Chapter 4: Lover’s Quarrel

RIVA POV:

“What watch?”

Several things happened simultaneously.

First, the front door opened and two cops walked inside. They looked between us before their eyes settled on Ethaniel. The slight nod and look of inquisition had me on edge.

Ethaniel pointed towards my purse. “It’s inside her purse.”

Next thing I knew, the cops closed in on me from both sides, cutting off any route of escape, and pushed me up against the wall. I was turned around, my chest pressed flush, making it difficult to breathe.

“Hey! I didn’t do anything!” I protested. 

Yet, I didn’t struggle, knowing it would lead to worse consequences. “I don’t know what watch he is talking about.”

They read me my rights as one of them snatched my purse and rifled through the contents. The cop pulled a men’s watch out of my bag, and my eyes widened in horror.

‘How did that get in here?’

I turned to Ethaniel in shock. His cold eyes had smugness hidden underneath the surface.

‘He put it in there. But why?’

How? 

The only way it could have gotten in there was if he had planted it while I slept. Or, he had woken up while I was in the shower, found the note and decided to get back at me without delay for the presumed slight.

“I didn’t put it in there!” I yelled as I was dragged out of the apartment.

The next couple of hours were a routine nightmare. I was identified and fingerprinted. The underhanded jokes and looks I received were disgusting and I could barely hide it. I was being accused of targeting wealthy men and seducing them so that I could steal from them later. Just the thought of it made my skin crawl.

I could handle the gossip, but I could only think about my Dad, whom I had promised to call in the morning. I dreaded making the phone call. He would expect it to be mundane, but instead, he would find out I had been arrested for theft. I could imagine the disappointment in his voice and then his insistence to fly over and bail me out.

What could he possibly do to make things right this time around?

He would never trust me again.

I had requested for a lawyer and declined to make any statement until one arrived. Opening my mouth in front of cops who only wanted to close the case quickly was asking for trouble.

But the officers lurked around, trying to test my boundaries and pry my mouth open for some incriminating evidence.

The door slammed against the wall and I winced. A well-dressed man entered, his eyes scanning the room before falling on me.

“Sir, you are not allowed in here—”

“I am the accused’s lawyer, Simon Havelland. I’m here to speak to my client.” He smiled broadly, showing off his impeccable white teeth.

‘Where does he get them cleaned? They look brighter than my future.’

He looked like a shapeshifter pretending to be human. It was unsettling, to say the least.

‘This can’t be happening to me.’ 

The events that happened since last night were right out of a movie script. And it all happened due to questionable choices that I had made.

I had to stand up and take responsibility for my mistakes. But I wouldn’t go down for something I had not done. I sat taller.

“You don’t look like the state appointed lawyer,” I questioned suspiciously. 

Public defence lawyers rarely dressed in custom tailored suits. They had long hours and meagre pay… They couldn’t afford such luxuries.

Mr. Havelland scoffed. “I like you, young lady. You have a sense of humor.”

I arched my brow. “That was an observation. Not a joke,” I corrected. He definitely didn’t act human…

“You’re right, I am not a state appointed lawyer. Mr. Ryves hired me.”

My mouth hung open in shock. “Ethaniel Ryves? This has to be a joke!”

I turned my shocked gaze to the cop. He seemed just as surprised, but still bored. His job had made him immune to the weird. This was probably on the lower end of the bar for the insane stuff he had seen.

“Look, you have it all wrong. Mr. Ryves accused me of—”

“A mere lover’s quarrel,” he interrupted. “Mr. Ryves is hot-tempered. But this is not something that can’t be settled in private…” he trailed off.

Mr. Havelland produced a series of documents and handed it to the cop.

I was in a tale worse than the Grimm’s tales I loved as a child. I had walked into the trap of a seasoned predator but I didn’t know what my end would be. Now that I was living a nightmarish fairytale, they no longer sounded funny. I waited to wake up from this terrible dream. 

If only I had never met Ethaniel Ryves.

“Wait. I want to see those documents!” I exclaimed. I grabbed the pile before any of them could protest. I wasn’t going to let them drag me down any longer.

After reading a few lines, I gasped. “This is crazy. Are you for real?” I looked helplessly at the cop. “Engaged? We are not engaged!”

The cop finally stepped in. “The process might not be pleasant but this is not the first time a lover’s spat has ended in an accusation of this kind.” He eyed me cautiously. “It is also not the first time someone has disowned their lover over such a fight.”

Mr. Havelland smiled victoriously. “Exactly. Mr. Ryves is extremely sorry to have troubled you. But he is willing to settle this matter privately with his fiancé.” Mr. Havelland couldn’t wait to put an end to all speculation. He emphasized on the last word to send a clear message to me.

I couldn’t miss the warning look in his eyes even if I turned blind.

“You are crazy. Ethaniel is crazy. I can’t stand this anymore.” I turned to the cop, determined. “I am willing to make a statement without a lawyer present. I will tell my side as it happened. And Mr. Havelland can take his deceitful settlement papers and shove it—”