It'd been three days since the "lock up" incident. Surprisingly, when Mr Dominic returned later that day to find that Sheena had been let out of the room, he didn't utter a word of reprimand to anyone. He had simply gone upstairs to his room and never came back down that day, not even for dinner.His behavior surprised the whole household. Everyone including Sheena had feared that the worst would happen. but nothing happened, and no one knew what happened to the old man that caused him to behave that way.He had not spoken to anyone in the past two days. He had meals and whatever he needed sent up to him. But today, he had insisted that the whole family come down for dinner. Mr Dominic was acting strange and out of character so much it left everyone questioning themselves.'What's wrong with your father?' Shawn asked his wife in a whisper as they sat at dinner.'How would I know?' Mirabel replied in an angry whisper. Her eyes darted to the others seated at the table to ensure that no
'He is dead.' The doctor announced. He tried to sound sympathetic, but the frequent use of those words had taken away the emotions from them. Instead, they sounded so formal, void of any feelings.Mirabel had found her father's head bent on his desk in his study. She initially thought he had fallen asleep, except that it didn't sit right with her for her father to fall asleep in his study.She touched him and he looked rigid, stiff, and unresponsive. Her senses raised and she tried to lift him but he just slumped to the other side limply.She alerted the others and the four of them; Mirabel, Shawn, Michelle, and Mary had rushed him to the hospital.'What do you mean by that?' Mary demanded. Shawn was quick to grab her by her arm and keep her in place as she was already moving to grasp the doctor by the collar.'Get a hold of yourself.' Michelle advised, her expression gloomy as she moved to comfort Mary who was already sobbing bitterly.Shawn left Mary in Michelle's care and went with
Sheena didn't expect the turnout of events. It was a real blow when she landed in jail for the murder of her husband. And it was only just getting started.An autopsy was carried out on Mr Dominic and it was revealed that he had been poisoned. An endless list of suspects were interrogated, including Sheena's father, Mr Tom Woods.Every member of the household was interrogated and somehow, the blame landed on Sheena.Her pleas of defense and vehement insistence that she had nothing to do with any of the allegations leveled against her were not substantial against the proof that pointed at her as the culprit.She had cried so much that her eyes were now red, big, swollen, and devoid of tears. She was exhausted. In only a brief moment, her life had taken an imaginable rough path.In only a brief moment, she had become a criminal, a murderer. She was far away from her family. She had lost her freedom. It felt as though she died a second death. Clad in the orange prison jumpsuit with her
The court proceedings began as the judge took his seat. It was going to be a long day filled with questioning and accusations.Sheena's heart would be made to bleed gruesomely with repeated accusations leveled against her. She stood in the box, eyes sad, face drawn as she readied herself for the next rounds of drills.She looked around the room and the only support she had was her father and her sister. Every other person was on the opposite side, against her.The one person she would have wanted to be there to support her was nowhere to be found. Jake had not returned since after he saved her from the locked room.She was worried sick about him. She had questioned Elena severally about him. Sheena was always on Elena's neck to inquire from Oscar -whom she had begun dating- the whereabouts of his best friend.The thought of Elena and Oscar would have made her smile if she weren't so consumed in her problems. She recalled how Elena had countlessly refuted her attraction to Oscar, but l
'Why didn't you tell me you made those damn documents!' James was almost shouting at Sheena when they were in the private room during the court's recess.Sheena stared at him with confused eyes. 'I don't know about any documents. I didn't make anything.' She spoke earnestly.'But you signed the papers. It has your signature! It would be difficult to deny that you had nothing to do with it.' He rubbed at his temples, trying to calm himself and think of a solution.'I have no idea how those papers got my signature, I'm telling the truth.' She said pleadingly, trying to convince him.She jogged her memory hard to think of the papers and how she got to sign them. Her mind failed her at a time when she needed it the most. The constant whirlwind of troubles was making it hard for her mind to focus.No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't think of anything except at the hospital. She was blank. Blank to the fact that she had been betrayed yet again. Blank to the fact that someone had used
Sheena eyed the length of Damian, doubt filled her eyes as she gazed at him.'What are you doing here?' She asked, staring him down in scrutiny.'Helping you.' He answered, moving into the room. He sat his briefcase on the desk, opened it, and began to pull out files from it.'Where's your lawyer?' He asked, scanning the room.Sheena bowed her head shamefully and whispered. 'I just fired him.'Damian raised an impressed brow at her. 'Good!' He said. 'He was ruining everything for you.''That's what I thought.' Sheena agreed in a small voice.Damian paused and kept his eyes on her. 'You're a smart woman, it's one of the things I like about you.' His words piqued Sheena's senses. 'Why are you here?' She asked again.'I already told you -' He didn't get to finish his statement.'Why are you helping me all of a sudden?' Sheena interjected.'Jake sent me.' He looked at her, waiting for his words to sink into her mind.Sheena gasped in shock, her eyes grew round and large and her lips quiv
