Chapter 1 Chapter 1

OLIVIA I hoped Nick would come home early today. He hadn’t been around much since he started working with my best friend, Sandra. Things had been hectic at the office, but I still hoped today would be different, seeing how it was our fourth-year anniversary. I also had big news; I was finally pregnant, and we were about to have the family we’d always dreamed of. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction when I told him, and I didn’t even want to think about my mother-in-law—she’d be thrilled. I’d call and tell her after telling Nick. I was sure they’d cut their trip short once they heard the news of my pregnancy. I hummed as I moved around the kitchen, cooking. I was happy, despite knowing things hadn’t been the same between Nick and me lately. I hoped that after hearing the news of my pregnancy, he would become the man I fell in love with again. Just as I placed the last dish on the dining table, the front door opened. My heart leaped with excitement, and I rushed to greet him. Nick was taking off his jacket when I reached him, but he didn’t look pleased to see me. I smiled and greeted him anyway. “Good evening, my love,” I said, then went to hug him as Sandra walked in, wearing a smile. Why was she there? I’d told her it was my anniversary and that I wanted to spend the evening alone with Nick. “Sandra, you’re here?” I forced a smile. She hugged me. “Yes, friend. Nick and I still have a few work things to sort out, but I suggested we finish here.” Fine. I would talk to Nick after dinner, once Sandra was gone. “The food’s already on the table. I’ll just grab the juice,” I said. A short while later, we were seated at the dining room table. I decided to make some small talk. “Nick, how was your day? I hope things are calming down now at the office.” He glanced at me. “You chose to stay home and take care of the house. Why do you care about work now? It doesn’t concern you anymore.” His words stung. He was my husband, and I thought I had the right to ask how his day was. “I got you a gift,” I said, standing to go and get it. “I don’t need anything,” he said with derision. “And why are you acting so desperate today?” My heart sank. Had he forgotten our anniversary? Since when did he forget that, and since when did he talk to me like this? What had happened to my husband? He was becoming colder and more distant every day. I sat back down, feeling crushed. “Come on, Nick. Olivia just misses you. She didn’t mean to annoy you,” Sandra chimed in. What made her think I was annoying him? Was it because she was closer to him now than I was? Because they worked together constantly, forming a bond? That bond shouldn’t interfere with my marriage. Nick should still love me and treat me well. But that wasn’t the case anymore. I watched them talk as if I wasn’t there. Nick smiled more at her, a gentleness in his demeanor that I hadn’t seen in a long time. My heart ached. That affection and gentleness was supposed to be for me. At the end of dinner, I said, “I’ll clear the table. Are you both done?” Nick didn’t even look at me. He just pushed his plate toward me, while remaining focused on Sandra. My hand went to my stomach, caressing it. Oh, baby, your dad’s not ready to hear about you yet. But I’ll tell him. I promise, and he’ll be so happy you’re finally here. Before I left the room, Sandra said, “Oh, did you want me to help you clear the table?” I didn’t answer, just picked up the plates and went to the kitchen. Once I placed them in the sink, I gripped the edge, taking deep breaths, trying to calm myself and hold back my tears. Sandra followed me. “How does it feel, huh?” she asked, her tone smug. I turned to face her, confused. “What are you talking about?” She smirked, stepping closer to me. “Knowing that your husband doesn’t care about you anymore. Knowing that you’re losing him... to me.” Her words sent a wave of anger through me. “Sandra, you—”“Aaah, Olivia! What are you doing?” she screamed, throwing herself onto the ground. I stood there, frozen, staring at her. What was I doing? What was she doing? That was the question. Nick came rushing in, immediately going to her side as she started crying. He glared at me. “What the hell did you do?”“I... I didn’t do anything!” I stammered, completely perplexed. What was happening? This was obviously some kind of act on Sandra’s part. “Nick... oh, Nick... there’s blood. I’m losing my baby!” Sandra sobbed. I gasped. Baby? What baby? Nick picked her up and rushed out with her in his arms. I followed them, but he turned to me, his face filled with enough hatred that I stopped in my tracks. “Isn’t what you’ve done to me enough? Now you go after her too? You better pray she doesn’t lose her baby, or I’ll make you pay for everything you’ve done!”

