Chapter 95

Lillian

As soon as I got to the house, I contacted Oliver. He arrived sooner than expected then I handed him the recorder. I had secretly recorded my conversation with Aiden and now this was enough proof that he was responsible for my kidnapping.

"Wow, I've got to hand it to you." Jade praised.

I blushed." I just couldn't sit back and do nothing."

" I'm still surprised he blurted it all out just like that." Oliver added." Maybe he is as dumb as sage after all."

" This should be enough right?" I asked Oliver but he only sighed.

" It should be but this was Aiden we were dealing with. For him to freely confess right in front of you, then it means he has backup. And then his father would also back him up. Bringing him down wouldn't be easy, especially with just this recording as our only evidence."

Jade sighed heavily, collapsing on the couch in the living room." If only there was a witness then this would have been a lot easier."

I crunched up my nose, my mind running over so many thoughts and then it suddenly hit me.

" Wait..wait...we do have a witness." I voiced, my fingers trembling slightly in anticipation.

Oliver only raised a questioning brow." Your sister! Sage is our witness because if we can make her believe that Aiden is going to pin everything on her then she might actually testify. She wouldn't want to face the consequences alone."

Oliver contemplated before running a hand through his hair." That's true, but how are we going to convince her to speak up? Believe me, I've tried and from my gatherings, she still trusts Aiden so much."

I made up my mind that instant." Leave it to me. I'll talk to her woman to woman."

I couldn't book a visit to the precinct that day because it was already getting late so I'll have to wait till tomorrow.

I left as early as seven, and on my way to the precinct, I was informed that Zayden had finally opened his eyes, and the first person he asked for was me.

I couldn't hold my excitement. I almost turned the car around and headed for the hospital, but that meant I'd have to cancel the visit and book another one tomorrow.

As much as I wanted to so badly see my husband, I controlled myself.

I arrived at the precinct no later than nine and I was escorted to the visitation room. Sage was brought in a minute later.

I ran my eyes over her, she looked okay compared to the reports we received from the police about how she almost went insane. But all I could see right now was frustration in her eyes. The moment she saw me, the fire returned back to her eyes.

" Are you here to tell me how I was going to rot in jail? How I got what was coming to me or how wretched I looked. " She scoffed, collapsing on her chair with both hands cuffed in front of her.

I only smiled." Actually, I'm here for a different reason."

" If you're going to insult me, then do it, but don't expect any apology from me."

I sighed, I should probably go ahead and hit the nail on the head." You do know that you're going to face jail sentence all alone right?"

She raised her eyes to look at me but didn't utter a word.

I took a deep breath and swallowed." I want you to testify against Aiden. He is the mastermind behind my kidnapping after all."

She chortled, disbelief in her eyes." And then what?"

" And then you'll get a reduced sentence and Aiden would suffer for his crimes."

She flipped a chunk of hair that had fallen on her face." And you think I'll just do as you say?"

I remained quiet for a second, carefully choosing my words."Look, Miss Perfect. I trust Aiden and he's going to get me out of here. If you're worried about me attacking you again then don't be because Zayden is dead! And it's your fault! You were supposed to die not him!"

Tears began falling down her face as she trembled violently.

I remained calm, I still have to convince her." Zayden is not dead."

The room fell silent with Sage staring at me side-eyed." I don't believe you, I saw him take his last breath."

" Yes, he did, but they were able to revive him, and now, he needs your help. Aiden used you and he is still using you. He plans to pin everything on you, are you really going to let that happen?" I explained, making sure she could sense the urgency in my voice.

Sage shoke her head."He's going to get me out of here, he promised."

" Then why hasn't he? It's been fucking two weeks, Aiden has the power to get you out, but he still hasn't done anything, and he's not planning to anytime soon." I raised my voice a little.

She remained quiet, her chest heaving up and down.

" Look, sage, I understand you did all of this because you loved Zayden, but that was the wrong approach, and Aiden took advantage of your feelings. Yes, you might not get out immediately, but you'll have a reduced sentence if you testify that Aiden is the mastermind, but if you don't, then be prepared to probably spend the rest of your life behind bars."

She swallowed visibly." I....I..."

" Think about your child at least. Getting a three-year sentence is better than getting a life imprisonment."

She still remained silent and I began losing hope. If I couldn't convince her then I have only that voice recorder to fall back to.

" I know everything because Aiden confessed to me. He manipulated your feelings and got you to drug Zayden. You can get back at him for that but I'm asking that you don't make the wrong choice a second time."

I waited for her to say something but she didn't. I had run out of words so I just sighed heavily and got to my feet.

My husband was waiting for me,

" Wait." She called back, her voice barely a whisper.

"Fine, I'll testify against him."

My shoulders sagged in relief." Good, I'll inform you of more details soon."

She hesitated." But promise me I'll get a reduced sentence."

I saw it in her eyes, desperation. I almost felt pity for her but that didn't change the fact that she almost killed me and Zayden.

" It's not my place to decide your sentence but I know for sure that it won't be life imprisonment."

She nodded, her eyes prickling with tears.

I left the room the next minute and headed for the hospital feeling more confident that I've got the upper hand.

I was on the way when I received a text message from Oliver that he had found Brenda and her son.

He sent me the address, and luckily, it was just fifteen minutes away. I told my driver to head toward the location. I'll spend just an hour there and fulfil my promise to Falco.

We got to the apartment fifteen minutes later. It was a nice, small, cosy house with a beautiful lawn.

I rang the bell and waited for the door to open.

A petite woman with black hair and brown eyes appeared in the doorway, and then a toddler of about four years old peeked his head behind his mother.

My eyes watered a little, this woman had no idea that her husband was dead and that poor kid.

" Hi, I'm Lillian."

She gave me a warm smile." Nice to meet you, Lillian; how can I help you?"

I took a deep breath." You're Brenda, right? And your husband is Falco?"

She creased her brows." I am Brenda, but I don't know anyone with the name Falco."

Shoot!

I forget that they used nicknames when doing their dirty business.

I dipped my hands in my purse and brought out the locket Falco gave me.

She gasped as she stared at it." Your husband gave me this to give to you."

She took the locket in her palms." But James is away on a business trip in Australia, how did you meet him?"

My heart squeezed in pain for her. Falco had been lying to his family this whole time. I honestly don't want to be the one to break the news to her, but I have to, or she'll continue to believe her husband is still on that business trip.

"Your husband wasn't on a business trip. I got kidnapped, and he saved me, but unfortunately, he lost his life."

She just stared at me like I was speaking trash." He saved you?"

" I'm sorry you're hearing of this now but he asked me to apologise on his behalf. His nature of the job is not the one he told you about. I got kidnapped by him, but in the end, he chose to save me."

Her lips quivered as she stared at me, unable to utter a single word.

"I'm really sorry but I want you to know that he was a good man. And he loves you both."

The first tear trickled down her face, the news must be very hard to take in all at once.

In the end, I left her house after comforting her for a while. I promised to visit her again, and I made a mental note to give her a job at my jewellery shop.

Oliver texted that she didn't have a stable job, she was a complete housewife and depended on the money Falco brought home. So, from now on, things were going to be extremely tough for her and her son.

I headed for the hospital next. Today had been a long day, and I was super exhausted.

When I walked into the VIP room, my eyes fell on Zayden. That usual frown was back on his face as he glared at Oliver.

A broad smile appeared on my lips." Sweetheart."

He turned his head in my direction, his lips slowly curling up into a smile. I buried myself in his embrace as he held me close, tears welling up in my eyes.