The court proceedings began again after the recess. The standing, drills, and questioning were exhausting for Sheena. She was beginning to feel claustrophobic in the dock. It felt as though the dock was squeezing her and slowly sipping the life out of her.She wanted to get it done and over with; a quick death, not this slow, painful, agonizing death that she was made to go through. She had resigned herself to doom. The case was not going in her favor.However, she had to admit that in the short time that Damian had taken over, he had tried to get her out of the situation way better than James ever did. But it didn't change much. The verdict was still going to be the same; her death, and she was prepared for it.'I'd like to call a witness to the stand.' Sheena heard Damian announce from the deep recess of her mind, his voice brought her back to reality, back to the present. She darted her eyes around the courtroom, wondering what Damian had up his sleeves.The opposing counsel had i
'Sheena!' Elena screamed and rushed over to the dock where Sheena lay sprawled on.Elena's scream got everyone's attention, and they all had their eyes following her half-sprint till she came to a halt, bent, and gathered the limp Sheena into her arms, unable to control her sobs.Jake jerked his head to the dock just as Elena screamed out her sister's name. He kept his eyes peeled on the dock, worry etched in his eyes. He was unfeeling to the tightening around his wrist as the warden cuffed them, bounding him in chains.His mind, heart, and being yearned for the safety of the woman cradled in Elena's hands. His head twisted as the warden took him away in shackles until his neck reached its maximum stretch and he could no longer see Sheena.He prayed and hoped that she would be fine. As he was dragged away, his eyes met with Oscar's.'What are you doing man?' It sounded more like a plea than a question. Jake averted his eyes and walked past his best friend unable to satisfy his curious
Jake and Sheena exchanged confused looks. What was Mirabel talking about? Their minds shared similar questions.'I need to tell you something about my father's death.' Mirabel announced.'What about our father's death?' Jake asked. They had moved to the study where they could converse in private. Sheena and Jake kept expectant eyes peeled on Mirabel.'I … I.-' she inhaled sharply before she continued. 'I know I've not been the best of persons but I'm working on myself. Hating the one man who had taken me in and had shown mercy on a lowly young orphan. I know now the old man loved me, loved us, even if he never showed it much. He's human after all and bound to make mistakes.' Mirabel swallowed before she began speaking again. 'I had always wanted him dead. Now that he's dead, I regret not having more time with him… I never had the courage to kill him even though I would have loved to, but I wouldn't have stopped anyone wanting to. This was before I knew the truth.''Mirabel, do you k
Sheena opened her eyes to bright blinding lights. She squinted trying to adjust her eyes to the lights, but shut them after an exhausting attempt. She let out a laborious breath so she could speak, but somehow, she didn't seem to find her voice. She felt parched, her throat overly dry and painful.She opened her eyes again, blinking severally to accommodate the light. After her success at it, she scanned the room. White pristine walls, huge beeping machines, a tray filled with medicines and needles. A hospital. It clicked. She was in the hospital.How did she get here? Memories of the previous day's event flood her mind as she wondered."Jake!" Was he okay? Did Damian shoot him too?Anxiety and fear hijacked every cell in her being. Her breathing hitched and she struggled to raise herself. The effects of the sedatives were still very much active, she felt dizzy but undeterred.'Hey! What are you trying to do?' The concerned voice filled the room as the intruder pushed the door hard,
'He didn't suspect a thing?' The skepticism in Jake's voice was evident.They had just finished making love. Sheena was resting her head on the muscled bare chest of Jake. She related her experience with Damian to Jake as she idly pulled on his chest hair, a sweet painful sensation for him.Sheena shrugged. 'I couldn't believe it myself. He just went to sleep without saying a word.''I think he is brewing something in that egregious mind of his. He can't be that collected after discovering you went out.' Jake spoke pensively. He paused weighing the possibilities before speaking again. 'And today?' He asked. 'Did he say anything to you today?''He left the house before anyone was up.' She raised her head to stare at him, studying his features. 'Maybe he's tired of paying me any attention. He's got too much trouble on his hand right now. You made sure of that… I don't think it's something to worry about.' She added.'I just have a bad feeling about this. It just doesn't seem right.' It