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

OLIVIA Two Days Later “Lock her up, and don’t let her see the sun ever again. She doesn’t deserve it!” Nick barked at the New Village Town police. His eyes were cold as ice, filled with hatred. The officer roughly shoved me into the filthy, smelly cell before slamming the bars shut. I turned to look at Nick and Sandra. They stood together, looking like old friends... or lovers. She was why he had turned against me, though I didn’t understand what had motivated her. We’d grown up together, did everything together. We’d watched each other’s backs. And now she stood beside my husband as he threw me into jail for something I didn’t do. A few hours ago, I was cooking dinner for my husband, waiting for him to come home from work. Even after the incident with Sandra in the kitchen, and even though things had changed between us since Sandra came back, I still had hope that we could fix things. Then this happened. The way Nick had looked at me when he arrived with the police broke my heart, too. I’d never seen such hatred in his eyes. It seemed Sandra had wrecked my marriage and turned him against me, feeding him lies. And he had believed every word. I had tried to plead with him, tried to make him see reason. “Nick, please! I didn’t do this. Sandra is lying. I don’t know why. Please, believe me! I didn’t push her, I didn’t kill her baby, and I didn’t steal from you. You know I could never do something like that,” I had insisted, but he hadn’t listened. Instead, he had come back from the hospital the next day with the police, accusing me of stealing from him. I didn’t know when things had gotten so bad between us that he stopped trusting me. We were happy once, making plans for our future. Then I let a snake into my home, and it turned on me. I had to tried to plead with Sandra too. “Sandra, please. Tell him the truth. Tell him I didn’t do this. I don’t know why you turned on me like this. Why would you lie to him like this? You know I could never do any these things. I didn’t push you, and I didn’t even know you were pregnant. Why would you do this? Tell the truth!” Instead of coming clean, Sandra had teared up and said, “Olivia, you’re so cruel. Even now, you blame me for what you did. What did I ever do to deserve this from you? I was your friend, and I loved you. But you never cared about me. You knew I was pregnant. Yet you still pushed me. I didn’t even tell Nick about it when you started stealing from him! I kept your secrets, and this is how you repay me?” I felt all hope drain from me then. None of that was true, yet Nick had believed her. Sandra cried and turned to him. “I shouldn’t have told you anything about what she’s been up to. It’s my fault she’s acting like this. Forget everything I said and listen to your wife.” She turned to me and smirked without him seeing. “Olivia, I’ll leave. I’ll go back abroad. I’m sorry I ruined your marriage. I forgive you for everything, and I know you didn’t mean to push me. But you should come clean about all the money you stole. I’m sure Nick will forgive you, and you can fix things.” Nick’s eyes softened when he looked at Sandra. He believed all the nonsense she was spewing, and my heart broke when I saw him look at her that way. That softness used to be reserved for me, his wife. “Don’t be sad, Sandra. You aren’t the cruel one who’s been cheating, stealing, and plotting behind my back,” Nick said coldly. “You didn’t tell her to take those pills to avoid having my baby. You didn’t push her down the stairs.” Then he turned to me and said, “I promise you, Olivia, you’ll pay for everything. For as long as I live, you’ll never have peace.” The temperature dropped a few degrees, sending cold shivers down my spine, knowing he meant every word. I never thought he could do something like this to me or utter such hateful words, and I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

OLIVIA As I stood in the cell, my thoughts went to my grandma. What would happen to her now that I was locked up? My chest tightened as I thought of her and her fragile health. Hearing about my arrest might kill her. Nick turned to the officer. “She’s to have no visitors and isn’t allowed outside. Let her rot in this cell. She can die here for all I care!” My heart shattered into a million pieces. I felt hot and struggled to breathe. How was my grandmother going to know that I was all right if I couldn’t have visitors? This would kill her! My throat felt like it was closing, threatening to cut off my air supply. I wanted to give up so badly. But then I looked at the satisfied gleam in Sandra’s eyes. Determination flooded back into me. I wasn’t going to let that witch win. By then, I was drenched in sweat, my eyes wide as saucers. I was sure I looked pale as a white sheet. The nice policeman looked terrified. “Sir, she can’t breathe. Should I call the doctor?” Maybe I should tell Nick I’m carrying his baby? “Nick, actually—”“Why would you call a doctor?” Nick asked, snapping at the officer. “She’s faking to manipulate me—she’s a master at doing