"What… "
"Someone wants to see you. Come with me."
Amyra looked astounded as the guard just told her that someone came to meet her. She marvelled at who it could be.
'Zen, or James? It must be James. He must have been worried about me so he came to see me.'
Her face lit up at the thought of seeing her fiance. Yes, James Martin was her fiance. They were so in love.
Since her younger age, she knew him. They were friends first, later James proposed to her and she accepted his proposal.
Amyra was following the officer as she was told to.
Everywhere she could see was darkness and nothing. It was giving her chilling feelings that she hated. All the prisoners were staring at her weirdly.
But she could forget everything, just wanting to see her beloved ones could light up her face with a luminous smile.
Sigh!
The door opened, and her eyes were glinting. She got into the room while scowling at the guard genuinely. But just then all her smiles left her magnificent face.
'Where is James? And who is this man?'
"Please take a seat, Miss Cassidy."
She heard the man saying so. Amyra shook her head confusingly and took a seat on the chair on her side.
Mostly she thought there would be a glass wall between them but she was sitting on the chair on the opposite side of the man and there was the glass table in the middle.
Amyra thoroughly scanned the man, no she never met him before. Then who was he?
How did he know her? If other times, she would surely think how! But at present time, she didn't know… probably the whole universe knew about her now.
"You might be wondering who I am. Let me introduce myself to you. I am Ezra Barlow, your lawyer."
"My… lawyer?"
The man who just introduced himself as her lawyer nodded his head at her assuringly.
"Did James send you to me? Or is it my… my sister?"
To her questions, Ezra looked serene. His face was telling her that it was none of them then who could it be?
Since young Amyra was very clever. And hitherto she wanted to be a lawyer she of course knew certain things.
"No, none of them."
"Then who… Are you a public la… "
Ezra looked rather fierce this time. He took a look around and then looking at her back, he explained, "My client is Mr Bryant, he sent me here to bail you."
Amyra was drinking water as she didn't even get to drink water since last night but upon hearing him water choked almost in her throat.
"Who?"
"Mr Bryant. You probably heard of him since the whole country knows about him."
"I… I don't."
Her true answer indeed made him raise an eyebrow but it was only for a second before being lost to sight. Ezra turned out to be quite professional, she felt.
Ezra this time looked into something in some envelope and then coughed as if preparing for some serious lecture that he was gonna give.
Handing her some papers, he announced in an autocratic tone. "Since I have introduced myself, I will get to the point."
"Please, go ahead…"
"All the cases upon your head will be cleared the moment you get bailed out, there won't be any news about you in social media anymore, we will take care of everything for you. In exchange…"
"..."
Hearing him, words started playing in her mind. She believed there was no free meal in the world.
Why would someone who's told to be powerful be interested in saving her? Amyra couldn't think of the possibilities until Ezra said something and she quickly stood up in shock.
"In exchange… you have to marry Mr Bryant."
"What?..."
Ezra saw how shocked she was as if she just saw the ghosts.
"I… I have to marry him?"
"Yes."
"Wait, I don't… I don't understand something."
She glared at him, from head to his toe. Was he kidding?
'Are you some chiseler? No, it should be…' Amyra could only think that it was some scam or why would someone who doesn't even know her would want to marry her. And especially after what happened… Weird as hell!
Ezra grinned seeing she was surprised, looking like a skittish feline.
"Everything you heard is true. Please sit back."
Amyra looked shocked and she sat at the chair back. Something was off, wasn't it?
"Your case will be taken to the court tonight, so you have to choose fast or I wouldn't be able to help you."
Marry? Getting out of prison? She didn't know what to say to him. Amyra looked at the papers in her hand.
Even if she wanted to think too that it was some other kind of dream, a prank it was indeed true. She could read all the lines in the papers.
"So once I sign this, I will be bailed?"
"Yes." Ezra answered shortly.
"But why… I mean how can I believe that you are telling me the truth? What if it's something like another case…" she pronounced somehow between her stunned self.
Ezra took out another envelope from his bag and placed it in the middle.
Amyra stared at the envelope curiously as she asked him, "This?"
"Mr Bryant will marry you the day after tomorrow so you will be the bride." Ezra clarified.
Probably a good deal, tempting too. Amyra thought of something for a moment then she said, "I want to talk to your boss."
"Well, that's not possible."
"What… why not?"
"Mr Bryant is a very busy man. He sent me to take care of everything here. He is not to be disturbed." His voice sounded more serious, he looked like someone unapproachable.
The way he was talking, it was clear that Mr Bryant was not so friendly for sure.
Amyra glanced at Ezra for ten seconds straight as if trying to read him.
