เข้าสู่ระบบAlina's POVThe weekend was approaching, and I still didn't know how to bring up Mary's request to Edrick.By Friday, I had decided I wouldn't ask him. I honestly didn't want to ruin the soft spot we had already found with each other. I didn't want any frowns or unpleasant emotions, and I understood that he had problems with his mother.But Clover was like a granddaughter to Mary. Heck, she was Mary's granddaughter.And aside from Mary's relationship with Edrick, she had literally helped raise Clover.I couldn't ignore her request to see Clover one last time before returning to Tarrytown.It was already Friday evening. So, I decided I would take Clover to see Mary behind Edric's back.But then, it seemed as though the universe had already informed Edrick of what I was planning because, throughout the day, he refused to leave us alone.First, he refused to go to work. He stayed around me and the kids, not leaving us for even a second.Even when he had work to do, he brought his laptop
Aria's POV The first greeting I got in this Godforsaken prison was having my jaw cracked and my nose broken.They didn't stop beating me. They didn't stop hitting me. They were mad that I had tried to murder a six-year-old, as if they weren't in prison for committing crimes themselves.They hit me until all I could see was black.When I opened my eyes, I found myself in the sick bay, my face covered in bandages. The nurse gave me an ointment and told me to use it to massage my jaw and broken nose. Then, the guard sent me back to the same room.I couldn't believe this.This couldn't be my life.As I entered the room this time, my head was bowed, my gaze fixed on the floor. I didn't want to make eye contact with my roommates. They were inmates, and I was scared they would hit me again.But they didn't.They just sat there, staring at me. Even when I went to bed, I could feel their eyes boring into my soul, as if I were a pest, as if looking at me meant looking at the most disgusting be
Alina's POVI had created two different designs that evening before leaving the office. By the time I stepped outside, it was already getting dark. Hannah had tgone home, and I was the only one left.I moved toward my car, my mind focused on one thing: going home to Edrick and the kids.As I got closer to the car, I heard someone approaching.I froze, then turned around."Who's there?" I asked.The footsteps kept coming closer. Then I saw a lady in a dark dress approaching me.I was about to scream or get into a defensive position when I saw her face."Mary," I sighed in relief.Mary moved closer to me and wrapped me in a hug."God, I missed you, Liana," she said."I missed you too," I replied, hugging her back.I didn't know how to feel. After everything that had happened, and considering the fact that she was Edrick's hated mother, I didn't know what to feel about her anymore."Liana. Oh, sorry, Alina," she said.I smiled. "Yeah, it's Alina."She looked at me, tears filling her eyes
Alina’s POVLiam asked if I wanted to see Aria. I shook my head.I had just finished crying my eyes out. Not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy, with a little bit of shock mixed in.Edrick had hidden this from me. He had hidden that the previous judge was being bribed. He had hidden that he had changed the judge and made sure the trial would be fair.I didn't know whether to love him more or kick his ass for doing that.I had been under so much tension. I was so scared. My whole body had frozen in place as I feared that Aria might get away with what she had done.I feared that my daughter wouldn't get justice. I feared that Aria would use her flimsy psychiatric excuse to get sent to a hospital instead of going to prison.But thank goodness. I'm so glad it didn't go that way.I'm glad I have Edrick.As for Aria, I would visit her, but not now. Right now, I wanted to go home, hug my daughter, and appreciate the fact that she was finally safe. I can sleep peacefully now, knowing that the
Aria’s POV“Please, please let my daughter go! Please, I beg you. Please, just let me talk to her for one minute!”Mom continued crying. I wanted her to shut the crap up. Her stupid cries were not helping. They were not helping at all. I didn't even have the chance to speak as the cops dragged me out of the courtroom like I was nothing.My head was spinning. I still couldn't believe the verdict.No. Regina had assured me. She had assured me that I would be taken to a psychiatric ward instead of being sentenced to life imprisonment. She had promised me.I didn't want to think about it. The more I thought about it, the more my head started to ache. The ache was coming with full force, multiplying the pain cI already felt in my chest. I closed my eyes as they dragged me to the car and drove me back to the station.I was locked in a cell while the police and staff went about putting my papers together. I watched from behind the bars, feeling as though my entire life had been snatched aw
Edrick’s POVAfter the private investigator said those words, “A huge amount of money,” he didn't need to say anything else.I knew.I knew.Everything made sense. The judge was being paid. “Fuck it.” I groaned. I should have known.Alina had asked what it was, but I just shook my head. There was no need to stress her more than she already was.I looked at her and said, “Don't worry. I'm already getting this handled.”She smiled, a little hopeful.After driving her home, I drove to my private investigator's office. I wanted the details face-to-face.He told me the account was anonymous and they were trying to trace it, but it seemed the money had come from a very, very protected source.A protected source.It didn't make sense.Who was supporting Aria?Because if I knew anything about Aria Vale, it was that she didn't have the money for something like this. I had made sure of it. I had frozen every asset she owned. Every dime.So where was the money coming from?Definitely not fro