that.” Tears continued to stream down my face. This was the man who once couldn’t stand to see me hurt, and now he was the one causing me the most pain. What did Sandra do to my husband to change him so much? I wished I knew what she used and how, considering she had Nick eating out of the palm of her hand within six months. I should have never have asked her to stay with us when she returned from abroad. I should’ve helped her find her own place to rent. If I had known her true intentions, I would’ve kept my distance. But I had thought I was helping my best friend. I had even begged Nick to give her a job at his company. He eventually caved and put her a job in the finance department. Working there, she managed to make it look like I had stolen from my husband, and he had believed her. “Sandra?” I said, wanting to plead with her, once again, to tell the truth. Nick turned to me, shielding her with his body, further piercing my heart. He was so protective of her already. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?” He tilted his head to the side, daring me to say another word. I swallowed the words trying to escape. “You’ve hurt this woman enough. You have no right to speak to her now. And I swear to God, Olivia, I’ll make you pay for this.” I wanted to speak, to beg him to hear me out. I wanted to ask him to not to tell my grandmother about this, to lie and say I was traveling or something. He knew how delicate her health was, and this was going to kill her. Suddenly, the music on the radio at the guard’s station stopped, and a reporter’s voice came on. After a brief introduction, I heard words that made it feel like my world was truly spinning out of control. “The wife of the owner of Jones Enterprises was arrested this evening. The missus of the Jones family and former Financial Manager of the company is accused of stealing millions. Sources say that Mr. Jones called the police and had her arrested. We’ll bring you more as the story develops.”“No! Nick, please, no! My grandmother will hear this! I don’t want her getting sick again. You know how fragile she is. Please, Nick please, go and see her. Make up something—tell her it’s all lies. Tell her I’m okay.” My heart was breaking. My grandmother was all I had now that I’d lost him. I couldn’t let her to die; I still needed her. “You love to run that mouth of yours, don’t you?” Nick sneered. “Say one more word, and I’ll personally make sure that your precious grandmother learns firsthand what it’s like to have a thief for a granddaughter. I’ll show you both a side of me you’ve never seen before.” I opened and closed my mouth, too afraid to speak. Instead, I opted to let my eyes do the pleading, But Nick merely spun around and walked away. I watched until he turned the corner and then broke into a choking sob, a lump in my throat making it hard to breathe. The man who had been my everything, who couldn’t go an hour without checking on me, was now my tormentor. It felt like I was dying—maybe I was and I just didn’t know it. The officer noticed and rushed over with some water. I couldn’t understand why he was helping me, but I was grateful. I needed it. “I don’t know what you did to cross a man like that,” he said, handing me the bottle, “but it seems you’ve made a big mistake.” With trembling hands, I accepted his offer, then gulped the water down. My hands shook so hard that the water spilled down my chin, soaking my chest. I gave the officer a sad smile. “What I did was to help my best friend,” I said, “and she turned him against me. If I’d known she was going to do that, I never would have helped her.” I laughed bitterly. I was no longer the protected and loved wife of the Jones family. Now, I was the laughingstock of New Village, the wife who was sent to jail by her own husband for stealing millions. I was pitiful, indeed. My laughter turned into sobs once more. “Oh, miss,” the officer said, “People can be cruel. I’m sorry you’re learning that the hard way.” Someone clapped, and the officer turned to look. Sandra stood there, smirking. “You’re good, Olivia,” she said. “I’ll give you that. Now you’ve managed to convince this idiot that you’re the victim. What did you promise him? A roll in the hay? Because we both know you’ve lost everything. Your body’s all you have left.” Hearing her voice made me want to reach out and strangle her. “I’m not like you,” I spat. The officer left, giving us privacy I didn’t want. “Oh, you still think you’re better than me? Even after everything I’ve taken from you?” She cackled, clearly enjoying my misery. Why hadn’t I seen her for who she truly was? “You’re vile,” I said, “and this isn’t going to last. I’ll get out of here, clear my name, and then I’ll come after you with everything I’ve got.” She stopped laughing, her expression hardening in a way that shook me to my core. “Listen here, Olivia. This isn’t high school or college. I’ve grown up, lived, and seen things. I’m not the same Sandra from back then. I’ve changed. And I swear, if you dare come after me, I’ll do more than just frame you for theft. I’ll kill you.”

