CHAPTER FOUR

I sat on the hard chair of the dimly lit police station with my hands trembling. I had never been to this place and what scared me most about this place was the the loud voices of thugs and criminals.

And yet, here I was, caught between regret and humiliation. I was also surrounded by strangers and criminals. Glancing around, I swallowed hard, trying to remind myself that not everyone here was guilty of being here. After all, I wasn’t either.

After some minutes, one of the cops from earlier returned and sat across from me, holding a clipboard. His stare was unyielding as he tapped his pen against the paper, a hint of impatience lining his face. “Alright, miss. You need to call someone to come down here,” he said, his tone brusque. “as you’re facing assault charges.”

“ Assault charges?” I repeated and he nodded. No matter what I say to defend myself, they just won't believe me. I have been telling them since that I didn't hit him hard but it's just as if they had set their mind on arresting me.

I leaned back into the seat as my heart sank. I had no one to call, no one to rush to my rescue. I lower my head and shut my eyes, thinking of how to escape all this but no matter how hard I think, I just couldn't really think of anyone to call…no one except for the family that threw me out and the husband that abandoned me.

And only a person without self respect or pride will even think of doing such and those two are the last thing that I have. I have no plan of losing it either. But seeing the the impatient look on the cop's face as he arched his brow, expecting a response from me, I had no other options than to put my pride and self respect aside.

At least I need to survive as I know that that going I to that place will do nothing good to me. I decided to call my home line as I knew they might pity me, especially if Lance heard about a man harassing me. He would definitely help me out..even if the was for the last time.

I gave him the digit bad he dialed the number. But as the cop called, it was my mother-in-law that picked the call and what surprised me more was her response.

“ Sorry, I had no idea who that is. You can do whatever you want with her.” She said coldly and then ended the call immediately.

A tear laced my eye, threatening to fall as I sucked in my lower lip harder, regret washing over me. I shut my eyes close as I regretted everything I had done to be with Lance, every single decision I made in the name of love. I regret abandoning my parents years ago, leaving them for a man that has discarded me and maybe that was why I was getting paid for my actions against my parents.

I sobbed heavily as I was now left with nothing but regrets and my body wracked with silent sob as shame washed over me in waves. But now, with the threat of jail looming over me, I really had no other choice.

I had no other choice than to call the only man that truly care about me but I abandoned him for love. I was the only thing that matters to him so I shattered both of their hearts and left them alone all these years.

Taking a deep breath, I looked up at the cop. "Please, can..can you call Marcus Roderigo for me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The cop raised an eyebrow, a sneer curling his lip as he looked at me with thinly veiled amusement. “Marcus Roderigo?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “ Are you talking about the same Marcus Roderigo that we all know?” He asked again and I nodded.

“ And why would he know someone like you if I may ask?" he scoffed, shaking his head. "Are you trying to waste my time right now?"

A wave of humiliation washed over me as other cops laughed when they heard our conversation. They were all making jest of me as they believed that the world richest man would never even know that someone like me existed. I would not really blame them as I really looked like a mess right now; with my hair all over my face, even my bangs doesn't look like one again and my clothes are still dripping of water.

I bit my lip to stop myself from crying again as that was really my last hope. "Please," I begged, "just call him and mention my name. Maya."

The cop rolled his eyes but picked up the phone as he seemed to be pitying me. Finally, he dialed his number and waited for him to pick up.

When the call connected, he spoke, "Mr. Roderigo, this is Officer Thomas from the downtown precinct. We have someone here who claims to know you… Maya."

There was a moment of silence on the other end and I held my breath, silently praying that he would remember me and still care about me.

“Oh God! Please just save me this once.” I prayed inwardly.

The cop's expression changed and surprise flickered across his face as he looked at me. "Yes, sir. She's here," he said and then handed the phone to me. "He wants to talk to you."

With trembling hands, I took the phone from him. "Dad?" I whispered, my voice breaking.

******

“Thank you so much, Aleric,” I said softly as he walked me out of the station. Aleric had always been my father’s right-hand man, but he’d also been my protector, the one who helped me keep my identity hidden from Lance as he created a new identity for me. Without Aleric’s careful interference, Lance would have known everything about me—about who I truly am. It's not that I really wanted to hide my background from Lance but it was because my family was actually against my marriage to Lance as my marriage was already set with Kingsley. So I was disowned when I chose Lance.

Aleric nodded, his gaze warm yet serious. “Don’t mention it. You should go home now. Your parents are waiting for you.”

At the mention of my parents, my heart skipped a beat as I wondered what will my father say about me after everything I did? What would my fate be when I got home? At this time, part of me wanted to say goodbye to Aleric, to just keep walking, far away from my parents and from the life I’d tried so hard to build…and also lost. But where would I go? How would I survive if I left everything behind now?

Instinctively, my hand moved to my stomach, resting on the small life growing within me. I looked down, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me.

Did my child deserve to suffer because of my mistakes? Could I really bring her into a life of hardship, with nothing to my name? I hadn’t even completed my education, let alone found a proper job. I had no means, no safety net. How would I support this child if I leave once again?

After a few moments of silent contemplation, I made up my mind. I had to go back home, no matter the consequences. But I knew one thing, going back meant I’d be at my father’s mercy and I would have something to lose but what choice did I have? I’d lost almost everything already; what else was there to lose?

I turned to Aleric, giving him a slight nod. He led me toward the convoy of cars waiting by the curb, opening the door for me. Just as I was about to step inside, he cleared his throat and I turned around, facing him again.

“I took care of that man.” He said and I arched my brow wondering who he meant. “ I'm talking about the one who accused you,” he said, his expression hardening as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He tapped the screen a few times before showing me a video.

As I watched the screen, I felt a chill run through me. My eyes darted up to meet his, and I swallowed hard. The realization was sinking in quickly…I had forgotten just how my family handled things like this.

“He mentioned being sent by someone,” Aleric said in a flat tone which brought nothing but curiosity from me. I knew that it wasn't coincidental that out of every woman on the street, I would become the one he would suddenly approach and try to harass.

“Sent… by who?” I whispered, though part of me dreaded the answer.

He was silent for a while before he finally spoke; “Someone from the Backwoods family,” he replied quietly, his gaze holding mine.

“What… what did you just say?” I stammered, my voice barely more than a whisper. “You’re lying, right? They wouldn’t do…” I trailed off, hoping…praying…that this was some kind of mistake.

But Aleric’s face remained grave, and the truth settled in, heavy and unyielding. It took a moment for me to believe that Lance and his family….the same family I had spent good four years with living in servitude, actually tried to send me to jail. For what exactly? For the fact that they are not satisfied after stripping me of everything…including the Blackwood name that they gave me? What else do they want? I already left. I gave them the space they wanted, so why did they need to also set me up.

My vision blurred with tears, my knees going weak. “Why?” I asked no one in particular. “Why would they do this to me? I had loved him, sacrificed everything for him, only to be left broken and betrayed. So why?”

Seeing me falter, Aleric reached out, steadying me as I collapsed into his arms. He gently helped me into the car, but the tremors in my body wouldn’t stop. My mind spiraled, repeating the same question over and over.

“Why, Lance… why would you do this to me?”