morris turned their heads to look at the person that asked such a question.
“M-mr Anderson….” Morris muttered in surprise. Judith stared in shock. “… What are you doing here?”
“What sort of question is that, Mr Morris?” Mr Anderson chuckled in response “… Am I not part of the board members of Imperial Hub Limited?”
Morris thinned his lips and subtly glared at him. “That’s very true. I thought you were on leave for over a week now.”
“Yes, you are right. But I am back now.”
“So you just go on and off in my own company whenever you feel like?” Morris seethed through his teeth.
“Not exactly…” Mr Anderson smiled “… I am simply following orders from the ‘real’ chairwoman of this company who told me days ago to make sure I attend this meeting. I don’t expect you to have a problem with that right, Mr Morris?”
Judith flinched back at his remark of her being the ‘fake’ chairman. She glared at him and he returned the action, glaring back at her.
Morris forced a smile. “I suppose there is no problem with you showing up suddenly.”
Morris glanced at the board members and shareholders “Let this meeting begin then…”
“No!…” Mr Anderson enforced “… The meeting cannot begin when the chairwoman of this company is not present. It is against our protocol.”
Anderson turned and pointed at Judith sitting on Patricia’s chair, looking uncomfortable. “And you, what are you doing on that chair? Who gave you the permission to take over a person’s position when they are absent?”
The mumbling among the board members increased, some of them shook their heads in agreement with what Mr Anderson said.
Morris fisted his hand, glaring at Mr Anderson. He should have gotten rid of this guy a long time ago before he became a nuisance. It was very obvious he was working for Patricia by causing confusion and delaying the meeting.
But to what end? What was Patricia’s reason for doing this?
Something was not right….
“I have had enough of this nonsense, Mr Anderson” Morris voiced out angrily. “It’s either you have a seat quietly or you find your way out. I will n-”
His sentence was cut halfway as the door to the meeting room opened….
Morris and Judith could swear their hearts stopped beating for a moment.
They watched in horror as George walked in, holding the hands of the wheelchair where Patricia sat. He followed her as Patricia moved her wheelchair forward.
Just behind him were Rachel, Sophia and three police officers…..
Judith almost passed out. Morris gulped multiple times and a new layer of sweat formed on his forehead even with the cold air from the air-conditioners in the conference room.
“M-mrs Patricia…” a random board member exclaimed in surprise. What was she doing on a wheelchair?
Patricia looked at Judith who was sitting gallantly on her seat and laughed. “You look like your soul has left your body, Judith. What? You couldn’t wait until I was properly buried before you take my position?”
Some of the board members and shareholders gasped in shock. What was this all about?
Judith glared at Patricia, shivering slightly from fear. What were these police officers doing here if not to arrest her and Morris? Ugh!! She should have believed Morris when he said that he believed she was still alive.
Raising her head defiantly, she retorted in irritation “Do not make any false accusations against me, Patricia. I will not tolerate it. You have no evidence!”
Patricia chuckled and glanced at Morris “How can you be sweating so much in a room this cold? Are you hiding something? Are you surprised to see me?”
“W-what are you talking about?” Morris stammered, dabbing away some sweat on his neck. Turning around, he asked in an authoritative voice to hide his fear “Who are these people? What is going on here?”
“It’s good to see you again darling….” Patricia looked at him, her face having no expression. “…. or should I say, murderer?”
The gasping and mumbling among the board members increased.
One of the board members stepped forward and plainly asked “What is going on here? This is very confusing. Why are these people here?”
A police officer moved forward and faced Morris “You are under arrest, Mr Morris Scott for attempted murder on Mrs Patricia Scott, for fabricating a false accusation against a business associate six years ago. You also participated in bribing the head official of the police station down this street to cover up the reinvestigation of this case. You are also guilty of trying to kidnap a high ranking detective. And finally, you are guilty of covering up the murderer who tried to kill Mr George Scott over here.”
Judith shivered when the police officer faced her. “And you, Miss Judith Scott are under arrest for attempted fire murder on Mr George Scott six years ago. You are also guilty of participating in the attempted murder of Mrs Patricia and the fabricated lie against a business associate of this company six years ago. You have been his silent accomplice for years and you are aware of everything….”
“…. We are demanding that the both of you quietly follow us to the station right n-”
“No!” Judith yelled in defense, her forehead breaking out in a sweat. “No…I am not guilty! You can’t do this to m-”
A second policeman pulled out his gun and pointed it at Judith. Everyone became silent instantly. “Do not mess with us. You better cooperate with us right now. We have received an order from above to shoot on plain sight if you try to escape in any way. We have more than enough evidence to prove that the both of you are guilty. It’s better you follow us quietly for thorough questioning in the station. If you believe you are not guilty, then come and defend yourself! Am I clear? Now move!”
The police officers handcuffed Morris Scott and Judith and dragged them out of the meeting room as the board members and shareholders stared in shock.
What an unbelievable experience!