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

OLIVIA I sat in the dark jail cell, thinking about my baby and how he was going to survive in a place like this. I didn’t care about myself—they could keep me there for as long as they wanted—but my baby didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve to be born in a jail or suffer for my sins. It was only the second day of my incarceration, and the police were keeping their word to Nick about not letting me out. But I thought they were taking it too far; they hadn’t given me food since I arrived. It was good that nothing stayed in my stomach anymore. I’d been starting to have morning sickness. But I still felt hungry, even though I knew whatever I ate would come back up again. “Oh, my baby,” I said, caressing my stomach, “I’m so sorry you’re going through this, that you’re going to start your life into this world like this. But I swear to you, I will protect you. Your father will never know you exist, and he’ll never hurt you or me ever again. He’s done enough.” The cell door opened. I stood as Nick’s best friend, Ethan, came into view. “Oh, Olivia. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I just found out what happened, and I gave Nick a piece of my mind. But he won’t budge. He won’t even show me the proof he claims to have against you. He refuses to drop the charges and get you out.” I smiled sadly. “It’s all right, Ethan. I’m just glad you’re here. I need your help.” He sighed, pity in his eyes. “Don’t pity me,” I said. “I’ll be fine. I just need your help me with something, but don’t tell Nick.” He frowned. “Olivia, he only let me to see you today. After this, he won’t let me come back.”“Then let’s make it count,” I said with a nod. “I’m pregnant. It’s still early, but I’m afraid I’ll lose my baby in here. Please, help me.” His eyes widened in shock. “Olivia... Nick doesn’t know, does he?” I shook my head. “That moron. How could I be friends with someone so stupid? That woman you call your friend has him eating out of the palm of her hand, and he just can’t see it!” He started pacing, but we didn’t have time for his anger. “Ethan, please. Forget about Nick. Karma will deal with them both. I have to worry about my baby.” He stopped and peered at me, concern in his eyes. “All right. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll try to get you some prenatal vitamins to keep the baby healthy and then see about bribing a guard to get you that medicine and tell me when you go into labor.” Relief flooded me. “Thank you, Ethan. Please, check on my grandmother from time to time. Let her know I’m okay, and tell her not to stress or worry about me.” He gave me that pitying look again. “Stop looking at me like that. I’ll be fine. Just help me with this, and everything will be all right.”“I don’t know how you do it, Olivia. I don’t know how you can be so positive when you are in a situation like this.” I had no choice. I couldn’t afford to fall apart—I had a baby and my grandmother to think about. “Time’s up, Mr. Lewis,” an officer informed Ethan. “You only get ten minutes, and not a minute more.”“I’ll do as I promised,” Ethan said. “I’ll do everything I can to be able to see you again. Stay strong, Olivia.” I smiled faintly and nodded. After he left, I felt a small surge of hope that my baby was going to be all right. Ethan was a man of his word. He would find a way to help me. I lay down on the thin mattress in the corner, curled into the fetal position, and thought about everything that had happened in such a short period of time—how my best friend had betrayed me, and how I had let my marriage fall apart completely, all without even knowing it. I fell asleep with those thoughts in my head. The clanging of the cell door woke me up. “Here. This is for you.” The officer glanced around before tossing a small plastic bag into my cell. “From Mr. Lewis. I won’t always be around, but when I am, I’ll take care of you.” He closed the door and left. I rushed to the plastic bag and found both food and vitamins inside. Tears welled in my eyes, grateful to Ethan for what he’d done. I quickly ate the food, took the vitamins, and drank water from the tap. Lying back down, I caressed my belly. “Everything’s going to be okay, baby. I promise.”