"Miss Cassidy…"
Unexpectedly she stood up. No way, she was going to get into another mess.
"What's wrong?"
Amyra looked at the papers on the table and let out with a smile, "Guess, your boss is very powerful. Like you said, so I guess he doesn't need me to be his wife. There can be a lot of girls wanting to marry him. I don't find any reason behind his choice… "
"So, you mean…"
Amyra bit her lips. No, she needed this help so much. Maybe she could prove that she was innocent, she could do many things but not upon doing this.
She smiled and put the papers on the table, extending them towards him.
"I cannot accept it. Please don't waste your time, thank you." With those words as she was wandering towards the door to leave she heard Ezra's stringent voice.
"I think you don't understand the situation here. Right now, there won't be anybody wanting to fight your case. You can't prove yourself innocent even if you want to. You should accept my client's help. Only he can…"
"Thank you but I am not accepting it." And with those words, she left the room. Ezra, kept standing there flabbergasted.
He met all kinds of people, and there was nobody who would have said no to his help, especially in such a situation but she was different….
"Let's see… How long can you hold it on… Miss Cassidy." Ezra smirked.
Some hours were enacted since it all went so peaceful. Nobody was bullying her, nobody was trying to mess with her. Amyra kept sitting in the same place, not moving an inch.
She was trying to think of everything that happened yesterday. She was sure it was Zenaya who called her but Zenaya was the real daughter when Amyra was really adopted one.
It didn't make sense to what was coming out as a conclusion. The more she was thinking the more her head was spinning…
"Please let me see her. Please, officer."
Suddenly hearing some noise Amyra quickly stood up. It was her best friend, Chloe Murphy.
Chloe was screaming, crying to see Amyra but the officer had done all the tries so she wouldn't be able to meet her
Amyra cried out, "Chloe!"
"Amy… please officer, let me see her."
Even after crying and begging they didn't let her see her. In front of Amyra's eyes they dragged Chloe away, Amyra's last hope was gone too.
They more like kicked out Chloe.
Amyra had so many people but true to say today she understood that she didn't actually have anyone true to her except Chloe.
Her sister turned out to be a prevaricator when her fiance whom she thought was real didn't even come to see her for once.
"Chloe, don't do that to her. Chloe…"
"Amy… No…"
In no time she was thrown away at the police station.
Chloe tried all she could to hire a lawyer but even the most known lawyer in the city was not ready to take her case. Chloe couldn't help her best friend. Now she couldn't even see her.
She hated it.
There Amyra was sitting on the floor, her head resting against the wall.
The police officers' voice came to hear. Amyra felt her life ending here.
"In two hours you will be leaving here. See all you want because after this… it will be over for you." Leaving? She meant they would take her to court? Or where? Fear got her.
Inundated in fear, Amyra felt like weeping. She hugged her knees and drowned her face between her palms.
Everything just ended before her eyes. She lost her parents, couldn't see them even for one last time properly, was taken to prison as a criminal, people tried bullying her, nobody came to get her out, none trusted her and when her best friend tried, she was treated bad instead…
Soon an hour passed, and she was still sitting there and thinking a lot.
"No, I can't do this. I didn't kill them, I am innocent. They can't do this to me. Someone is behind it, I have to find out the criminal who killed my parents."
"Here's your clothes. Soon you will be given your belongings…"
Amyra didn't give a damn about the officer who was talking to her. Instead, she stepped past the officer while walking towards the guard she saw last time.
"Wait, where are you going? You can't go…" the police officers tried stopping her but then as they saw the guard pointing his hand at them they stopped. None gave a d*mn anyway.
"So, are you ready?"
"Yes, I am."
As she said so the guard shortly grinned and sauntered towards her, stunning her.
"It's a good choice. Instead of rotting here, rot in somewhere else."
The man strolled away and she was left alone. But Amyra couldn't understand what he meant. Wait, rot somewhere else? What did he mean?
