CHAPTER TWO!

AURORA

I could feel all eyes on me as Steve walked into the room. It felt like nobody was on my side. Why would they be? They have no reason to be. My husband, who should be on my side, is just looking for ways to get rid of me. The same with Katherine, who just wants to take my place. Christina and Amy just want to get rid of me for no reason even after making me the head maid of the household.

I smiled bitterly as Steve came forward. Once he tells the truth, all of this will be over.

“Steve, do you know who this woman is?” Jacob asked him.

He turned to look at me and I nodded for him to respond.

“Don’t look at her,” Jacob said to him. “Now answer me. Do you know this woman and has she been to this house before today?”

“Yes, sir,” that was Steve's reply. I was shocked and murmurs filled the room.

“In fact, I have seen her more than once in the compound with Mrs. Crane,” he continued and my eyes felt like they were going to pop out.

“What!” I screamed, “What do you mean, Steve?” I asked, sounding disoriented, “Why are you saying things that aren’t true?”

“That’s because you said I shouldn’t say anything to anyone,” he replied.

“What?!” I sounded shocked, “What is this about, Steve? Why are you lying to everyone? I didn’t do these things and you know that. You also know me.”

“I thought I did, ma’am,” he said.

“Ma’am?” Katherine scoffed, “She won’t be that for long.”

“I think you have all you need to take her away, officers,” Jacob said to the cops.

“Jacob…” I called out his name softly.

“Leave my name out of your mouth,” he said to me. And faced the cops, “Please take her away. I never knew she was this person. Stealing and selling, and it multiply times, not once.”

“I have noticed some things missing in the house, haven’t you noticed, Amy?” Christine asked.

“Yes, of course. Only wish we could have known earlier,” Amy added.

“Well, we know now. It’s just that I didn’t want to accuse anyone of anything,” Christine said.

“I understand that, Mother,” Jacob said and Katherine held her hands.

“You know, this isn’t the only thing that has gone missing. A watch with a golden arrow has gone missing too,” Christine declared.

“She sold that to me also,” the woman whispered.

I looked at Jacob, “Jacob, please,” I pleaded with him, “Your father wouldn’t have asked me to marry you if he thought for the slightest that I was a thief. He wouldn’t have asked.”

“Guess you fooled him first,” he responded bitterly, “Take her away.”

My hands were put in handcuffs as the cops questioned Steve.

“Why haven’t you told your boss about this until now?” he was asked.

“I didn’t know the full extent of the situation,” he defended himself.

“I’m inclined to believe you,” the cop said and left him.

“Me too,” Jacob added, “Steve has been with my family for so many years. He would never lie to me.”

I felt my tears drop on my cheeks like raindrops and my hands tighten around the handcuffs.

“Take her away and she should be charged,” Jacob said.

As I was escorted to the cop’s car, my cry for help went unanswered.

“Jacob, please. I didn’t do this,” I continued pleading.

We got to the car and I turned around to see Katherine shutting the door and giving me a mocking smile.

We got to the police station, and I was put in the same cell as the woman who framed me.

Talking to her would be a bad idea, but I don’t have a choice. I need to know why she would do this to me, to someone she has never met.

“Why?” I asked, vaguely.

“Why what?” she asked innocently, like she didn’t know what I was talking about.

“Do not pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Why did you frame me?!” I shouted, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation. The cell fell silent as everyone turned to us.

“I’m sorry. But there is nothing you can do about it now,” she said, plainly.

“You are sorry?” I asked, “You are sorry?” I asked the second time. “What will you do if I messed up your life? Will ‘I’m sorry’ fix it for you?”

“Do not threaten me,” she blurted out.

“Threaten you?” I scoffed. “You think that’s a threat. Watch and see what I will do to you once I get out of here,” I said directly to her face.

“Okay, okay.” She surrendered, “I did it to take care of my daughter. She is sick,” she said.

“This is the only way I could save my daughter, and Katherine promised to take care of the hospital bills,” she continued.

“What are you saying, Katherine is behind this?” I asked to be sure.

“Your enemies are much closer than you think,” she said.

I stood up and looked at her disdainfully. “What about you? Aren’t you my enemy?” I asked, “You have ruined my life and now I will have a record on my file permanently.”

“But your husband can help. He won’t allow his wife to serve time,” she said innocently. I looked at her closely and realized she actually believed what she was saying, and I laughed.

“What do you think is the whole point of all of this?” she looked at me shocked, “The point is to get rid of me?” I answered the question she couldn’t ask.

“Why? Why would your husband leave you in this place?” at least she could ask this question.

“He doesn’t love me,” I said, sadly. “He never loved me. All this while, for five years of marriage, I have been alone.” I sighed heavily.

She looks at me with pity, and I decided to take a chance.

“Please, you can help me,” I said to her.

“How?” she asks.

“By telling the truth. Once you tell the truth, none of this will matter anymore,” I said.

“What about my daughter?”

“I promise you. I will take care of your daughter's bills. Please, I just need you to tell the truth to the cops.”

She gave herself a minute to think. Then she looks at me, “Let’s have the cops bring in Katherine. I’m ready to tell the truth.”

I smiled at her and requested for the officer to bring in Katherine.

It took a while, but finally we were let out of the cell and walked into what looked like an interrogation room. Katherine and Jacob were here along with the officers who were at the house.

“You have something to tell us,” the officer said to me.

“I don’t, but she does. I have told you everything I know. But she is ready to tell the truth,” I said with confidence.

“What truth?” Katherine asked, and I smirked at her.

“What’s going on?” the officer asks, “What truth are you ready to tell?”

She looks at me and faces the little crowd in front of us, “Please don’t listen to her. What I said in the house is the truth.” I couldn’t move. I stood where I was shocked.

“She threatened me and even promised to sell me more jewelry,” she continued to lie. “She wants to hurt me, especially if I don’t tell you guys that she is being framed.”

I felt chills run through my spine. “What? Why would I do that? What will I gain?”

“Cut the crap!” she barked at me, “You said you will take care of my daughter's bills. How did you know my daughter was sick? How do you know about her at all?”

“That’s because you told me about her?” I cried out.

“I told you she is a liar and a thief,” Katherine said, “Is this the reason you called us here?”

I turned to Jacob, “Please, Jacob, I didn’t do this. I didn’t steal or threaten to hurt a child.” I pleaded in tears.

“You should charge her to court as soon as possible. Maybe she will learn there.”

His voice echoed into a void.

“Jacob, please….” I continued to plead for my innocence.

He walks up to me with some documents in his hands.

I couldn't take them because my hands were handcuffed.

“You should sign those as quickly as possible. They are divorce papers.”

I have cried a lot this past hour, but the tears that dropped this time were as painful as the feeling.

At least he didn't take long to hand them to me.