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

OLIVIA NINE MONTHS LATER Prison had been hard, not just because I was pregnant but because of how I was treated. But I was grateful for one thing—Ethan kept his word. The guard he’d bribed continued to bring me vitamins and took care of me as promised. But when he wasn’t around, the others would conveniently “forget” to feed me. There were days I was so hungry that my stomach ached. One day, I yelled until someone finally came. But instead of food, I got a beating. They beat me so badly that I had a black eye and bruises all over my arms and legs. But through it all, I protected my baby. Even after the beating, they didn’t give me any food. From that day on, I learned to stay quiet when that officer wasn’t around. I rationed my food, eating small portions and saving some in case I didn’t get any the next day. I was skin and bones, and I worried about my baby. Was he getting enough nutrients? Would he be born healthy? The thought of my baby suffering only made my resentment for Nick grow. I hated him more with each passing day. My belly was huge now, heavy. Today, I woke up feeling uncomfortable and exhausted. I didn’t touch my breakfast when the guard brought it. A dull pain throbbed in my back, coming and going. Every time it hit, I froze, holding my breath until it passed. I thought I might be in labor, but my water hadn’t broken. Still, something was wrong. Impatiently, I waited for lunch, hoping to ask the guard to contact Ethan and bring a doctor. I couldn’t lose my baby—not after everything we’d been through together. I drifted in and out of sleep. The pain kept getting stronger, more frequent. On several occasions, I bit my bottom lip to prevent from screaming. Finally, the cell door opened. I was leaning against the wall, breathing through the pain. But at that moment, it felt like some entity out there in the universe was finally on my side. Suddenly, my water broke. The guard’s eyes widened in shock. “I’ll get Mr. Lewis!” He dropped the plate of food he was carrying and ran off. I gripped the bars, pulling on them so hard I thought they might break. The guard came back, panting. “Mr. Lewis is coming.”“Thank you,” I managed to say. He just stood there, helpless. “Please, keep the baby in. I don’t know what to do. Wait for Mr. Lewis!” If I wasn’t in so much pain, I might’ve laughed. He clearly had no idea that once the baby decided to come, there was no stopping him. But I hoped he would hold off; this cell was no place to have a baby. After what felt like forever, with me lying on my back and feeling the baby coming, the cell door opened once again. “Olivia! I’m here. I’ll take you to the infirmary.” Ethan rushed in with a doctor. The doctor took a quick look and said, “She won’t make it to the infirmary. The baby’s crowning. He’s coming now.” At that moment, my resentment for Nick hit a new level. My baby was going to be born in a filthy cell all because Nick believed some woman he barely knew over me. He had condemned me to this suffering. “Olivia, you have to push,” Ethan said. “I know this isn’t what you wanted, but the baby’s coming now.” His voice pulled me back to reality. It wasn’t about Nick anymore. It was about my baby. I pushed as hard as I could. I pushed with everything I had. Soon after, my baby’s cries filled the air, and tears streamed down my face. The doctor handed him to me. “Is he okay? Is he healthy?” I asked, staring at him. He was so small. “I’ll need to examine him, but he looks good—just a little underweight but good.” I smiled through my tears. “His name is Samuel. Give him my last name, not Nick’s, and keep him safe. Take him away from here, Ethan.” My heart broke as I handed him over. “You can hold him for a little longer,” the doctor offered, but I shook my head. He’d been born in this dirty cell. I didn’t want him to spend a second more in here. “No. Take him away and check him out to make sure he’s healthy. And remember, Ethan—don’t ever tell Nick.” I sobbed as I watched Ethan leave with him. “Nick, you’re going to pay for this. I swear it.”