Amyra was sitting on the chair the same way as this afternoon but this time she was not seen as some jailbird. Instead, as if she was some respected fugitive.Daniel, as he said, took care of everything there. He was still talking to the officers when Amyra was staring at the stars from the window.There were so many stars in the sky tonight. Strange! She couldn't be happier unlike before. Every time she would see stars she would be delighted but now… all her contentment was gone.Sigh!Ezra scowled at her, ensuring her that everything had been taken care of and she glanced at the police officers.Reaching out of the police station as she saw Chloe, she couldn't help but burst into tears.Amyra hastily ran into Chloe's arms and wrapped her arms around her tight."Chloe.""I am so sorry, Amy. I am such a failure, I couldn't help at all. Amy…" Chloe burst into tears.It was Chloe who told Amyra not to believe Zenaya like a fool and Amyra still believed her. Only if Amyra really could k
"I didn't kill them. Trust me, I didn't… Mom, Zen… No!!! Please don't go… Mom…"Screaming!Amyra shot her eyes opened as she sat on the bed, she was still sort of breathing, terrified.Between the sort sighs she wiped off the sweats over her forehead.In the dream she saw her mom and her sister, everything was scaring her, it became like a nightmare, haunting her…Amyra was still in a dilemma when suddenly light fell on her eyes as someone pulled the curtain in the room.The curtain moved and she looked at the woman who looked young but her forehead uttered that she was over 40 or something in touch."Good morning, Miss Cassidy. It's time for you to get ready. Mr Bryant will be here in an hour." The woman announced so in a hurry.Amyra looked a little surprised and confused. "Pardon?" As if she didn't understand what she was saying. The woman glared at her, not explaining to her."Mr Bryant… Mr Bryant… I have heard this name before. But where…" she mumbled."If you don't remember, the
"Have you given her the tab?""Yes, Mr Bryant."A man sitting on the chair, his broad shoulders facing Jacob was hitting his slender fingers on the table nonchalantly. The man turned around towards Jacob and asserted, "I don't want her to ruin things. Everything must be perfectly done, is that clear?""I got it, sir.""You may leave now."Jacob nodded his head and left as the man told him to.The man stood up and his face reflected in the mirror. Those exquisite features, he was indeed created with so much consideration.Xavier Bryant was waiting for his bride-to-be, at least meeting her to clear up some things was his reason but he waited for five minutes and she didn't come, he got so annoyed. He always hated people who were never punctual.When he thought of leaving, to his surprise he met her at a ten-minute distance and she dared to ask him for directions, was she kidding?He told Kim to make sure she took her here but Kim told him that she didn't want to come with her so he wait
"Mr Bryant, Miss Cassidy is here," With respect, Jacob reported to Xavier Bryant. Xavier took the glass of wine in his hand and looking into it he asked him in a calm tone, "What was her reaction when you told her that I would be here soon?"A little bit surprised, Jacob knew his boss was never interested in a woman's reactions but now… he was quite astonished though. "She seemed like… she didn't expect it and she didn't want to… uhmm…""I see." Instead of getting angry, Xavier smirked. Jacob didn't expect it though. He thought he would surely be angry or he wouldn't care…There were all kinds of men around at the party so women were. Amyra never met them before, she saw some of them on the television and some of them in magazines or the news to be said.Sigh!It had been half an hour since she was here. But none said anything to her, instead, she was standing in some place alone. She could see them from there but none could see her.Before vanishing into the crowd, Jacob told her t
"James…" Amyra mumbled, her feet moving along with her curiosity as her eyes followed the man she once recognised as her fiance.No, she was not wrong. It was him. She couldn't help but keep walking towards the crowd.In the middle of the couple's dancing, what was he doing?'It's…' there was the couple. She saw James with a woman, his hands were wrapped around her waist like a leech as he kept her body quite close to his. They were so lost in each other, dancing like there was no tomorrow.But how was it possible even? James said he loved her and even in future he would only love her then why was he dancing with a woman at the party as if they were a couple? James has always been caring and a good boyfriend but tonight, what colour he was showing... Amyra couldn't believe her eyes. Certainly, something hit her head. What has the world known about her? She was curious to know what Mr Bryant did so people didn't talk about her. The world couldn't be bought nor her close people, it w
Droplets of rain dribbled on the street from the sky, clouds were still rumbling, and there were not many people around to be seen.In the rain, her clothes were drenching wet when she was sauntering on the road as she had nowhere to go. Well, it had happened to her before too but at that time she at least was not so heartbroken. Her high stilettos were in one hand while she was glancing at the sky with a sad smile.She didn't know how far she had come, she had been running and running and then she came to stop herself as she couldn't run anymore. "Fool, ain't I? Since I was young, I have always been made a fool. I always thought no, why would the people I trust make a fool out of me but every time… every time I was wrong. Someone framed me up and I had to find out that my sc*mbag fiancé cheated on me with my friend. O, Lord!" Amyra had no reminiscing about how loud she was before whenever she became frustrated but for sure she was the loudest this time. Her heart was hurting and he
