The Arrest

Chapter 3: The Arrest

AURORA

The world kept moving, but mine had stopped. Every day felt like a new episode of drama with the Wolfe family and the detectives. I was in and out of the station for questioning so much that I’d lost count. The only reason I was home today was because it was Bryan’s funeral.

I sat in front of my mirror, dragging a comb through my tangled hair. It barely mattered how I looked, I just needed to show up as the grieving widow. I twisted my hair into a messy bun and slipped on a black robe. The sunglasses I wore weren’t for style; they were hiding my swollen, tear-stained eyes.

The Wolfe family had arranged a reception dinner after the service, first the church, then the burial, and now this charade. Honestly, I wished I could stop them, but I had no say in any of it. Throughout the funeral, I felt the weight of every pair of judgmental eyes on me.

“Why is she even here?”

“She killed her husband and still showed up.”

“Why isn’t she behind bars already?”

There was nothing I didn’t hear. Every whisper cut like a blade, but I ignored them. Why? Because I wasn’t there for them. I was there to pay my last respects to Bryan… to lay him to rest.

“Aurora, why are you hiding in here?”

Amara’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She walked in holding a glass of juice, looking way too calm for someone who had just attended a funeral. I wondered if this was the first time she remembered I existed after spending the whole day cozying up to the Wolfe family instead of me.

“You know why,” I said flatly, not even looking at her. “I was told not to come out.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself up in here,” she replied, leaning against the doorframe like she owned the place.

“I don’t want trouble with them,” I muttered. “And I don’t want to see anyone right now.”

Amara sighed, swirling the juice in her glass. “So… what’s your plan?”

I froze. My plan? What did she mean? What plan does a widow accused of killing her husband have? What plan could I possibly have?

“I don’t know…” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Before I could think more about it, the door swung open so hard it slammed against the wall. My mother rushed in, her face pale and frantic.

“Hide…” she whispered urgently.

“What?” My brows furrowed in confusion.

“The police… they’re here to…”

“Mrs. Aurora Liam,” a deep voice boomed behind her, cutting her short.

Two officers stepped into my room, their hands already on their belts. One of them pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

“You are under arrest,” he said coldly, his words slicing through the silence. “For the murder of your husband, Bryan Liam.”

So it was finally happening. They had successfully made me the killer of my husband. I didn’t say anything, what could I possibly say? My voice was gone, swallowed by shock. I just stood there, frozen, as the cold metal of the handcuffs clicked around my wrists.

My mom rushed forward, her hands gripping mine tightly as tears filled her eyes.

“Say something!” she cried desperately. “She didn’t do it!”

One of the officers stepped up, his face hard and unreadable. “Ma’am, we wouldn’t arrest her if we didn’t have enough evidence. We have two witnesses who testified that she agreed to killing her husband and why she did it.”

My heart slammed against my chest. Witnesses? How? When did I even say that? What was there to witness when i didn’t even do it , i couldn’t even hurt a fly let alone kill the man have been married to and have a child with .

“I did what?” I burst out, my voice shaking. “That’s a lie… I never said anything! Who are your witnesses?”

The officer’s tone remained calm, almost cold. “We can discuss the rest in court. As for now, Miss Amara and Rosa’s statement is enough to pin you for the murder of your husband.”

I froze. Amara? You mean my own best friend? Slowly, I turned to her. She stood there with her head bowed like a coward, not even looking at me. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. You have got to me kidding me .

“You bitch,” I said through clenched teeth. “So this was your plan all along? How could you? I never said anything to you. Rosa… our housemaid? I never said anything to either of them! They’re lying to you!”

“Aurora, you’ve been caught now,” she said flatly.

“There’s no need to lie. Everyone makes mistakes but yours took someone’s life.”

“What the fuck are you saying? Have you gone mad? Jesus christ! Where is this coming from ” I screamed, my voice breaking as my world shattered around me.

“ You should consider theatre , you have a career in acting “ She scoffed.

“ Amara …” My mom stuttered , she was as speechless as i was .

Two officers grabbed my arms and began dragging me toward the door. I thrashed against their grip, panic clawing up my throat.

“Let me go! Let me go! They’re lying to you!”

I pleaded until my voice cracked, but no one listened. They pulled me out of the house, through the doorway and into the open garden. A crowd had gathered outside, their whispers cutting through me like knives. And then I saw him. My son.

“Aha! I told you!” Bryan’s sister sneered as she stepped forward. “You cannot kill a Wolfe and go scot-free.”

I scoffed bitterly, spitting the words out. “I didn’t kill your brother, and you know it!”

“ You lying cunt! you think your innocent act can save you , you have been caught “ She added.

“ I didn’t kill your brother! Why won’t anyone listen to me “

“Yes, you did!” Gracie shot back, her voice full of venom. “We have enough witnesses. You’ll rot and die in jail. Trust me.” She leaned in and spat on me.

One of the officers pushed her back. “Ma’am, step away.”

“Mummy!”

The small, broken voice made me whip my head around. Jake. My baby. He had broken free from my mother’s arms and was running toward me. The sight ripped my heart apart. I fought against the officers’ grip, desperate just to touch him.

“Please! Let me talk to my son… at least for a short while!” I begged, my voice trembling.

One officer shook his head. “We can’t do that.”

“Please,” I whispered, my knees almost buckling. “I beg you.”

The officers exchanged a glance, then loosened their hold. Jake reached me, his little arms trembling as he looked up at me with those wide, confused eyes. I knelt in front of him despite the cuffs digging into my skin. Tears blurred my vision as I looked at the only piece of my soul that mattered.

“Jake…” My voice cracked as I tried to steady it. “I want you to remember just one thing. Your mother is not a murderer. I will come for you. I promise.”

His lips trembled. “Grandma said you killed Daddy…”

I shook my head fiercely, tears streaming down my face. “I didn’t do it. I promise you, baby. I’ll prove it to you and to everyone.”

I turned to the crowd, my voice breaking into a scream that tore through the night. “I didn’t kill my husband!”

The officers yanked me up and dragged me away as Jake cried behind me. My heart shattered with every step. They shoved me into the police car, and as it drove off, I twisted to look through the window.

There he was—my son—standing small and helpless beside the Wolfe family. His eyes followed me as I waved at him, even though my hands shook so badly. In that moment, it felt like the only reason I was living had been ripped away from me.

“ What will you guys do with me ?” I asked .

“ You have two options to confess and plead guilty to reduce your sentence or keep lying about your involvement, either ways …The evidence we have gathered will keep you in jail for a long time “

“A very long time “