Chapter eighty nine
Charlotte crumpled to the ground, her hands grasping at her chest as if trying to contain the shattering of her heart. Tears streamed down her face, her head shaking wildly in denial.
“All these years, you sowed a seed of hatred in me, why? Why, Mom?” I sobbed, my words strangling in my throat.
When suddenly, I heard a gasp from beyond the closed door. I wiped away my tears, and slowly turned the handle. As the door creaked open, my gaze locked onto Margaret, her eyes wide with shock, her hand clasped over her mouth as if stifling a scream.
“You heard everything, right?” I asked, my voice dripping with pain as I let out a cold, mirthless laugh.
Margaret’s eyes widened in horror and she stumbled backward.
“I killed him!. I did it, Margaret! I did it!” I blurted, my laughter grew louder, more hysterical, as I pulled out a gun from my jacket.
I watched her eyes widen before she let out a loud screamed, missing her balance and instantly scurried away from my sight. Her panicked footsteps fading into the distance.
“Olivia, what are you doing?!” Charlotte gasped, her eyes fixed on the gun in my hand. I can hear her voice trailing off into a whisper, “That’s a… a gun…” She cowered, crawling backward in fear, as I slowly turned to face her, a chilling smile spreading across my face. “When I said, I killed him, you thought I was lying…”
All my deeds from these years rushed before me , “They’re all gone, father, Mason, and of course, Ashley.”
“No. No. No!” My mother’s scream filled the room, her body trembling in terror, fueling my rage, causing me to released a sinister chuckle.
“You are supposed to be happy, mom,” I sneered, walking towards her, but she shook her head vigorously, scrambling away.
“You always craved this, didn’t you? The wealth, freedom, power, and what else…?” I crouched before her, leaning in.
She quivered in shock, her body trembling. Her eyes fearfully tracked the gun’s movements in my hand. Noticing it, I sighed, tossing it aside before rising to leave.
When suddenly, I heard sirens blared from outside, halting me in my tracks, both of us turned our heads quickly towards the window.
“Olivia. Olivia, no!!” My mom cried out, crawling to hold my legs.
But I just smiled, tears streaming down my face. It is impossible; the police had surrounded the building.
So I squatted, firmly prying my mother’s hands from my legs. “Olivia, pleaaeeee,” she pleaded again, her voice strained with desperation.
My plan was to leave this country with her after returning from the hospital but right now, she have just shattered me.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out, just tears streaming down my cheeks. “I… I…” My voice trailed off, and suddenly the door to our room was smashed open, seven police officers walked in.
“You’re under arrest, Olivia Harlow, for the murder of Mr. Daniel Harlow,” one of the policemen declared, approaching me with handcuffs.
I remained silent, locking eyes with my mother. “You think you’re clever, but you forgot about the CCTV,” another officer taunted, but I could only swallow hard as they cuffed me.
Shaking her head with tear-filled eyes, my mother clutched at one of the policeman’s legs. “Please take me with her,” she pleaded.
“No, madam, she will face her judgment alone,” he said, pushing my mother’s hands away and instructing his men to escort me out.
Amidst my mother’s screams and tears, all I could manage, with regretful tears streaming down my face as they pulled me away, was, “Goodbye, mom.”
Her loud scream of pain was the last thing I heard before the policemen drove away.
*** *****
Damien
I paced anxiously in the reception, fear clutching at my heart.
I instructed Lucas to leave and assist Eros in the office while Pasito cleared the mess we did. The bodies scattered around needed to be taken care of.
So I was left, alone with Ashley, who had been in the emergency room with our family doctor, Jessica, for what felt like an eternity.
After three long hours, the door finally swung open, and Jessica came out. I wasted no time and hurried towards her, blurting out, “How is she? Is she awake? Is she okay?”
“Calm down, Damien,” she uttered, her voice steady. “She is okay, but we need to talk.”
Breathing out a sigh of relief, I nodded and followed her inside. Just that assurance eased the turmoil in my chest – she is fine.
“Please, have a seat,” Jessica gestured as we stepped into her office.
I nodded, taking a seat and gesturing for her to continue. “I don’t have much time; I need to be with my wife,” I emphasized.
“Alright,” she sighed.
“I understand it’s not my place, but given my profession, I’m curious about how she got that injury,” Jessica inquired.
“She missed a step on the stairs and fell, hitting her head on the wall,” I fabricated, attempting to ease the tension, even though I sensed her disbelief.
She shot me a suspicious look, then shrugged. “I advise you to be careful with her, concerning her pregnancy,”
“Pregnancy? She… Is pregnant?” I gasped, my eyes widening in disbelief.
She opened her mouth to talk and immediately froze as if she remembered something.
“Speak!!” I demand, slamming my fists on her desk, flinching her.
“Damien… I mean, Mr. Damien, please, calm down,” she urged.
I know we’ve had sex without protection, but it was just once, and it hasn’t been a month yet.
“How far along?” I pressed, my voice tense.
She swallowed hard but remained silent.
“I said, how far along is the pregnancy?” I insisted, needing to know if I am responsible for that or not.NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.
“Two months,” she blurted, and shock coursed through me.
Alexander’s threat echoed in my mind, “Come out now, or watch your wife and your unborn child die.”
It all clicked into place – her frequent hospital visits. And she lied about being sick when, in truth, she was pregnant.
But if I am not the father, who is then the father?