Chapter 5 Bail Application Hearing

On the day of Michaela Ferguson’s bail hearing, the courtroom was packed to capacity. The reporters were gathered outside the courthouse. When they saw Thorne Ferguson, they rushed to him with microphones.

Ben, the reporter asked, “Mr Ferguson, is it true that you pressed charges against your wife for attempting to kill your mistress?”

Thorne looked at Ben, the reporter coldly and replied, “I will answer all your questions after the court has passed the judgment.” Then he walked to the courthouse with his lawyer, Jeff Cliff, trailing behind.

Jeff Cliff was very smart, and he had never lost a criminal case before. He loved Paula Cage as his baby sister. However, he loathed Michaela with all his heart for stealing Thorne from his dearest Paula.

He felt that Michaela didn’t deserve Thorne. Even though the Miller family and the Cage family were both wealthy, Jeff Cliff still felt that Michaela was inferior to Paula.

Michaela Ferguson was a rare beauty, intelligent and soft-hearted. Paula Cage was inferior to Michaela in every aspect. The Cage family had spoiled her rotten; she was arrogant and full of herself.

A few minutes later, the Miller family and the Ferguson family arrived in court. Mrs Miller couldn’t sleep a wink. She applied heavy make-up to hide dark circles under her eyes.

Ben, the reporter, approached them and asked, “Mr Ferguson, how did you feel when you heard that your son was accusing your daughter-in-law of attempted murder?”

Mr Ferguson looked at Ben, the reporter, and replied, “I am ashamed to be called his father.  I have no doubt in my mind that my daughter-in-law is innocent. She doesn’t have any evilness in her heart.

I would like to advise Thorne and the Cage family to investigate this matter thoroughly. Also, I want to declare that only Michaela will be the Ferguson family daughter-in-law.” Then he took his wife’s hand and walked to the courtroom.

The Cage family didn’t come to the courthouse because they believed that Miss Miller was innocent. They felt that someone had set her up.

Michaela was brought in by a police van. She was wearing a blue knee-high dress with a cream blazer. It showed her curvaceous figure.

Uncle Blaze had sent her a swelling ointment and the swelling in her face had gone down. She wore heavy make-up to cover the bruises on her face.

Since Jeff Cliff was the plaintiff, he sat on the right-hand side with Mr Thorne Ferguson.

A few minutes later, the defendant’s lawyer, Aaron Blaze, walked into the courtroom and sat on the left-hand side with Michaela Ferguson.

Shortly afterward, Judge Harris walked in wearing a long black robe. He sat on the bench above the witness stand. Judge Harris banged his gavel to indicate that the court was in session.

Mr Ferguson’s lawyer, Jeff Cliff, approached the bench and said, “Your Honour, Miss Michaela Miller has committed a serious crime. The victim, Miss Cage, was still in critical condition.

Also, Miss Miller’s residential address couldn’t be confirmed since she had signed the divorce papers.

Furthermore, Miss Miller is a flight risk. She is in possession of the valid travel documentation.

Miss Miller had been studying overseas for several years, her friends were in the USA. Your Honour, please don’t grant Miss Miller bail.”

Mrs Ferguson’s lawyer, Aaron Blaze, stood up and argued, “Although Mrs Ferguson had signed the divorce papers, the divorce has not been finalized yet.

Your Honour, her fixed residential address will never change because their mansion was their wedding gift from the Miller family.

Mrs Ferguson is not a flight risk because she is permanently employed at the Miller Group as Deputy President.

Your Honour, please grant Mrs Ferguson bail."

Judge Harris said, “I have listened to the arguments of both sides. I decided to oppose the bail on the following grounds:

Mrs Ferguson has traveling documentation, and she has previously traveled outside the borders of the Republic.

Also, the offense she committed was very serious. The victim, Miss Paula Cage, was still in a coma.

It would be reckless and irresponsible to release Mrs Ferguson on bail. Therefore, the bail application is denied.”

Michaela was so shocked when she heard Judge Harris’ decision. Tears streamed down her face. She used to love Thorne Ferguson wholeheartedly, but now she felt nothing but hatred towards him.

She blamed herself for being naïve. Her parents begged her to leave Thorne when his first love returned, but she refused. She wished she could press the rewind button.

She turned her head and looked at the back row. She saw her mother crying sorrowfully in her father’s arms. She had caused pain to her parents. Her heart was overwhelmed with bitterness.

A few minutes later, the prison guard took Michaela to Durban Correctional Services to wait for her trial. Her beloved husband and his mistress had turned her life upside down.

Two days later, Mr Aaron Blaze received a call from the prosecutor indicating that Mrs Michaela Ferguson’s case would be sitting in two weeks’ time.

He mentioned that the attending doctor indicated that Miss Paula Cage might not be able to wake up. Therefore, there was no need for a delay.

It was clear to Mr Blaze that Michaela’s husband was pushing the prosecutor behind the scenes. He wanted to see Michaela dead.

He drove his car and went to Durban Correctional Services to visit his client. When he arrived in prison, he couldn’t recognize his client. Michaela was beaten to a pulp.

Mr Blaze’s heart ached when he saw Michaela like that and asked, “Do you want me to move you to a single cell?”

Michaela shook her head and replied, “Don’t bother, Uncle Blaze. The person who beat me up told me that she was following my husband’s instructions.

My only problem is that I am two months pregnant. I am scared that I will lose the baby.”

Mr Blaze was dumbfounded to hear that Michaela was pregnant and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me before because I would have used it as my argument in the bail hearing?”

Michaela told him that she was trying to hide the pregnancy from her husband. She didn’t want to trap him with the baby since he didn’t love her. Michaela asked her lawyer not to disclose that she was pregnant.

Later on that day, her mother-in-law came to visit her. She had prepared delicious food for her daughter-in-law. When the smell hit Michaela, she rushed to the ladies' room to vomit.

When she came back, she asked her mother-in-law to take the food away.

Her mother-in-law was so scared and asked, “What is wrong, Michaela?” Michaela smiled and told her mother-in-law that she had found out that she was two months pregnant.

Her mother-in-law was over the moon. She couldn’t wait to hold her little grandson in her arms. Michaela asked her not to tell Thorne about the pregnancy because she was scared that he would ask her to abort the baby.

Would Mrs Ferguson be able to hide the pregnancy news from his son?