Danielle's POV I opened my eyes and finally, it was a new day with no worries and sorrow, although I would have to go and meet Pa Bruno and let him know all that happened. We all got in the car and went down to meet Pa Bruno. He welcomed us with a warm heart, he has always been that way. “What a lovely surprise,” he said when he opened the door. The kids rushed inside with their father.When I fit inside, I found Isabelle helping Mrs Helena with her hair. “Oh,” I said when I saw her.“Oh…”“I… what are you doing here?” I asked. “She volunteered to come and help us once in a while to pay for all the bad things she has done to you. She has been coming for a couple of months now,” Mrs Helena explained.I sat down beside her. “I um… I didn’t know you would be coming around. I should get going, I’ll see you all later.” She hurried and packed her bag. “Hey,” I laughed. “Where do you think you are going to? You can stay, you don’t need to leave.”“I want to stay but I need to leave, I’ll
Bryan’s POV The sound of a gunshot made me rush outside, Danielle was outside. I found Danielle’s lifeless body, swimming in her blood. I knelt and screamed so loud, I didn’t hear myself. The air, once familiar, became thick with an unbearable weight, and the pulse of grief pulsed through my veins with every beat of my heart. Emotions collided like storm-tossed waves — disbelief, anguish, and a profound sense of loss that threatened to consume me. I shook her body but she gave no response. “Danielle!” “Finally, goodbye Bryan. I’ll see you later.” I looked up and found Susan leaving. I thought she was dead. I lifted her and took her into the car, I could lose everything but not Danielle. I took her to the hospital where she was attended to immediately. They did all they could but I knew… I knew she was gone. She is the first treasure I had and now… I lost her. How careless of me.Every sound and strength drained in me. We had goals…we had things we wanted to do and…having her leave m
Danielle's POV "is it not time for your prom yet?" A voice asked. I shot a glance at the door of my room, where my grandfather was perched against the door frame, hands folded. There was an amused twinkle in his eyes as he looked at me, and I could already read the thoughts going through his withered head. She's such a nerd! Does she ever stop reading? I sighed and turned over on my bed, staring at the roof. "Gramps, the prom is in an hour. I still have enough time." He glanced at the watch on his wrist, then grimaced. "An hour happened thirty minutes ago, D. Get your butts off that bed." He ordered, then turned and left the room. "Grandpa, I need to study! You know how much this scholarship means to me. And the assessment starts tomorrow!" I yelled after him, but he didn't spare me a reply. I groaned and swung my feet down, then slipped them into my pajama slippers. My eyes darted to the textbooks that littered the top of my bed, aching to go back to them. Anything, absolute
Danielle's POV "We're here!" Clara chirped as Davis pulled up to the prom's venue. She leaned , her eyes hovering over my face, and grimaced. "Ugh! Not to kill your spirits or anything, but the makeup is—""Don't say anything, Clara!" I snapped, raising a hand to cut her off. The smile faded from her lips as she saw the gloomy look on my face. She nodded in understanding, her eyes darting towards Davis, and got down from the car. I waited for her to head into the building, then turned to Davis. "Are you ready?" I asked.Davis gave a small start, as though his mind was miles away from here, and turned to me. He smiled fleetingly. "Yeah. Yeah, I am."I nodded. "Let's go, then."Davis, ever the gentleman, hopped down from the car and circled it to open the door for me. I smiled at him, trying to silence the ominous voices in my head telling me that all wasn't well. I stretched out my hand, half-expecting him to take it, but he merely stood there, hand on the door, staring at me. I fro
Danielle's POV Clara nodded to me and rushed back into the prom venue. She emerged a few minutes later with her bag, then dragged me towards the street. She hailed a cab without another word, gave the driver the address to her house, and we drove off.Throughout the ride, we sat in silence. Clara kept stealing covert, worried glances at me, and I knew she was wondering the thoughts going on in my head. The emotional wound inflicted by Davis was still fresh, and the thought of immersing myself in another party seemed terrifying, but I let Clara take the lead tonight. If the party would help me feel better, then it wouldn't hurt to try."Stop thinking about him," Clara murmured to me. I nodded, still unbelieving, but Clara's unwavering support reminded me that I couldn't allow myself to be consumed by heartbreak.Summoning my strength, I nodded again, a glimmer of determination igniting within me. "You're right, Clara. I can't let this...betrayal define me. I need to move forward, heal
Danielle's POV My surprise echoed through the dimly lit room, the shadows playing tricks on my already blurred vision. Confusion and disorientation mingled with the remnants of alcohol in my system. "What the fuck?" I exclaimed again, my tone a blend of astonishment and frustration. Her head spun, struggling to make sense of the unexpected stranger. The room remained shrouded in semi-darkness, making it difficult to distinguish details. But amidst the dim light, a voice emerged from the shadows, gruff and filled with equal parts surprise and irritation. "Who the hell are you?" "No, who the hell are you?" The man asked. A sudden and brazen idea occured to me. Slowly I stood from the bed and walked towards the man slowly, trying to be as seductive as I could in my state. The man immediately caught me as I stumbled before him. He grabbed my waist and brought me to the bed, setting me on it gently. "Look, I don't know who you are, but you're definitely drunk. You need to sleep it