'I love you.' Jake whispered to Sheena as they lay on the large hotel mattress. His hand wrapped around her neck, he pulled her closer and planted a passionate kiss on her head.'I love you too.' Sheena replied and kissed him on his lips. She snuggled closer into his hold. Her desire to remain there glaring.Sheena and Jake have been meeting over the past few weeks. Sneaking in and out of hotels like teenage lovers. After that night at the Rollins house, it seemed as though they've never been more in love with each other. Always wanting to be near the other, making mad sweet love.'Hmm, delicious.' He said in reference to her kiss. He moved in to steal more kisses and Sheena laughed at his boyishness.'What?' He asked against her lips. 'You want it here?' He tickled her sides and she laughed harder. He nibbled on her lower lip as she laughed.'Or you want it here?' He trailed kisses down her neck and Sheena girlishily giggled. 'Or here?' He moved further down her breast and took a ni
'What do you want? Why are you here?' She turned to Mary. You let him into the house? 'Is he why you brought me here?' Sheena asked incredulously.'Please calm down, you're raising your voice. You'll make Damian come here ' Mary pleaded.'Let him come! At least, he'd get rid of this-' she eyes Jake in disgust, indecisive on what adjective to qualify him.'You'll wake up Jayden. Look at her, do you want to wake her?' Mary appealed to her reason and love for her child.Sheena turned her gaze to the bed and softened. Her anger rose again at the sight of Jake near Jayden. 'Get away from my daughter!' Sheena bellowed at Jake. She charged towards him and yanked his hand away from the child. She relaxed again as she watched the child. She smoothed her hand on the silk of Jayden's hair.The sigh of contentment and peace that escaped the child's lips, assured Sheena that everything was fine with Jayden and that she was only sleeping.Sheena bent over and kissed the top of Jayden's head before
Jake sat in the back seat of his car mulling over the events of the night. 'Drive faster.' He ordered his driver as he rested his head on the headrest, his face turned up staring at the roof of the car. He was thinking.'I can't. Damian keeps Sheena locked up like a prisoner. …It's difficult for me, even as her sister, to see her. We always have to sneak around to meet. …Sheena was waiting, waiting until you'll come to save her.'Elena's words played repeatedly in Jake's head like a mantra. Sheena had been suffering too, just like he suffered in jail. He shut his eyes tightly to drown out the pain, regret, and remorse he felt. He felt deeply foolish and sorry. He had wronged his woman. He had added salt to her painful wounds and he needed to tend to the wounds he had inflicted on Sheena fast.Regardless of the fact that Sheena didn't know that he thought so lowly of her, he still tortured himself for entertaining such thoughts about her. Jake wanted to meet Sheena so he could right
'What did you just say?' Elena's statement halted Jake in his tracks. His eyes were intent on her.'You heard me.' Elena responded. 'Jayden is your child with Sheena.''She is not my child' Jake said with so much denial and disbelief in his voice. He believed Elena was only trying to get his attention.'Elena, how can you stoop so low to resort to lying? How can you play with such a sensitive matter? Why are you trying so hard to prove your sister a saint? Sheena married Damian after sending Jake to prison. She gave birth to their daughter after her marriage to Damian and you say Jake fathered the child? Who would be stupid enough to believe that?' Oscar berated Elena.'Oh please shut up your foolish mouth Oscar! When would you ever allow your brain to do some actual work?' Elena insulted. She returned her gaze to Jake after silencing Oscar.'Do you really think Sheena could betray you?' Elena entreated Jake to reason.Jake raised his eyes to meet with Elena's. His heart weighed her w
Elena stood by the entrance of the club contemplating if she should enter. The loud music blaring from the speakers that she used to love, now scared her. She braced herself and stepped in. It didn't take long for her to be spotted.'You came!' Stella squealed joyfully. She extended a hand and pulled Elena towards their table.Stella was Elena's friend from her college days. They had remained friends even after college and lived like teenagers just partying, boozing and boys. That was when life seemed to be fair to Elena and her family. When she lived carefree, her father's business was doing well, her sister didn't need to marry an older man and she wasn't nursing a broken heart.Stella had traveled abroad just about the time the turbulence in Elena's family began. Stella had just returned from her long trip and insisted that Elena come to see her at the club. It has been a long time since she saw her friend and it excited Elena to reunite with Stella. Her excitement though was short
Sheena tried to stay as calm as she could manage. She kept fumbling with the hem of the oversized hoodie she wore. The hood sat over her head, dark glasses covered her eyes. It was her attempt at a disguise. The angst coursing through her was overwhelming.After much begging and pleading, Mary had reluctantly agreed to take Sheena to meet with Jake on the condition that Mary would have to speak with Jake first, and if Jake was unwilling to speak with her, then they would have to abandon the plan. It seemed like an easy condition.Sheena was certain Jake wouldn't hesitate to see her. Sheena had figured Jake had gone into hiding and was working underground to reclaim all that Damian had stolen from him. Damian was a mutual enemy and she didn't mind joining forces with her lover to bring the enemy to his knees.She couldn't keep calm. She felt like a teenager meeting with her lover for the first time after a long time. She didn't know what to expect. She pictured him sexier and more hand