"Mr Bryant, something… something happened." Ezra was short of breathing, he ran here as fast as he could. Xavier just put on his wedding suit, he was all ready."What's wrong?" Swivelling around he asked so in a relaxed tone. Ezra looked so freaked out, he sauntered forward and confessed, "Miss… Miss Cassidy is missing.""What?" Both Xavier and Jacob were astonished. Jacob just came back to check on Xavier to see if he was ready but as he heard Ezra, he was super surprised. To give in to the fact that she ran away from the wedding…"Kim said Miss Cassidy told her that she wanted to get some fresh air so Kim and everyone left the room. But for nearly thirty minutes passed, she didn't open the door. When Kim went inside, she… ""She what?" Xavier asked so in a stiff tone.Ezra gobbled and countered in a haste, "She found Miss Cassidy gone.""Rubbish. Didn't I tell you to strengthen the security? How can she escape then?""We are searching for her. I…"Ezra stopped talking as Xavier rai
"Boss, your bride is hiding here." One of Xavier's men showed him a tab where he could see a location. Seeing it the corners of his lips curled into a smile. "My little bride is quite smart I see…"Everybody looked surprised as they heard him. He didn't seem to be angry at all unlike sometimes before he saw her, his face was all in five shades of a beast. 'Where are they going all of a sudden?' Amyra saw all the guards heading to different directions. She had been hiding in a corner for quite a while but the guards were strictly guarding the way.Strange! They were no longer doing it now. A golden opportunity for her escape!Even thinking of it gave her a happy feeling. Waiting for them to clear the road, she watched them from her hiding spot and then she looked around. 'Anyway, it's a golden chance for me. I can just leave now. Huhu!'Thinking so she walked towards the door, pretending to stay as calm as she could.Amyra successfully escaped the guards. She ran out of the main doo
'Will I get killed for real?' Amyra looked around. Zenaya's people captured her when she tried to escape here. She didn't have her phone with her, so there was no way she could call for help. "Shoot her!" Zenaya ordered her people. Allen was nowhere to be seen and there were all Zenaya's people. Who could possibly come to help her? Just as they were about to do it suddenly a familiar voice from the dark spoke up. "Nobody should touch even her hair or I will kill you all." Amyra saw Allen walking towards her. Though she hated him, right now, he was the most suitable choice for her to escape from them. With a big smile lingering with her lips she quickly ran to Allen and hid behind him as if he was her protective shield. "Allen, she wants to kill me." Allen glared at Amyra worriedly and then at Zenaya angrily. "What did you do to her?" "I..." "Allen, she said she wanted me to sign on paper and after that, she would have killed me." Thankfully Xavier told her everything or it w
"Where are you going?" Seeing Xavier, she turned around. Amyra just cut the call with Allen, she wondered if he heard the conversation. She stood firm. "When did you come back?" "A while ago." He answered and walked into her room. 'Seems he didn't hear us. It's all good then.' Amyra put on a smile and took a deep breath in. Xavier walked to her and let out, "I've reserved seats for us in a movie theatre. I understood I couldn't give you much time so... Let's go, babe." He extended his hand towards her, asking for her hand. "Theatre?" Amyra looked away. There was no way she could go somewhere else tonight. "Yes, why? You don't like it?" "Uhmm... Actually... I don't feel like..." "What's wrong? Babe. You don't feel good? Is something wrong?" He worriedly looked at her. Amyra smiled at him cheekily and turned away from him. As if she couldn't just lie while standing face-to-face with him. "Babe?" "Actually I have something more important to do so I won't be..." She asserted. H
The Next Morning Amyra just finished taking a shower. Chloe made an appointment with a gynaecologist for Amyra and she was going to meet her today. She decided no matter what she would keep the child. And since she found him not liable she decided she wouldn't tell him anything about her unborn child, let it stay the way things were. After getting ready as she opened the door she was stunned. She was astounded to see Xavier sleeping outside her room. "Hey, get up." She told him. Xavier didn't move an inch let alone wake up. "Why is he sleeping here when he has his room? Silly man." She squatted to wake him up. She called out for him again, "Xavier, wake up. It's already past ten in the morning." No response! "Mr and Mrs Bryant..." Seeing them a worker asserted so. Amyra let out a sigh and touched his arm to pull him up. "Xa... What's wrong with him?" Quickly touching his forehead Amyra let out worriedly, "Please help me to take him to my room." The worker helped to carry Xa
