Chapter 3: Jailed and Divorced.

I am staring at myself in the mirror and all I see is the exact opposite of what I’m feeling inside. I look so Docile and unbothered whereas, I’m a broken mess on the inside. I reach out for the glass of vodka beside me and I take the 11th Glass of shot for the day.

What do you do when everyone shuns you out including your own husband? I’d tried to be strong but I just can’t.

It’s been three days now since Mari-gold’s Accident and Carlton had refused to come back home. I haven’t seen or heard from Mari-gold since that day. Not because I want her to die or something but I know very well that I’m not needed in that hospital where she was taken for treatment.

However, Today, I’ve decided to set things straight. Mari-gold is a bitch but I’ll just visit her just this once and I’ll sign my Divorce with Carlton.

With my mind made up, I walk out of the room. I’m climbing downstairs when the door-bell begins to ring. I halt. Don’t tell me Carlton finally decides to come back home.

I scoff as I made for the door but just as I open it, what welcomes me makes my heart fly off my chest.

Carlton, Mari-gold and two cops are standing right at my door before me.

What the hell is going on?

“Carlton?” I can’t help but contort my face as I take a glance at Carlton who has a stoic expression on his face.

“Mrs. Stewart,” one of the cops voice out gruffly and I turn sharply towards him“You’re under arrest for the assault and attempted murder on your sister’s life, anything you say now can and will be used against you in the court of law”

My heart skips a bit.

What? Attempted murder?

I turn to Mari-gold and she has the most devilish grin on her face and Carlton? He has the most emotionless expression has ever mustered on. Nothing like shock or anything close.

One of the cops moves forwards to handcuff me but I back away fiercely.

“Excuse me, You can’t just burst it here to accuse me wrongly!” I snap at them, ignoring their initial warnings.

“Accuse you wrongly?” Mari-gold scoffs, still wearing her devising grin. “You pushed me down the stairs Dahlia. You tried to kill me!” She lied, yelling and putting on a sober face to look victimize.

“Don’t be delusional Mari-gold, both of us know that I’ll never do such a thing. If anyone should push anyone hurt another person or commit a murder, you should be the culprit!” I fire angrily and then turned to the officers, my eyes blazing red. “She’s lying officers. I didn’t push her. She tripped and fell. You’ll only be wasting your time if you take me into custody, Trust me.”

But then, the officer’s next statement is like a physical punch to my already wounded heart.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but your husband here and your parents already testified against you. They are witnesses to the crime scene. You have to come with us to the station right now.”

My blood froze in my veins as I turned to look at Carlton. I can take the fact that my family testified against me even when they weren’t there. They would do everything to Favor their biological daughter. I’m just an adopted stranger.

But Carlton? He’s fucking supposed to be my husband and he knows I’ll never do such a thing.

It feels like a new vigor of pain just punctured through my chest.

What hurt the most isn’t even the lie, but it’s the way his eyes are cold as they pierce through me after what the cob said.

“Carl—-

“You were the only one with her, Dahlia. Who else could have pushed her?” Carlton scoffs, Blinking hard as though he’s trying to avoid my gaze.

“You could have done it out of jealousy. She’s pregnant for me and very soon I’ll be Divorcing you.” He tries to be logical but with way his eyes softens, he himself knows he’s lying. He doesn’t even sound convinced.

But even at that, All the pain in my system gradually transforms into rage.

How dare he insult me? How dare he assumes I will commit a crime just because of jealousy when I’m a representative of the law?

How could I even be jealous of my sister's pregnancy when I am pregnant myself? Or maybe he forgot I’m pregnant? Because if not, then he is the cruelest person on earth to be conniving with his mistress to throw his pregnant wife in jail.

Oh, I forgot! He asked me to get an abortion already and he also wants to get a divorce.

I scoff, my heart burning and my blood pumping fast through my veins. I folds hands into a fist as I stare dead at Carlton. I want to say a lot to him but I can’t.

If I say a word, I might end up breaking down and I don’t want to humiliate myself even more before Mari-gold and Carlton. I won’t give them that satisfaction anymore to see me break.

The cops decide to handcuff me one more time and I don’t bother to stop them.

Beside It’ll be pointless trying to fight them. Not when I can confidently defend myself in court and win the case. As for them, my sister, my family and especially Carlton, I will make him regret humiliating me.

We arrive at the station some minutes later and I’m man-handled by the cops like a criminal. First they takes in my information and next they drags me to the crack up cell where all other criminals are been caged. And Carlton watched every bit of the process with no remorse. It’s supposed to hurt so much like hell but surprisingly I remain unfazed. I’m already too broken to cry or feel anymore pain.

And The following day, after the whole court process, I’m given a minimal sentence of six months imprisonment. It’s all thanks to my knowledge of Law which I harness to defend myself. The case eventually ends up as a self-defense situation.

And shortly after I’m detained, Carlton pays visit to me. No, not because he cares or he feels any guilt. Infact, It’s through this court process that I realized I married a monster.

Carlton only pay a visit to me to hand me our Divorce document with two people as witness to our divorce. His personal lawyer and Mari-gold.

Rage bubbles in my system as I watch him scribe down his signature and when he’s done, I takes the pen from him without hesitation. I also wants to get rid of him from my life. Both him and mari-gold are surprised by the way, I immediately sign on the required space and toss the document back to Carlton.

“There, Carlton, you finally got what you want.” I adds and stands up “I really hope you are happy now. Including you Mari-gold. I really hope you it’ll bring you joy to see me suffer in jail for a crime I never committed. Because you’ll only have a short time to be truly happy before everything comes crumbling down. Because trust me, I’ll make you both pay”

Mari-gold’s face flush red with rage whine Carlton’s face pull into a cold frown but I ignore them as the warder drag me away.

6 MONTHS LATER

My body feels like I’ve just been through a really intense work out session. Well of course it does, I am a six months pregnant lady in jail.

Was…

Was in jail.

I am getting released today, am I Happy?

Yes, I’m free. But the reality waiting for me outside will be less lenient than my time in prison. My family made sure of that since not even a single soul showed up to visit me. I watched day after day, as my fellow inmates received visitors and certain items which would have been thoroughly ransacked by the cops before they acquire them.

I did receive foodstuffs, nothing else just food stuffs. But who did I receive them from?

The cops said the sender wishes to remain anonymous.

I take a huge sigh as the large gates of the prison are opened. I carefully hop over a log of wood in front of the gate since my now protruding stomach makes me as clumsy as ever.

As soon as I’m out of prison compartment, There’s a man at the entrance whom im told had been waiting to receive me. He looks incredibly familiar. He’s on dark shade, so it’s quite difficult to recognize him.

“You look Horrible, Dahila”, came his deep soothing voice, coated with Thick Irish Accent.

Of course, I am a mess, prison and pregnancy are not the right combo.

But how does he know my name?

“Who are you?”

God, he’s Incredibly familiar. I should know this guy.

The man smiles and takes off his glass. My breath instantly halts and my heart skip a bit as I perfectly recognize him now.

“Tristian Martinez?” It sounds more like a statement than a question.