There was a momentary pause in Emma's heartbeat, followed by a sudden jolt as she jumped in fear. "Why are you observing me while I sleep?" she gasped, trying to steady her breath after the fright. The woman let out a low, unsettling chuckle. "You look beautiful when you sleep," she said, her smile twisted in a disturbing manner. "It's a shame you're confined in a cell." With another eerie grin, she turned away. Just then, the heavy door to the cell area creaked open. Emma saw the lawyer walking in with Lucas by his side, and a glimmer of hope ignited within her. She quickly stood up, walking towards the bars of her cell with eager anticipation. Her wide eyes and trembling fingers clung to the cold metal, awaiting their approach. An expressionless police officer followed closely behind, unlocking the cell bars with a loud clanking noise, and gesturing for Emma to come out. Emma's hesitation was fleeting as she glanced back at the lady lying on the floor, motionless and silent
"The apartment in which I formerly reside where is being investigated now...." she revealed, her voice lowering to a hushed whisper as if worried about being overheard, "belongs to Mr. Ethan. I surmise that he has a strong motive to lay the blame on me, especially given that I was conducting research on him." She nibbled on her lip, feeling anxious and unsettled. The lawyer's eyes widened slightly. "Now that is interesting," he mused, more to himself than to her. "Please, continue." Emma's fingers intertwined tightly, her knuckles turning white. "Upon moving in, I discovered a hidden CCTV camera observing me. Despite its covert positioning, I stumbled upon it a few days later. I removed and destroyed it." She hesitated before adding, "It was no secret that I suspected Mr. Ethan of being involved in my father's death. He was aware of my investigation into his actions." Her lawyer continued to jot down notes, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. Finally, he met her resolute gaz
Emma straightened herself upright, eager to give every information necessary to help keep her sister safe, "She is 27 years old. Her name is—""We can gather basic information from records," he interjected in a resolute yet courteous tone. "Tell us about her physical appearance, her relationship with people, Did she mention anything lately that implied fear or discomfort?"Emma nibbled on her lip, her thoughts racing back to their last exchange. "She is... she is very sociable, always the life of the gathering. Nothing stood out as unusual."The door flung open, and the second officer returned with an evidence bag held high. He handed it to his superior, who promptly handed Emma her phone. She fumbled with it, her fingers trembling as she attempted to switch it on."It's dead," she stated, raising her eyes to the officer with a mix of frustration and trepidation."Who has a charger?" the officer inquired, scanning the room.“I have a power bank and an iPhone cord," Mr. Harrington, who
Emma's trembling fingers hovered over the phone before she mustered the courage to dial the number. "Hello," she called, her voice betraying her anxiety. The threats never stopped. It's already turning to a horrible nightmare. Everyone she knows, everyone related to her, is automatically in grave danger just because she is hell-bent on uncovering Ethan Maddox dirty secrets."You said I should call you whenever I needed something," she began, her voice cracking with emotion. "I need you to help me get my sister to safety. She's likely been kidnapped." Despite the lump in her throat, she managed to swallow her fear. The image of a helpless shirley being tied, her eyes filled with fear and cry for help came into her vision, the thought of her sister being in that position nauseated Emma.Emma listened intently to the voice on the other end, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes," she replied finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll send you the video. Thank you." With a tremblin
Lucas retrieved the crumpled note from his pocket, smoothing out the creases with his fingers. The worn paper revealed a detailed image of a building painted in vivid blue and white. He squinted at it, eyebrows knitting together. "Why would anyone paint on a dollar note?" he muttered, the confusion clear in his voice.He shook his head, the absurdity of the situation gnawing at him. "This makes no sense," he said, more to himself than anyone else. Frustration seeped into his actions as he balled up the note again, preparing to discard it. But Emma's hand shot out, stopping him mid throw."Wait," she said, her tone urgent yet calm. She gently took the bill from his hand and sank into the nearby couch. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she scrutinized the note, turning it over and over. The room fell silent, the only sound the soft rustle of the paper as Emma handled it.Lucas watched her, curiosity piqued. "What are you doing?" he asked, stepping closer.Emma didn't look up. She li
"Are you there, Emma?" Mr. Mario's voice drifted to her ears, pulling her from her thoughts. She blinked slowly, the haze lifting from her mind."Yes, I'm here," she said quickly, realizing he couldn’t see her nod. She rubbed her forehead, trying to relieve the tension."A warehouse?" Emma’s voice trembled as she held her breath."Yes, the abandoned one downtown, with the peeling blue paint, we could not get a hold of the men, they were gone before we got there." Mr. Mario replied. "But that's not what matters. Your sister is safe. Can you come see her?"Emma’s heart pounded. "I don't know, but I'll let you know soon. Thank you for reaching out to me." She ended the call, her hand shaking slightly as she lowered the phone.She turned to Lucas, who watched her intently, curiosity etched on his face."You didn't tell me someone was helping you look for your sister," Lucas said, his brow furrowing. "Especially not Mario Rodriguez."Emma shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "It slipped