A month later Things seemed to be going well. One month passed and nobody tried harming her again. And Xavier's men caught some men who helped to reach Zenaya more. 'Today is an important day, I am going to graduate hehe.' Looking at the mirror she smiled and then walked out of her room. She with a smile looked at everyone when they greeted her with a good morning. Amyra pulled the chair to sit on and the opposite of her she saw him. Xavier also pulled the chair for himself to sit on it.Upon seeing him she remembered many things such as the way he had been treating her these past few days. He told her that he would probably not be able to give her more time and she said ok, when he came back from work she already fell asleep. As if they were getting more distant day by day. Seeing Amyra turn around Xavier quickly let out, "I don't bite. Sit down." Amyra looked at the chair, she was reluctant to listen to him. Then thinking of something she sat on the chair. It was not like they
The Next Morning Keeping his eyes shut, Xavier unhurriedly scurried around. He lazily lengthened his hand and as he touched a woman's head he quickly opened his eyes. His expression showed he was flabbergasted. Staring at the back of the woman's head he remembered about last night then a big smile played on his lips. He moved close to her and then placed a kiss on her forehead. By his touch, Amyra gradually opened her eyes. She with half-opened eyes looked at Xavier who was also looking at her. Amyra hastily sat on the bed as she saw him grinning at her. "Good morning." He sat next to her and grinned at her. Amyra's expression immediately changed when she remembered what just happened last night. She didn't smile seeing him glimmering at her. Instead, she just ran to the bathroom while wrapping the cover around her body somehow. "Amy..." He was left unheard. Standing against the bathroom door Amyra covered her mouth with her hands. Tears fell down to her eyes and she sat on th
Opening the door Amyra ran to the room. It was all dark in the room, the clouds growling got it more disastrous. As if the night wanted to slaughter someone."The lights are gone. I need to find him as soon as possible." Turning on the torch in her phone Amyra looked around. "Xavier, it's me Amyra. Where are you?" Thankfully, she got to be here before the weather started getting bad. "Xavier, can you hear me? Can you tell me where you are?" She clamoured for him for the second time but she could only hear her voice getting back to her. Jacob told her which hotel Xavier was staying at so she could be here faster. The more clouds were screeching outside, the more she started feeling sceptical. "Xa..." Suddenly she impeded sauntering as her eyes snagged on the timid figure. Xavier was sitting in a corner of the room. His face immersed within his knees and he was quivering in fear. Her heart agonised the way she saw him, he looked so dreadful. She ran to him and sitting on the floor s
"Mrs Bryant, run!" Sam's blood-curdling scream echoed in the whole room. "But I can't just leave you here like this...." "Don't worry about me, please run away from here. Please, I beg you." "I... I'm sorry." Amyra started running as fast as she could without looking back. She could hear the sound of gunshots and fight. Thankfully she saw people were following the car she was in when she looked at the rear view mirror of the car or she couldn't imagine what would happen if they were to reach Xavier.Sam protected her and fought them with his men but in that process, he got hurt. She didn't want to leave him alone but she couldn't stay as he begged her to leave. "Hold on, Sam. I will get someone to help you, please don't give up!" "Catch her! Remember we must kill her today no matter what!" Amyra heard the people running after her. She got to hurt her leg but right now, saving herself from them was the most important thing. As she was running, suddenly two guys stood before her
'Has he gone mad? Because of him, now everyone calls me Xavier's Bride in school. Before it was peaceful at school, but because of him now it's ruined...' Annoyed Amyra sauntered upstairs. She was so damn weary coming back from school. The whole day was exhausting especially because Xavier let everyone see that he was her husband. Letting out a sigh she walked into her room, closed the door and put her bag on the couch. Taking off her clothes she wrapped a towel around her body, put her hair in a messy bun and walked to the bathroom. "Ahhhhh!" Suddenly she started shrieking. Seeing her screaming Xavier hastily covered her mouth with his hand. Pulling her inside the bathroom he pushed her against the wall. Amyra had no idea that he would be inside. She saw water dripping from his hair, he was in his white bathrobe and looked like he just took a shower. She saw him like this before but every time she felt like looking at him again and again. He gradually let her hand go and then s
The Next Morning 'He probably left last night after I fell asleep, or maybe it was in the early morning... He probably was just trying to play me again or it can be that he went back to his girlfriend, Layla...' Sigh! Putting on the bathrobe, Amyra sauntered out of the bathroom, her hair wrapped messily with a white towel when full of thoughts tinkering in her mind. 'Well, it's not like he has to say anything to anyone. We're not related anyway, soon we... We will be separated... ' She put her skirt on and then tied her hair up in a ponytail. Putting on some lip balm she pulled her bag that was placed on the table. Amyra had something important to do in school today so she decided she would miss breakfast at home if only it could be called her home anymore. Tsk! Tsk! When she was on her way downstairs, she saw Kim. She was probably talking to her daughter or someone. Amyra remembered what Xavier told her the last time. Could she take revenge on her? She suffered so much because