Chapter 10
+25 BONUS
Chapter 10
When we arrived at the police station, I tried to follow them inside. Somehow, I could not pass through the doors no matter how many times I tried.
I had no choice but to wait outside the doors, hoping that someone would discuss any updates in my vicinity, but it was all too vague.
I managed to conclude that Hadden had admitted his crime and was going to prison, but no one said how long he would be there.
Julia was not completely innocent either. A police investigation found her guilty of tax evasion.
They were both going to prison.
I continued to wait outside the police station for days until it was the day of their trial. I followed the police car to court, and that was when I saw the two of them again, sullen and lifeless.
They were staring out the window with a look of yearning.
When we arrived at the courthouse, I tried to pass through those doors again. I failed, unsurprisingly, but after numerous attempts, I somehow managed to pass through them.
I quickly made my way to Officer Annable’s side and listened as he listed Hadden’s crimes. I wanted to thank him, but I knew he could not hear me.
I also saw the man who tipped the police. It was Hadden’s assistant.
He could not stand by after seeing what had happened to me, so he called the police.
He cried during the trial as he described what happened to me. He kept apologizing. He said he should have called the police immediately instead of delaying it for so long.
I told him I forgave him. To me, it was enough that he had called the police, but again, he could not hear me. This did disappoint me a little as I looked around.
I was probably the happiest when the judge read out Hadden’s sentence.
Hadden received the death penalty, while Julia got a few decades in prison for tax evasion.
I watched them get into the police car and drive away. Suddenly, I realized that I had nowhere to go.
So, I followed my body to the funeral house.
I thought I would be stuck there forever, but the police decided to bury me at a cemetery.
On the day of my burial, I saw Officer Annable again. He stood in front of my grave for a long while before he said, “I hope the heavens will treat you kinder wherever you end up.”
“Thank you.” I thought my gratitude would fall on deaf ears again, but he suddenly turned to look at me, almost as if he had heard me.
He stayed for a long time that day.
That made me feel delighted. I wanted to show him my gratitude one day.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 10
After he left, I turned to look at the sky and began to recount the past.
What would have happened instead if I had said no to Hadden?
Would my life have been different?
When I turned around, an 18–year–old Hadden grabbed my hand and made that familiar promise, “Felicia, I swear! If you help sponsor my family, I’ll love and care for you forever.”
I looked around and took in the familiar environment. Then, I turned around and walked away, ignoring the pleas he made.