Danielle's POV I was numb for several minutes. Thousands of thoughts ran through my head. The room was silent, too silent. I could hear the rapid sound of my heartbeat. I blinked hard, coming slowly into realization. How? Why? How!!! I slapped my palm on my head. Looking around, I took the off-white fluffy duvet that was on the ground and wrapped it around my body. Perhaps I could still make it. If I get there and beg them, give them a suitable excuse for not being punctual… I looked around and found my dress scattered around the room. I could feel the tears fall to the surface of my eyes. I cannot miss my exams! I need the scholarship. To think I did this… I shook my head and walked around to pick up my dress. Passing through an aluminum door, I found my way to the bathroom and dressed up. What if I never get to do the exams and forfeit the scholarship? Forfeit? My skin prickled at the mere thought of missing my scholarship. It was almost midday and…hush. I ran my fingers th
Danielle's POVI pretended like I heard nothing but pretending was hard. Her words were true. She called the man Jack, I didn't even get his name. Isabelle left me when Davis entered the class. That was a relief. Isabelle and Davis kept hugging each other, his hands resting on her hips. He used to hold me that way once upon a time.I didn't make any eye contact with him. It was enough that I was going through emotional damage. Touching a healing scar would make it bleed.I tried not to think about Davis and his new girlfriend, they were the talk of the school and I am painted as the loser. I took my music book from my locker."Bitch!" I was startled by Clara's taunting voice. "Why did you do that? You scared me, Clara. I didn't see you in economics class. Where were you?""I promised that we would see the movies today. I had to make preparations. I don't want you dragging your... ""D, you sound great. I love the way you are holding up.""Clara, don't change the topic. Why weren't yo
Bryan’s POV The sound of a gunshot made me rush outside, Danielle was outside. I found Danielle’s lifeless body, swimming in her blood. I knelt and screamed so loud, I didn’t hear myself. The air, once familiar, became thick with an unbearable weight, and the pulse of grief pulsed through my veins with every beat of my heart. Emotions collided like storm-tossed waves — disbelief, anguish, and a profound sense of loss that threatened to consume me. I shook her body but she gave no response. “Danielle!” “Finally, goodbye Bryan. I’ll see you later.” I looked up and found Susan leaving. I thought she was dead. I lifted her and took her into the car, I could lose everything but not Danielle. I took her to the hospital where she was attended to immediately. They did all they could but I knew… I knew she was gone. She is the first treasure I had and now… I lost her. How careless of me.Every sound and strength drained in me. We had goals…we had things we wanted to do and…having her leave m
Danielle's POV I opened my eyes and finally, it was a new day with no worries and sorrow, although I would have to go and meet Pa Bruno and let him know all that happened. We all got in the car and went down to meet Pa Bruno. He welcomed us with a warm heart, he has always been that way. “What a lovely surprise,” he said when he opened the door. The kids rushed inside with their father.When I fit inside, I found Isabelle helping Mrs Helena with her hair. “Oh,” I said when I saw her.“Oh…”“I… what are you doing here?” I asked. “She volunteered to come and help us once in a while to pay for all the bad things she has done to you. She has been coming for a couple of months now,” Mrs Helena explained.I sat down beside her. “I um… I didn’t know you would be coming around. I should get going, I’ll see you all later.” She hurried and packed her bag. “Hey,” I laughed. “Where do you think you are going to? You can stay, you don’t need to leave.”“I want to stay but I need to leave, I’ll
Danielle's POV “Tell me it’s a lie,” I said to him but he didn’t answer me. I trusted him with my whole heart, he was like my best friend. What would the kids think? What of his family? Why!“Are you truly what they have called you out to be?” The judge asked him. “I am what they said I am. I give up. Yes, I killed Susan and yes, I framed Bryan for it. I wanted him to rot in hell and never come back. He took it all from me, everything.” Have looked at me, tears clouding his eyes. “I love you Danielle, you know I do. The kids… they used to be my kids. I was there where you were pregnant, when you gave birth and I also watched them grow up. Seeing Bryan take it all from me broke my heart and no matter how much I try to be there for you, you never see me. And that bitch, Susan. She deserved it. She was always after you so I didn’t want that. I figured there is no reason for me to lie when I am busted.”He turned to the judge. “You have heard it all.” Someone went to the judge and whispe