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

NICK Two years have passed since that woman humiliated me, since I found out she stole millions from me. How could I have been so stupid and blind? When Sandra told me that Olivia had a hand in what happened to my mother all those years ago—how they met, how Olivia “just happened” to save her from being hit by a car—I refused to believe it at first. I thought my wife could never be capable of such things. Then she gave me that recording of their phone call, where Olivia had admitted everything: how she’d landed her “golden goose,” how her life was going to change for her and her grandmother. As if that weren’t enough, she stole from me. Sandra had showed me the proof. I recovered some of the money, but only a small portion. Thinking about her still fills me with rage. How could she have been so cruel? My mother loved her! “Nick!” Sandra snapped me out of my thoughts. “It’s almost time to go pick up your parents. I’m finishing up with dinner. It'll be ready by the time you get back.” If it weren’t for Sandra these last two years, I don’t think I would’ve made it through. My parents have been traveling the world, and they’re coming home today. They’re going to be so disappointed when they find out what happened with Olivia. My poor mother. She trusted that good-for-nothing woman. Anger surged as I grabbed my keys. “Nick!” Sandra's voice stopped me again. I turned to face her. “Don’t think about her,” she said softly. “It only makes you angry. Today is about your parents coming home. Let’s focus on celebrating, not on the past.” I gave her a small smile. What would I have done without her? At the airport, I spotted my mom first, followed by my dad, and their guards carrying the bags. Her face lit when she saw me. She rushed over, throwing herself into my arms. I laughed, hugging her back as Dad shook his head. “You’re suffocating our son, woman!” he grumbled. Mom shot him a glare over her shoulder, and he raised his hands up in mock surrender. Watching them, a wave of sadness washed over me. I had thought Olivia and I would have what they had. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. “Goodness! You’re so thin! Does Olivia not feed you anymore? Where is she, anyway?” Mom asked, her smile fading slightly. I sighed. This wasn’t the time or place to tell them. “Let's get home, and I’ll explain everything,” I said. They exchanged a glance, and Mom's face brightened again. “Don't tell me she's at home with a baby! Oh, I knew she’d give me a grandchild soon!” My heart sank. She had no idea Olivia never wanted kids—only my money. “Mom, it’s not like that.” I opened the car door for her. Dad got in after her, his face already turning cold. I started the car and drove off. Mom wanted to ask more questions on the way, but Dad convinced her to wait until we got home. Thankfully. Talking about Olivia wasn’t easy, and I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation. Once we got back, I told them everything: how Olivia had pushed her best friend down the stairs, killing her child; how she’d stolen millions from me; how she was never in love with me, never wanted a baby with me; how she was secretly on birth control the whole time; and how she had just wanted my money. “She is not the person you thought she was,” I said. “Olivia is cruel.” Mom looked at me as if I’d committed a crime. “Nick, are you insane?” she shouted, furious. I stared at her, baffled. Hadn’t she heard what I said? Mom shook her head, sadness and disappointment etched across her face. Dad hadn’t said a word and refused to look at me, but his eyes were icy cold. “Are you sure it’s not Sandra who’s clouding your judgment?” Mom asked sharply. “Are you sure she isn’t the reason you’re thinking this way?”“Sandra is the one who showed me the truth about Olivia,” I insisted. “Without her, I’d still be under Olivia’s control. You should be grateful to her!” Mom’s eyes flashed with anger. “Grateful? To a homewrecker? Dear God, what must her grandmother think of us? Michael,” she said, turning to my father, “go to Olivia’s grandmother and apologize. Tell her we had no idea and that we’ll get Olivia out of jail.” Dad stood, ready to go, and I was stunned. How could they still be so blind? “She’s dead,” I said quietly. “She died a few months after Olivia was arrested.” Mom’s face crumpled, and a tear slipped down her cheek. I wanted to comfort her, but Dad beat me to it, pulling her into his arms. “You’re such a fool, Nick,” he said, his voice hard. “I didn’t raise you to be this foolish. I hope you don’t come to regret this.” I sat there, feeling utterly lost. Why were they defending Olivia? Why did she still have such a hold on them? “I’m going to get my daughter-in-law out of jail,” Dad declared. “And Nick, if you don’t drop the charges, I will disown you.”

