Chapter 1: Out from Jail

The first sound that tore through the air was the Prison Lord’s laughter; deep, harsh, and mean. She sat with one leg crossed, puffing out smoke, watching Julia Reynolds kneel before her.

“Lick the shoe, nonsense girl,” she said, sticking out her leg.

Julia’s lips trembled. “Please… I—I didn’t do anything.”

The Prison Lord gave her a long look, then nodded to one of her girls. The girl pushed Julia hard on the shoulder, and she fell forward, tears already clouding her sight.

She raised her palm up in the air to connect with Julia’s cheek, but before the slap could land, a voice echoed from the gate.

“Julia Reynolds!”

The female guard stood there, holding a file. “There’s no evidence that proves you guilty of harming Lisa Collins. You’re free to go.”

The whole cell went quiet. Even the Prison Lord’s smirk faded a bit.

Julia stood there, trembling. Her clothes were wrinkled, her eyes swollen from crying.

The moment she stepped out of the cell, every sound faded except the heavy clang of the iron door closing behind her.

She passed by the security room. The small TV there was showing the evening news.

“Today marks the release of the HET (Higher Educational Test) results,” the anchor said. “At 8 p.m. tonight, a celebration party will be held at Olive Hotel. The city’s top scorer will be announced.”

Julia didn’t stop to listen. She clutched her small bag tighter and stepped out into the evening air.

Two men stood ahead — her biological brothers. Bosco, the eldest, tall and neatly dressed in his navy-blue suit, glasses glinting in the sunlight. Behind him, Elliot stood with folded arms, his lawyer’s face hard and cold.

Julia froze. Her heart thumped as she stared at them.

Then she turned away.

“Julia,” Bosco called, stepping forward. “Get in the car.”

She ignored him and kept walking.

He rushed up, grabbed her arm, and swung her back to face him. “Don’t walk away from me.”

Julia looked at him, eyes blank.

Bosco adjusted his glasses. “You’ve been here for three months. I hope it fixed that attitude of yours. You better stop scheming and framing Bella. I’m serious.”

Julia’s lips quivered, but she said nothing.

“Get in the car,” Bosco repeated.

Still she didn’t utter a word.

Bosco’s jaw tightened. “You think looking pitiful will get you sympathy? Huh?”

Julia’s eyes glistened, and for a brief second, she saw him differently; the same brother she once cared for when he was bedridden, burning with fever, when everyone else was too busy. She’d stayed up all night by his side.

Now he looked at her like she was dirt.

“Let me warn you,” Bosco stepped closer, his voice sharp. “Drop the manipulative games. You’re from a rich family, not some street urchin. Stop dragging our name in the mud.”

Julia looked away, holding back tears.

Bosco snapped again, “Do you know we canceled our appointment with Bella just to pick you up? Huh? What more do you want from us?”

Still, no response. She could only wonder why her biological brothers could be treating her with such cruelty.

“Don’t look at me like that!” he shouted suddenly. “You’re lucky. If you hadn’t put Lisa in a coma and tried to frame Bella, we wouldn’t have sent you in. And if you still don’t see what you did wrong, maybe you need more years in jail!”

Julia let out a short laugh - quiet, broken. Then she raised her eyes, meeting his. “You’re right,” she said, voice shaking. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have saved her. I shouldn’t have expected anything from any of you.”

Bosco frowned. “What nonsense are you saying?”

But Julia’s mind drifted back—three months ago, that night.

The road was wet after the rain, and she and Bella were inside the Lamborghini. They had just left a friend’s birthday party. Bella was behind the wheel, drunk, laughing too loud.

“Bella, slow down,” Julia pleaded.

“Relax, Julia!” Bella shouted over the music. “Don’t be boring!”

Julia gripped her seatbelt, heart pounding. “I’m serious, Bella!”

“Oh, please, free me!” Bella said, laughing again.

Then, suddenly, a woman stepped into the road, crossing without looking. Julia screamed.

“Bella! Watch out!”

But before Bella could press the brake, there was a loud bang. The woman flew up, then landed hard on the asphalt.

Julia gasped. The music died. Bella’s laughter froze.

When Julia stumbled out of the car, her knees almost buckled. She ran towards the woman. Her eyes widened.

It was Lisa Collins - the daughter of one of the wealthy businessmen in the city - Mr. Pedro Collins, who also lived at the next estate.

Behind them, another car was approaching fast. Julia turned and saw it was Elliot’s car.

Bella saw him too. Panic flashed in her eyes. Without a word, she slid out of the driver’s seat, moved to the passenger side, and buckled the seatbelt, pretending to be unconscious.

“Bella!” Julia shouted. “What are you doing?!”

But it was too late. Elliot had already stopped. He saw Julia kneeling beside Lisa, blood on her hands, Bella motionless in the other seat.

From that moment, the story changed forever.

“Are you still deceiving yourself about what happened?” Bosco’s voice snapped her back to the present. He moved closer, face dark with anger. “Elliot did the right thing by turning you in that night.”

Julia blinked, pain twisting in her chest.

Elliot, who had been standing quietly all along, shook his head slowly. His lips tightened.

“Look at you,” Bosco continued. “In just three years, you’ve done so many terrible things! You stole Mum’s jewelry, took Dad’s cash, pushed Lisa into the lake two years ago, and still you failed your HET!”

Julia looked at him, hurt deep in her eyes.

Bosco went on, his tone colder. “You went on a reckless ride that night, and Lisa ended up in a coma because of you! You even tried to pin it on Bella. You got away with just three months.” He stepped closer, eyes sharp like knives. “That was merciful.”

Julia stared at him, her voice calm but bitter. “Only three months, right? Why didn’t you send Bella to jail?”

Elliot’s head snapped up. His patience finally broke.

Julia took a shaky breath, her voice trembling. “Do you even know what I went through in there?!”

“You’re the guilty one!” Elliot’s voice thundered. He took a step closer, pointing his finger at her. “Why should Bella go to jail for you?”

Julia shook her head, her voice cracking. “I wasn’t the one who hit Lisa! You’re a lawyer, Elliot. You know evidence matters! Where’s the evidence?”

“If you didn’t do it,” Elliot sneered, “why did you try to save Lisa, huh? Why touch her at all if you were innocent?”

“I was trying to help her!” Julia shouted, her tears spilling freely.

“Liar!”

Elliot’s palm came fast and heavy, landing across her face with a sharp slap!

The sound echoed. Julia stumbled, her hand flying to her cheek. She fell to the ground, trembling, her tears mixing with the dust as the breeze brushed past them.