Danielle's POV ran out to the door and found the woman walking up the stairs. “Are you—”“Lead the way, quick!” The woman said and I led her to the court. It was the moment the judge was sentencing Bryan but he held it when he saw me come in with a lady. Everyone looked back and I took her to the panel. I winked at the defendant and he knew what to do. He stood up immediately. “My Lord, one and only witness, please,” he begged. All my oceans of despair were now replaced by a world of hope. The judge accepted it like he had been waiting for me to show up with someone.But sighed and went back to sit. The kids stretched their necks and waved from the far end of the row. I smiled and focused on the woman. She stepped in and took the oath. “My name is Margret and I will be telling you what exactly happened that night. This man,” she pointed to Bryan, “came in with a lady into my old house. He had asked me to lend it to him for a moment but I thought he was going to have sex or something
Danielle's POV I roamed about with the phone plugged into my ears. “Pick up, goddamit.” I have been trying this woman’s number for seven hours. It’s night time and there has been no response. I am starting to think it was all a lie. Maybe the woman doesn’t exist but Jack keeps putting me on.Eventually, I went to sleep with my phone in my ears.The next day, I woke up and found Jack making the call. I have not heard from Linda or Gabriel. I have tried all I can and it’s just a few hours to the trail. We have no evidence, nothing to prove him innocent. “I have an idea. The witness made mention of returning the instrument to the house. I would go and check the house out. There would be footage. Keep trying the woman, we will meet in the court.” He left with the Benz car. I feel like I am restraining him from doing a lot of things in his life and all he does now is go and look for evidence to prove his boos innocent. I sighed, I just have to keep trying. I kept calling the woman… duri
Danielle's POV “What did he say?” Jack asked in haste. “He has evidence. An old woman who takes care of the old house. He says he knows where she is but he wouldn’t tell me unless I come over to his house. He also said I should come alone.”“It’s a trap. He might not have any evidence. We need to find our means and besides, he might want to kill you. He’s unpredictable so I would not allow you to go alone.”I raised my brows. “I’m not taking any chances. I would go and I would go alone. I would be perfectly fine.” I took a small knife from the table. “Just in case he tries shit, I will stab him wherever I can. I would be fine, trust me. What if this is my best shot? What if this is the only thing that can help me get Bryan out of there? I am not letting it go just like that. I’ll be back. “Jack stood in front of me. “Then let me put a tracker on you.” He attached it to my phone. “You can go now.”I followed the map and went to the location Mark sent me. The road that led to the plac
Danielle's POV I didn’t get to see Bryan that day, not even the slightest chance. Jack, Linda, Gabriel and I have been looking for ways to get better evidence but it was to no avail. I made posters and shared it around for people to see if they could help. With the current way things are, the judge just bought me time to find a way to outrun what the prosecutor had in hand. Whatever they were planning, it’s not going to be good.I sighed and paced around my room. It felt as though a fog of shadows was blinding me from seeing what I should see, doing what I should do but I do know that somewhere out there, there is an answer to the problem I have at hand.I sighed. “What do you think we can do now? I mean, we have done everything we can,” I said to Jack who was also thinking of a way to get his boss out of his mess. The alarm rang and the phone rang as well. I ran to take the call. “Hello?”“Honey, it’s not nice to hear your sweet voice again.” I have waited for a long time to finally
Danielle's POV It was another opportunity for me to see Bryan again. I have been denied the right to visit him and this is just two weeks. I sat at the front as planned. Linda and Gabriel also sat beside me. When Bryan came in, his eyes dazzled around to look for something that was equally looking for him. I stood up and he saw me. Pain and sorrow waited in front of my chest to pierce my heart with its spares of hope. His lips curved upward as he sat down and took his eyes off me. All I wanted to do at that point was walk into the board, take my husband, and leave. A warm hand cooled my temper. I looked at Linda and she smiled. It helped me to get myself together. Then the trial started. The mass media were around, the jury, the prosecutor… defendant… everyone was gathered together once again. The prosecutor started. “My lord, may I?” He asked the judge and he gave him a go-ahead. “Some two weeks ago, the suspect, Mr Bryan Smith was charged with violence and was sentenced to a yea
Danielle’s POV I have gone to eighteen different paper companies to look for which would accept and publish my side of the story but they all turned me down and said they couldn’t help the wife of a criminal. Of course, I can’t let that stop me from trying other means. I wrote a lengthy article on my Instagram page and posted it. Settling in my office, I went through my Instagram page. I’m a rampage, all I read were hateful comments and speeches about how I and Bryan killed Susan. No…this isn’t going to work. The latest news now is about how Bryan would have to face the court again tomorrow. Fucking Jury, I did everything I could. “Linda, can you… can you help me work on the case? I need everything I can find but I can’t do this alone. I need you, I need everyone. Fuck!” I said to Linda in a hurry. I slammed my hand on the table and paced the room with my hand on my forehead. I needed to cool down, I needed to be calm in this time of bad luck.“You need to calm down, alright?”“I!”