CHAPTER ONE!

AURORA

I sat on the sofa as the Doctor’s words continued to echo in my head.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Crane, only time will tell.” I held my tummy tightly as I tried to shut the words out.

That didn’t work, but the sound of heels landing on the floor did.

“You thief!” That was Katherine, Jacob's mistress.

“What’s going on?” Jacob came out of his study, along with his mother and sister from their respective rooms.

“I found the jewelry your Mom has been looking for,” she said to Jacob and then looked at me. “She stole it.” Gasps of surprise and anger left everyone's lips, including mine.

There was a bit of silence, then I turned to Jacob, my husband.

“Jacob, please. I will never do such a thing. She is lying.” I pleaded on my knees. This isn’t the first time this has happened. I have been able to rescue myself from Katherine’s lies and deceit, but this time it seems impossible.

“Mother,” Jacob faced his Mom, “is this the jewelry you have been looking for?” he asked her.

“Yes, it is,” Christina responded.

“There you have it, Aurora,” he said to me.

“You have to believe me, Jacob. I didn’t steal or sell that jewelry,” I said with teary eyes.

“Believe you?” Katherine, Jacob’s mistress, who has been crawling her way into our marriage from the very beginning, looked at me with disgust. “Why should he believe you, after you manipulated his father, who then manipulated Jacob to marry you!” she screamed.

That has been part of the lie people have been made to believe about me. But no one is prepared or even bothered to hear my version of the truth.

Martin, Jacob’s father, was very ill. I came to visit him one day, and he asked me to marry his son. I was surprised by his request and refused immediately. But after several pleas, I decided to grant the wish of a dying man, unknown to me that it would be my peril.

“I didn’t manipulate anyone. If anyone is being manipulative,” I said, as I stood on my feet, “it’s you, Katherine.” I pointed at her.

“Take those wretched fingers out of my face.” She sounded pissed.

“These fingers wear the ring, which you will never wear,” I said to her.

“You ungrateful bitch.” She charged at me.

“Enough!” Jacob yelled and looked at me, “My Mother said this is her missing jewelry. Do you have anything to say about what you have done?” he asked.

I’m not surprised by his reaction. I’m pissed. I know he doesn’t love me, and I have poured all my love into him.

I knew from the beginning that it wasn’t going to be easy. From an orphan girl who grew up in foster homes to being married to the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company, THE CRANE INDUSTRY, I knew the way would be hard.

I thought to myself as I held my tummy.

“You really believe that I did this?” I asked him.

He shrugged his shoulders, “I wish I could believe you. But you are nothing but a lying and manipulative bitch!” he barked at me. I was taken aback by his reaction. Not that I am surprised by it but by how easy it is for him to paint me as the enemy.

“Everything you have been doing from the very beginning. Every good and humble thing you showed my father was just to cover the fact that you are just a little thief.”

“How dare you?” I scoffed, “after everything I have done for you and your company.”

It felt like the room divided into two as the sound and effect of the slap on my cheeks reached my brain. It was Katherine.

“How dare you speak to him like that,” she said. I held my cheek.

“Especially after all the evidence against you,” I looked at her, shocked.

“What evidence?” I asked, “how can there be evidence when I have done nothing wrong?”

She laughed, “Still holding onto that, huh? Well, the cops are here. Maybe they can explain it to you.”

The cops? I have been focused on proving my innocence to Jacob that I totally forgot Katherine brought them with her. This piece of jewelry she is accusing me of stealing is something my mother-in-law, Christina, has been looking for, for the past two days. Which has been hell, but not compared to what I’m currently facing.

“Sir,” one of the cops faced Jacob. “This lady came forward and told us, Mrs. Crane sold her this jewelry.” A lady who has been with them came forward with the missing jewelry in her hand.

“Haa!” Christina gasps and takes it forcefully from the lady.

“Show Mr. Jacob who sold you the jewelry.” The cop said to the woman. She raised her finger and pointed at me. I stood in shock because I have never met this woman before.

“Anything to add to your innocence?” Katherine asked. I could hear the smugness in her voice.

“Officers, Jacob. You have to believe me, I don’t know who this woman is,” I said to them.

Jacob scoffs, “You keep using the word believe, whereas all the evidence suggests otherwise.”

“I don’t know who she is. I have never met her before now.” I cried out loud.

“Yes, you do.” The woman spoke, “Why are you denying me now after you sold me the jewelry?” she said.

“I don’t know you, and I never sold any jewelry to you!” I kept insisting. I looked at Jacob, but he gave me a disgusting look. In it, I could see victory because this way, if I'm found guilty, he will have cause to get rid of me. Which was part of the deal I made with him after his father died.

“Ma'am, all the evidence showed you sold this piece of jewelry to this woman,” the cop said. “So what game are you playing?”

Jacob asked, “Haven't you ruined my family enough?”

“What do you mean your family?” I asked, “This is my family too.”

“No, it isn't.” Christina said to me, “It never was.” She rolled her eyes.

I scoffed. I looked at my so-called family members. It was obvious this was a plot to send me packing, but I won't go down without a fight, especially if I'm innocent. I looked at the woman who has been insisting I sold her the jewelry.

“If you are insisting I sold you this, where did we meet?” I asked her.

“We met here, of course, where else?”

“Steven, the security guard, will prove my innocence,” I said abruptly.

Katherine laughed, mocking me. “What does a security guard have to do with any of this?” she asked.

“If I have sold anything to this woman, he will know about it. He sees everyone who comes in and out of the compound,” I said.

“She is right,” the cop said, “you should bring him forward.” Jacob nodded and he ordered his men to bring Steven.

Steven has been on my side ever since I came into this house. There isn't anybody else, just Steven. No maids because according to Christina, I'm more than enough. If anybody can prove my innocence, it is Steven.