Chapter Five

The cold floor of the detention cell bit into Lydia's bare skin.She didn't expect that her engagement night would end in a police precinct while being accused of murder.

But reality was far crueler than any joke.

  The first rays of dawn slipped through the narrow barred window, offering little comfort. Outside the cell, three detectives were already waiting.

  "Morning, Miss Sinclair," one of them greeted with mock politeness.

  Lydia's stomach twisted.

  The moment the cell door opened, the two officers on either side of her took hold of her arms and escorted her toward the interrogation room.

  * * *

  "I already told you everything!" she snapped, jerking her arm free. Her voice cracked from exhaustion. "I didn't kill anyone. I have nothing else to say."

  The detectives remained unmoved.

  "You can speak to my lawyer," she continued. "I'm done answering questions."

  The officers exchanged a glance.

  She understood neither of them believed her.

  And honestly?

  Looking at the evidence they had shown her last night, Lydia almost understood why as she was left stunned by it.

  "Mom..."

  The sight waiting for her inside stole the air from her lungs.

  Amira Sinclair was already seated behind the glass partition.

  Amira's eyes were swollen and bloodshot. She looked like she hadn't slept all night.She was clutched in by Natasha.

  "Lydia?" Amira's voice trembled.

  She rushed forward until her palms hit the glass.

  "Mom, please. You have to believe me."

  Her voice came out weaker than intended.

  "I didn't do this."

  Amira stared at her silently

  "These evidence..." Lydia swallowed hard. "It's fake. Someone is setting me up."

  Nobody responded.

Lydia's gaze shifted toward her sister.Natasha looked devastated,Perfectly devastated.Her eyes were red. Her expression was filled with concern.Like some saint who wouldn't do what she was caught doing hours back.

  "Sis..." Natasha whispered. "What happened?"

  The question nearly made Lydia laugh.

  What happened?

  'You tell me.'

  "You know me," Lydia said flatly."You know I could never kill someone."

  Natasha lowered her gaze.

  The officers just had to set up a wide screen in the room .There,the footage was playing live.Thorne Gerald and Lydia were clutched together in a way that suggested brute romantic intimacy but Lydia knew the truth.

  "He tried to force himself on me," she said immediately.

  "The footage is only showing a particular angle,see?!"

  The detective folded his arms.

  "That's the only footage available."

  Lydia stared at the screen in disbelief.

  The camera angle had somehow removed every sign of struggle.

  " This is all a misunderstanding?"

  Atleast that was what she thought initially before seeing the corrugated evidences.It was far from a mere misunderstanding and it seems she wouldn't  be getting out of this easily.

The detective allowed them physical  space.

  "Lydia..."

  Amira's voice trembled.

  She looked exhausted, as though she had aged years overnight.

  "Lydia, look at everything in front of you."

  Her mother gestured weakly toward the stack of documents on the table.

  "The fingerprints. The messages. A witness. Your DNA." Her voice wavered. "Even your movements were tracked." 

  Lydia's throat tightened.

  "The lawyers have been working all night," Amira continued. "Your brother is still trying to find a way to help you. Natasha has been trying too."

  Natasha lowered her head at the mention of her name, looking every bit the concerned sister.

  "But the evidence..." Amira whispered. "It's overwhelming."

  Then her mother looked straight into her eyes.

  "Just tell me the truth."

  Lydia's heart sank.

  "Mom..."

  "Please."

  "Did you do it?"

  "No!"

  The answer exploded from Lydia before she could stop herself.

  "I didn't!"

  Amira flinched.

  Yet something in her eyes remained unchanged.It was obvious she doubted her which made Lydia's heart ached.

How many trust issues must she face in a row?

  Lydia stared at her mother in disbelief.Even now she still didn't believe her.

  She couldn't hold it in anymore.She snapped. "Fine."

  Her laugh came out hollow. "You know what, Mom? Just leave."

  "Lydia—"

  "No."

  She shook her head. "I'm tired."

  Tears burned behind her eyes.

  "I'm tired of explaining myself and I'm tired of nobody believing me."

  Her chest rose and fell unevenly.

  "You probably care more about the Harold alliance than you do about me.I have my money.I have my means.I only needed you for support anyway."

  The words spilled out before she could stop them.

  "You never trusted me.You never listened to me."

  "Not then. Not now."

  For a moment, the room froze.

  Then—

  SLAP.

  The impact echoed through the interrogation room.Lydia's head snapped sideways.Pain bloomed across her cheek.

  The world seemed to tilt.

  Slowly, she turned back with her gaze meeting her mother's.Amira was shaking.

  Whether from anger, grief, or disappointment, Lydia couldn't tell.

  "You ungrateful child."

  Her mother's voice trembled. "It's my fault."

  A tear rolled down Amira's cheek.

  "It's my fault you became someone I can no longer recognize."

  The words struck harder than the slap.

  Amira stood.

  Without another glance, she turned and walked away.

  Lydia froze.She watched hoping she would stop.Amira didn't.

  Then Natasha stood up and paused before following.

  The two sisters looked at each other even through the glass.For a brief second, Lydia thought she saw something flash across Natasha's face.

  Natasha sighed softly and turned away.