Chapter 4

An hour after I was booked, Damien showed up in the visitation room with a lawyer and a cashmere blanket. Through the iron bars, he tried to hand the blanket to me.

"Aria, I know you've had a rough night."

He held onto my hand through the gaps. "Lily has already apologized. She only did it to get back at you for hitting her earlier."

I looked at this man, a chill running down my spine.

"So," I stared at him coldly. "To save face for your criminal daughter, I have to be the sacrificial lamb? Why?"

Damien frowned. "Don't be so dramatic. I've already pulled some strings. You're the only one in this holding cell. The blanket is brand new, and I had a five-star meal delivered for you. The lawyer will handle the bail paperwork first thing in the morning, and I'll take you home."

He sighed. "Aria, Lily is Sarah's daughter, after all. Sarah died saving me. I promised I would keep Lily safe for the rest of her life."

Sarah saved your life, so I have to pay for it with mine?

Why does your gratitude have to be built on trampling my dignity?

I pulled my hand back and didn't take the blanket. "Get the hell out."

Damien's face darkened. "We'll talk when you've calmed down. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."

He left with the lawyer.

Less than ten minutes after Damien left, the door to the visitation room opened again. Lily walked in, carrying a heavy bag.

She walked up to the bars. "I heard it gets cold in here at night. Just came to check if you were dead yet."

She leaned in close, lowering her voice, her eyes overflowing with malice. "Aria, you are so stupid. Did you really think marrying my dad made you the lady of the house? Daddy belongs to me, and only me."

"I actually intended to run your old man over and kill him right there," she suddenly added.

Hearing her admit it with my own ears was a shock that made me tremble.

Seeing my pale face, Lily smiled even wider. "It's a shame he's got nine lives. I only managed to turn him into a vegetable. But hey, that works too. Now you have to spend your life serving a cripple and wagging your tail at my dad for medical bills. How does that feel?"

"Karma is going to get you," I said through gritted teeth, my nails digging into my palms.

"Karma?" Lily laughed like she’d heard a joke. "I have a dad, I have money, and I have the Juvenile Protection Act. Who’s going to give me karma? You? You’re just a prisoner."

She clapped her hands.

From the shadowy corridor, three burly female inmates walked out. They wore the same uniform as everyone else, but their eyes were fierce. These were clearly the cell bosses.

Lily opened the heavy bag and pulled out stacks of cash. She threw the bills into the air, letting them rain down on the floor like some grotesque confetti. "The money is yours."

Then she pointed at me, huddled in the corner, her tone light and airy.

"Take good 'care' of her tonight. If anything happens, my dad will clean up the mess."

The three inmates stared at the money on the ground, their eyes gleaming.

They gathered the cash, turned around, and slowly advanced toward me.

Lily stood outside the bars, crunching on her lollipop, watching the scene with a cold sneer.

"Goodnight." She turned and left.

The next morning, Damien pulled out his chair at the dining table out of habit, waiting for a hot breakfast and my morning kiss. But the table was empty.

The cold air made him pause for a second before he suddenly remembered I was still in the detention center.

"I must be losing it," Damien muttered, rubbing his temples. "I'll go pick her up in a bit. Maybe take her shopping for a new bag to smooth things over."

He called the maid to order some porridge from the kitchen for when I got back.

Just then, the doorbell rang. "Delivery," the maid said, bringing in a document envelope.

Confused, Damien opened it. Two things fell out. One was the divorce papers, already signed.

Damien's face turned grim. Before he could react, sirens wailed outside.

Several heavily armed police officers stormed in, holding arrest warrants.

"We are arresting Lily for attempted murder. And you, Mr. Damien, are under arrest for harboring a criminal and obstruction of justice. You need to come with us."