Lucas slammed the door of his car shut as he got in. Emma would be furious if she found out he had gone to see her sister first, making him miss the cell lady she's eager to keep safe and meet.He thought of going back to the police station to get more information from the front desk lady, but he knew that would be suspicious, and the last thing he needed was that.Lucas slumped against the steering wheel of his car. He pressed his palms against his temples, trying to quell the rising panic threatening to consume him. What was he going to do now?With a heavy sigh, Lucas started the ignition and pulled out onto the main street. He drove aimlessly, the passing scenery a blur of colors and shapes. He scanned the sidewalks, hoping against hope to catch a glimpse of the lady, but that was to no avail, she would have been long gone by now.An hour passed with no sign of her. Frustration gnawed at Lucas's insides, mingling with the guilt of letting Emma down once again. He pulled over to th
Lucas's brow furrowed in confusion as he stared at the lady. Her wild eyes and frantic gestures made her look half-crazed, but something in her voice gnawed at his skepticism."Mario Rodriguez hired you to kill Emma's mother?" Lucas scoffed, getting up from the ground. He slapped at the dust clinging to his pants, each swipe a dismissal of her claim."I know you won't believe me!" The lady's voice cracked, her hands trembling at her sides. "He covers his tracks better than Mr. Ethan. That’s why Emma hasn’t discovered who he truly is."Lucas let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as he began to trudge out of the dense bush. The leaves crunched beneath his boots, and the earthy smell of the bush filled the air. She was crazy, he was convinced. Her disheveled hair and haunted eyes only confirmed it."Wait, you have to believe me!" She ran after him, her footsteps frantic against the forest floor. She darted in front of him, forcing him to halt. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her despe
Emma clenched her hands in her lap, her knuckles white. She glanced at Lucas, who gave her a reassuring nod. "You can do this," he mouthed.After what felt like an eternity, it was time for the verdict. The judge's voice was firm, unyielding. "Mario Rodriguez, you are sentenced to a total of fifty years in prison for the rape of Kathy Callum, for human trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, and aiding murders. You will be eligible for parole after twenty five years."The courtroom buzzed with murmurs, but Emma barely heard them. She was focused on the look of shock and fury on Mr. Mario's face as he was led away in handcuffs. It was over. Truly over.Tears welled in her eyes, but this time they were tears of relief. Lucas squeezed her hand, and she turned to him, a tentative smile breaking through. "It's finally over," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.He nodded, pulling her into a hug. "You were amazing," he said softly. "So strong."Emma leaned into him, feeling
Emma felt the warm trickle of blood running down the side of her face where the gun had struck her. The metallic scent filled her nostrils as she looked up at Mr. Mario. His grip on her face was ironclad, his face mere inches from hers. His breath was hot and reeked of cigarettes as he hissed, “Don’t make me kill you, Emma. Don’t tempt me.”His voice was low and menacing, and Emma could feel the vibration of his words against her skin. She knew she was probably making the worst decision of her life, but it was the only thing she could think of. With a sudden, desperate resolve, she lunged forward and sank her teeth into his nose. She bit down hard, the taste of blood flooding her mouth, and pulled with all her might until she felt the flesh tear awayMr. Mario’s scream pierced the air, raw and filled with agony. Emma could see the shock and pain in his eyes as he clutched his nose, blood streaming through his fingers. Seizing the moment, Emma summoned every ounce of strength and let o
Emma slowly sat back down in a chair. She took a deep breath and opened the file. Inside, she found a set of documents. As she scanned the pages, her eyes landed on the title: "Dissolution of Betrothal Contract." Her heart pounded as she saw Morgan’s signature at the bottom.Her mind reeled. Why had Morgan changed her mind? What had prompted this sudden shift? Emma leaned back, staring at the papers, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and curiosity. But her relief was unmistakable."What had changed her mind?" Emma whispered to herself, the question lingering as she stepped out of the courtroom.**One month later**Emma stepped out of the hospital with Tina, who had just finished her antenatal check-up. The setting evening sun glinted off the hospital’s glass facade, casting long shadows on the pavement.Emma got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. “Feeling okay?” she asked as she navigated the car through the parking lot.Tina chuckled, resting a hand on her baby bump.