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

NICK My parents left and Sandra came out from the kitchen. She was crying and I didn’t like it. I didn’t know why my parents would be so cruel to her, she was not the one who did all those things to me. she was the one who saved me from a bad situation and showed me the kind of wife I had. I didn’t understand why they would treat her that way. “Sandra, I am so sorry. I will talk to them again and make them understand. I will show them the proof of Olivia’s crimes and then they will believe me and accept you as my close friend.” I took her into my arms and consoled her. “Don’t get her out Nick, am scared of what she will do to me when she gets out. Please, let her stay there.” She cried even more, making my heart tighten. I wished I could let her stay; I wanted her to stay there longer but my parents were not joking when they said they would disown me if I don’t let her out. “Don’t worry, I will protect you. that woman will never come anywhere near you. but I have to make that call. I have to let her out or my parents will never forgive me. But worry not, they will be the ones to send her back to jail when they see the proof of her crimes.” She looked so scared, Olivia left her with huge scars and now she was getting out without paying for her crimes. I hated that she had a hold on my parents to a point that they refuse to believe she could be a bad person. “Wait here, I need to make that call.” I wiped her tears and left her sitting on the couch. I made a call to my best friend first. I needed his advice. “What is it Nick?”“Can’t I call my best friend without being asked that?” he chuckled on the other side. “No, you can’t, because I know you and you only call when you want something. What do you want this time?” Ethan was not the same with me, since I got Olivia arrested, he didn’t like that. “My parents want me to get Olivia out of jail.” I waited for his response, but none came. “Ethan, are you still there?”“I am here but I don’t know what you want me to say about that. you know how I feel about what you did but you told me it was none of my business. So, I don’t understand why you are calling me about this.” I cut the call. I was never going to get anything out of him with that attitude. I knew Ethan since we were children, when he doesn’t like something, he speaks up and it doesn’t matter what you say, he never changes his mind about it. He was stubborn like that. I made a call to the police chief dropping the charges, but he told me to come in to sign some documents. Told me that my parents were already there and giving him hell. I sighed feeling defeated. I went back inside and found Sandra sitting there staring at nothing. I went and crotched in front of her. “Hey, everything is going to be okay. I will not let her get anywhere near you. I will protect you; I promise. Olivia will not hurt you again.” She gave me a small smile; she wasn’t happy, and I knew it. I wished I didn’t have to get her out. But knowing my parents, they would take everything I have worked so hard for, if I don’t do what they want. “I have to go to the police station; I will be back soon. Sam is going to stay here and protect you. he will be right outside.” She nodded and I took my keys and left. When I got to the station the police chief was already waiting for me. “Come this side Mr. Jones.” He looked scared with beads of sweat forming on his forehead. I knew it was all my father’s doing. I followed him to his office where my parents were sitting and waiting. He gave me the documents. “Are you sure you want me to do this before you look at the proof of everything she did?” mother folded her arms and said nothing. She didn’t even look my way. I looked at father and his eyes were cold and distant. I sighed then signed the papers. I looked back at them, and they still looked like they didn’t want me there or to hear a word of what I had to say. I handed the documents to the police chief then walked out of there. I was angry! I went and sat in my car then lit a cigarette. Bad habit I know but the situation with Olivia stresses me out. I started smoking when she was arrested, and it became a norm whenever I was stressed. It calmed me down. I kept my eyes at the door of the police station, after what seemed like forever father came out first. I put out the cigarette and sat up on my chair looking at the door. Mother came out and I waited until she came out. When I saw her, my heart skipped a beat. She looked frail, pale and dirty. The clothes she wore were the ones she was arrested in two years ago. She looked so skinny and malnourished. I got so angry seeing her that, i thought they would take care of her. I never ordered for her to be mistreated, she is my wife and they should have known better. I only said she could not have visitors, that they should not let her outside. I never asked for whatever they did to make her look that way. With anger, I started my car and drove off. Guilt eating me up inside but still hoping she would come home to me so i can make it up to her.