Chapter 4

Days passed and Carlos never came. He never showed up, not even at the court hearing. Carlos had abandoned her. He threw her into this pit and left her in it to drown. 

“Mrs Rodriguez, you have a visitor.” The prison warden came to inform her in her cell one afternoon. 

Valerie had no idea who this visitor could be. Since her detention, no one had shown up for her. With doubts in her mind, she followed the warden to the visiting room and there saw a man whose face she didn't recognize.

He rose to his feet the moment she walked in, smiling from ear to ear. “Mrs Rodriguez, it's a pleasure to finally meet you.” 

“Who are you?” Valerie asked the man, skepticism laced in her expression as she took her seat.

“Juan Michaels.” He replied, gesturing for a handshake which she ignored.

“I have tried countless times to contact you but I only found out that you were here just a few days ago. How are you faring?” He asked.

“How do you think I'm doing?” She rolled her eyes, glaring intently at him with crossed arms.

Juan simply smiled at her, ignoring her harsh tone. “You still haven't told me how you know me and why you're here.” Valerie's voice came again.

“Actually, I am your father's legal representative. Well, your late father, Mr Smith.” He paused, staring at her face for a reaction but Valerie barely batted an eyelid at the words. 

Her father had practically abandoned her and her mother years ago for his mistress after her mother failed to bear him a son. She was never truly affiliated with him in any way and as such, felt no emotion at the mention of his death.

“Is that why you're here? To tell me about his death, hoping I'd shed tears or beg to visit his grave? If that's it, then our meeting here is done.” She rose to her feet and turned to the door to leave.

“I'm not here because of that.” Juan blurted out, rising to his feet and making her halt.

“I am here to help you.” He added, desperately. Valerie scoffed and proceeded to reach for the doorknob. Her verdict had already been passed. Where was he the entire time when she desperately needed saving?

“Your husband, Carlos…” Juan began.

“Ex-husband.” Valerie corrected him as she paused to listen.

“He's the real culprit, not you. Carlos killed the victim and made it appear that you did it. I have all the evidence here with me.” Juan announced and held up the envelope that had sat idle on the table since the beginning of their conversation.

Valerie turned to face him, surprise etched on her face. Her eyes followed his hand and landed in the envelope. Quickly, she went back to the table where they both sat and one by one, Juan laid out all the evidence before her.

He had been able to secure CCTV footage of Carlos leaving a bar and having an altercation with the victim as well as pictures of Carlos driving to the crime scene with the body and leaving. “Why haven't you filed this with the police yet? This could prove my innocence.”

“I needed you to see them first for yourself and also inform you that Carlos now has total control over your businesses. Apparently, he claims you signed over ownership to him.” Juan revealed and Valerie's eyes widened.

“I never did such a thing.” she countered.

“Well, the good news is that your late father left all of his properties and estates to you. You don't need to start from scratch once you're out of here.” He revealed with a smile on his lips. Valerie's brows creased.

“Why would he do that? He never bothered to do anything for me while he was alive. And what about his mistress and kids?” Valerie questioned in anger.

“He never had any other child outside you but he was too ashamed to show himself to you and your mother. This is his way of making it all up to you.”

“However, we can discuss all that later. Let's proceed with plans to get you out of here.” Juan said in dismissal and she nodded.

It was finally the day for Valerie’s trial and while she waited in court, Juan appeared much later, looking very disoriented and this worried her greatly. “You don’t look okay. Is everything alright?” She asked as soon as he was seated. 

He had bruises on his lips and his left hand was wrapped in a bandage. Juan was hesitant to respond to her. “I lost all the evidence.” He whispered, not turning to face her. “Some men attacked me while at work and took everything. I tried to start all over and find more evidence but got nothing. I’m sorry.”

Valerie’s face went pale with horror. How was she going to prove her innocence now? 

The judge called for her lawyer to present his case in her defense but Juan could not provide anything substantial to override the evidence against her. “I’m sorry." he turned to her and whispered. 

The judge proceeded to announce her judgment. She was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime. She had not seen the verdict coming. Valerie was torn beyond remedy, her heart shattering into a million pieces.

****** 

“Hey, you!” The woman twice her size who happened to be her cell mate called out to her from the table where she sat in the hallway. “Come here.” 

It was lunchtime and all Valerie wanted was to have her meal in a quiet corner. There were two wardens around and this put her mind at ease. They wouldn’t do anything stupid with the wardens around.

Slowly, with her food tray in hand, Valerie went to where the woman sat, her eyes glistening with disdain and contempt as she regarded the woman and her minions.

“What do you want?” Valerie rolled her eyes, an exasperated sigh leaving her lips.

The woman scoffed and turned to look at her aides. “Did she just roll her eyes at me?” She asked them and they both affirmed.

“Look, I have no desire for trouble. I just want to have my meal and some peace and quiet.”

By this time, Valerie was surrounded by the other two women. They hovered around her, waiting for orders from their boss. “Wow!” the woman laughed. “I see you got guts, huh? How dare you tell me what to do?” She yelled, signaling the other women to grab Valerie.

They grabbed her roughly by the hair and Valerie’s tray fell to the ground as she winced in pain and tried to fight them off. She looked at the wardens with pleading eyes but noticed that they turned a blind eye even though they were seeing what was going on. It did not take long for her to realize that they had been bought over.

Violently, the women dragged her off to the kitchen and threw her to the ground. Valerie moved to stand up and one of the women kicked her hard in the knee, making her fall face flat to the ground, groaning in pain.

That didn't deter them. Their boss watched as they stomped their feet on Valerie like she was a bug they desperately had to squash, leaving her defenseless against them.

Suddenly, they stopped and Valerie picked herself up. She had a cut on her lip now that dripped with blood. Her hair was ruffled and her clothes dirty. 

“Grab her by the arms!” The huge lady ordered and in a matter of seconds, Valerie's arms were locked behind her back. 

“Let me go. I have done nothing to you. Why do you torment me so much?” She questioned in agony as she struggled to free herself.

The huge lady chuckled and began sauntering towards her. “I hate your guts, that's what.” She replied, standing in front of Valerie.

“Then you must be a crazy bitch because I have done nothing to any of you.” Valerie spat in her face, igniting an intense anger within her. The lady wiped off the stain on her face and grabbed Valerie by the hair, her eyes blazing with fury.

“I see why your husband wants you dead.” She grinned. “You have no fear. And just so you know, you asked for this.” Her words dripped with venom as she dragged Valerie to where the cooking gas was, a pot of boiling oil resting on its surface. 

The heat was intense and Valerie feared the lady's intentions. “No, no, please. No!” She pleaded but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Valerie's scalp felt like it was on fire as the lady's grip on her hair tore her away from the pot. But the real hell began when the scalding liquid made contact with her face. A blinding, searing pain shot through her, like a thousand knives stabbing her all at once. Valerie's screams ripped from the depths of her lungs as she felt the burning and charring of her skin. The agony consumed her, leaving her groaning in intense pain.