Grace
I sit on the floor silently and stare at the blood that still stains my hands. After the rush of emotions, everything has gone numb inside me again.
“ They have asked us to make life difficult for you. ” Detective Marlo stands on the other side of the bars and reveals.
“ Did Ethan’s family return from abroad? ” I wonder.
“ They want you to suffer for hurting Mr. Calder. Eventually, they will bring some people inside and get them to torture you. ” He discloses, without answering my question.
I nod. I expect nothing less from the Calder family. Ethan usually kept them out of the country because they were problematic but now that they are back, and Ethan is not conscious, they will do everything to make life hell for me.
“ I didn’t expect you to be such a woman. Why did you do that Mr. Calder? ” He sighs.
I don’t know why he came or why he is being so nosy.
“ You could have run away instead of calling the police and ambulance for him. Mr. Calder’s people would have dealt with the rest. ” Detective Marlo continues.
I take a deep breath and close my hands. I don’t want to stare at the blood any longer.
“ He could have died. ” I murmur.
When I came to my senses and realized he could have really died, my courage disappeared and mechanically, I searched for his cell phone to call for help.
Today I have finally come to terms with the fact that I do want Ethan to suffer, but I don’t want to kill him. I don’t have it in me.
“ The Calder family will— ”
“ Why are you here, Detective? ” I question, closing my burning eyes.
“ My hard work went down the drain. I am frustrated. ” He slams his hand on the bar and hisses. “ That’s why I refused to get involved in the first place. You can’t really bring powerful people to justice. Lily Whitlock was taken out and her record was wiped clean. Just like her, your husband is also considered a saint in the police records but here you are… ”
“ In for attempted murder. ” I finish for him as a sad smile pulls at my lips.
“ He kidnapped you, didn’t he? You did everything in your self-defense! But they are saying you went there to kill your husband, that it was all a preplanned, cold-blooded murder attempt. This label will get you the highest verdict. ” He sighs.
I nod, my eyes burning even if I have closed them. Ethan’s bloodied face flashes across my mind, and I swallow the lump that forms in my throat.
“ How is he? ” I whisper.
“ In a critical condition. If Mr. Calder doesn’t survive, you will be charged with murder. Your life is over. And even if he survives, he will keep you behind bars for the rest of your life. That’s just as shitty as this system. ” Detective Marlo huffs before I hear him retreat.
Turns out he came to vent his frustration about the little power that he holds. The influential people twist the facts and make Detectives like him dance to their tune even if everyone knows the real truth. This must make these people feel helpless.
I hum to myself and open my eyes. My gaze is drawn to the dried blood once more.
You can make me bleed but don’t leave me. Ethan’s words echo in my head, and I find myself unable to forget about him.
Suddenly, I am forced to think about a harsh fact. Why does Ethan really believe Lily, cheats on me, yet still holds onto me as if his life depends on it?
Why is the situation not adding up?
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