One Hundred and Thirty

CHAPTER 130

The sound of the door being pushed made Brittany turn her head slowly. She was playing with her cell phone when Alicia and Nicholas came to see her. Brittany's face turned enthusiastic. She put the cell phone she was holding down on the table, then greeted her two guests with a smile.

"Hey... you guys coming?"

Alicia approached first, while Nicholas went back to talk to a policeman standing guard in front of Brittany's room. The girl smiled and sat on the chair provided, right beside the patient's bed.

"How are you feeling today?" Alicia asked.

"It's been better. I was bored, so I checked social media." Brittany shrugged her shoulders. "I blocked Kevin's number so he couldn't provoke me. That was a good idea, wasn't it?"

"Sure, you did a good thing." Alicia bent her forehead deeply. "But... are you feeling okay?"

Before Brittany could answer, Nicholas interrupted her and said. "Brittany is like my sister! She's good at finding men, men like Kevin are better left in the trash. Right, Britt?"

Brittany's eyeballs rolled lazily. She chuckled, then folded her arms across her chest. "Come on, Nic. I just had an accident. Who would want a handicapped woman like me, hm? Even that hunk Noel wouldn't want to see me in this condition."

Nicholas' eyebrows knitted together, he looked at Brittany suspiciously. "You... called Noel a hunk? Really?"

"He's never even been on a date, Nic." Brittany smirked, secretly hoping that Noel wouldn't catch on to what she was saying. "She should be taught a lesson. But... he's not going to want to see a handicapped girl like me."

"You're not deformed, Britt. The doctor said you only have a head injury, you'll recover physically in no time."

Alicia sighed softly, exchanging glances with Nicholas. "Britt, physical appearance does not define who you are. And as for Noel, you'll never know until you try. Maybe this is a chance to connect on a deeper level."

Brittany rolled her eyes cheerfully. "Yeah, right. Like he wants to bond over hospital food and me having trouble remembering what day it is." Nicholas and Alicia laughed at Brittany's sarcasm. "Stop teasing me. Can you guys tell me what's going on with Kevin?"

"Oh, about that... we found an eyewitness who can help you."

Brittany's eyes lit up. She looked both incredulous and amazed. "Really? You actually found an eyewitness? Did he see me being dragged out and moved to the driver's seat?"

"Yep. Exactly what you told us," Nicholas replied.

Brittany breathed a sigh of relief; she had a renewed sense of vigor after hearing Nicholas' words. Her hand, which was scarred from the accident, reached for Alicia's, and she held it while looking at Alicia. Her eyes were teary, looking emotional and happy at the same time. "Thank you for believing in me, Alicia."

"We also found a cloth there, I think it was Kevin's clothes when he was trying to move you. It was stuck to the side of the tree," Nicholas replied.

Brittany's heart skipped a beat when she heard this evidence. She squeezed Alicia's hand tighter, overwhelmed with relief and anticipation. The pieces of her memory were beginning to fit together like a puzzle, but there were still gaps she couldn't fill in.

Alicia, sensing Brittany's emotional turmoil, spoke softly, "We're here for you, Britt. You are not alone in this."

Nicholas, who was eager to share, leaned in. "The police took the cloth for forensic examination. There may be DNA, or at least some traces."

Brittany's mind was filled with possibilities. If the evidence linked Kevin to the incident, it could validate her story and clear his name. But doubts remained. Would it be enough, would anyone believe her story, or would it just be another example of her words contradicting Kevin's?

Alicia, seeing the doubt in Brittany's eyes, added, "We'll do everything we can to help you through this, Britt. The truth will prevail."

"But they have my urine results and I... tested positive for alcohol, that's going to incriminate me, isn't it?"

Nicholas muttered, he seemed to think for a moment before then saying, "It's a lot. But did you really drink that much alcohol, Britt?"

"It was wine, we just got back from dinner." Alicia and Nicholas listened intently. "Kevin asked me to drink that to celebrate our anniversary. Damn, I didn't think that wine would be evidence in a criminal case like this."

"If we have stronger evidence and eyewitnesses, Kevin's evidence will lose. We have to make sure that Mrs. Jenksin comes to the trial. We have to guarantee her safety in order to fight Kevin."

Brittany's head was spinning with anxiety and determination. She nodded at Nicholas' suggestion about securing Mrs. Jenkins' presence at the trial. Mrs. Jenkins, their elderly neighbor, had witnessed the fight on that fateful night between Brittany and Kevin. Her testimony could be crucial.

Alicia squeezed Brittany's hand. "We'll talk to Mrs. Jenkins again tomorrow afternoon. We won't let Kevin intimidate her or anyone else."

Nicholas added, "And we'll find more evidence. Maybe someone else saw something that night, something that could corroborate your story."

The sound of the door broke their conversation, and they all immediately turned their eyes towards the door. The door opened and revealed a couple in their heavy clothing. It was Paul and his wife, Susan.

"Brittany!"

"Oh my God, Mom!"

Susan immediately ran over and hugged her daughter. She looked on the verge of tears if not for Paul patting her on the back. Susan, in her thick yellow coat, kept her distance. She looked at her daughter's bandaged and bruised face, then gently stroked Brittany's cheek. "My poor daughter... what really happened to you. This must be painful."

Brittany smiled bitterly. Seeing her mother sad like that made Brittany's heart flutter. She felt like her heart had been slashed as well. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"No, no. It's Mom and Dad who should apologize for not being able to take care of you," she said, and they hugged again.