His lips curled into a sneer. "I'm going to win my case tomorrow. And when I get out, Emma, I'll make sure you pay. I'll kill you, and before that, I'll have my way with you. Brutally. You'll regret everything. You should have stopped when you had the chance."Emma's smile didn't waver, but inside, a shiver ran down her spine. She steadied herself, refusing to let him see any weakness. She knew the case was too good for him to win it. "We'll see about that, Ethan Maddox. How pitiful it is, the once powerful Maddox, stuck in a jail cell." She stood up, adjusting her coat with deliberate grace.As the guards moved to take him away, Ethan's expression shifted, a malicious glint in his eye. "Watch your back, Emma. Mario is still out there, and he's planning something big."Emma paused, her heart skipping a beat, but she didn't turn around. She walked out of the room, the echo of Ethan's words trailing after her.With Mario still roaming out there, she knew everything was truly far from ov
"Cookies or a sandwich?" Emma asked.Tina picked cookies without hesitation. Emma retrieved a pack from the pantry and placed a few on a plate, setting it on the counter next to where they would soon sit with their hot drinks.The kettle began to whistle, steam escaping from its spout as Emma poured the hot water into two waiting mugs filled with cocoa mix. The rich aroma of chocolate filled the air.They sat down at the kitchen table, the silence heavy between them as they sipped their drinks. The warmth of the hot chocolate seeped through Emma's fingers, temporarily soothing her senses.After they finished their drinks and Tina left, Emma returned to the living room. The fatigue of the day washed over her, and she settled onto the couch, her thoughts wandering to Lucas.Hours later, the sound of the front door opening roused Emma from her doze. She blinked sleepily, glancing at the clock—it was a little past seven. Lucas entered the room.He settled beside her on the couch, leaning o
The lady sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping as she collapsed onto the edge of the bed. "Maybe you weren't convincing enough," she suggested. "You should have worn the other more revealing red dress. And maybe you sounded pushy..."Her words faded into the background as Morgan's anger reached a boiling point. With a sudden, ferocious movement, she stood up and crossed the room in two quick strides. Grabbing the lady by the front of her shirt, she lifted her off the bed and slammed her against the nearby wall. The impact sent a dull thud through the room."If you want to pass blame on me for your stupid plans not working," Morgan hissed through gritted teeth, her face inches from the lady's, "you're not going to like how it ends for you."The lady's eyes widened in shock and fear. Her breath came in shallow, rapid bursts. As Morgan's grip tightened momentarily before letting go, the lady slid down the wall, her legs weak beneath her. She straightened herself slowly, smoothing out her
Upstairs, Lucas leaned back in his leather chair, the phone pressed to his ear. Morgan's voice echoed through the line, breaking the silence."We need to see Lucas. It's urgent," Morgan's tone was urgent.Lucas frowned, his brow furrowing. "See me for what?" he asked, his voice guarded.There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Morgan replied, "About Ethan Maddox. There's been a breakthrough, and I thought you should know."Lucas's grip tightened on the phone. Ethan Maddox. He inhaled sharply."Why are you trying to help me?" Lucas's voice was low, contemplative. "It feels like there's more to this than just the case."A soft chuckle came through the line, warm and unexpectedly genuine. "Yes, Lucas," Morgan admitted, her tone unguarded. "I have my reasons. I want you to warm up to me, and if helping with this case will achieve that, then I'm willing to take the risk. I'm really sorry about yesterday, I shouldn't have done that. It's been years, and I should have allo
"This is one of the disk file you gave to us, we would like to watch it with you," the police officer stated and Mrs Veronica nodded.The screen showed a dimly lit kitchen. Mrs. Maria was gagged and tied on the floor, her eyes wide with fear. Ethan Maddox was pacing around, his face twisted in anger, his mouth moving rapidly as he shouted. Although there was no sound, the rage in his body language was unmistakable. Mrs. Maria seemed to be pleading, shaking her head in desperation.The scene escalated quickly. Ethan Maddox grabbed a knife from the counter and, with a swift, brutal motion, slashed at Mrs. Maria's neck. Blood spurted out in gruesome bursts, staining the floor and walls. Mrs. Veronica's breath caught in her throat, her eyes glued to the screen.The officer quickly shut the laptop, her hands shaking slightly. She took a deep breath, her face pale. "This... this is more than enough evidence," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Emma and Lucas sat in the car, parked
Emma inhaled sharply, not expecting what she had just heard. "Does the phone contain information that could help?" She asked and the woman nodded.Emma glanced at Lucas, whose eyes were distant and unfocused, lost in thought.Lucas suddenly stood up from the worn-out couch, his expression resolute. "This is what we're going to do," he said, his voice steady. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, a sign of the stress they were under.Emma watched as he began to pace. "I'm going to call the police, and you're going to speak to them," he continued, "They'll come here and find everything exactly as it is. But this time, we'll take pictures and leak them to the public. That way, they can't cover anything up, especially with the FBI involved." He glanced at the woman, whose eyes widened slightly, a mix of fear in her gaze."We need to make sure they can't hide this," Lucas explained. "You're going to tell them you've been attacked and that you have information they need. When they're clos