Billionaire, Let's Divorce!

DENNIS

Ana got admitted to a mental health crisis center, and I spent most of my days there. Even though I try to equally share my time between work, Justin and Amie, I found myself spending the most time here.

Work was going absolutely fine. I now made way more than I used to before I got duped, but I wasn't happy. The love of my life was in a psychiatric home. Everyday I go there, I hope that her condition will soon begin to improve. Half the time, she seemed fine, just sitting there all by herself with a neutral expression. She wouldn't speak with anyone for hours, the other half was spent crying and begging me to take us to Amie. The doctor said she was getting better, but it didn't look like it to me.

Justin was doing very well. He didn't seem to be grieving like Aiden had suggested. There were times when he'd cry and nothing would make him stop until he fell asleep, but those times were rare and I just think it was his mom that he missed.

I ensured that I always made time for him, just as I made time for Ana, no matter how hectic work was. I didn't want to entirely leave him to his nanny. Though she was a nice woman, I wanted Aiden to grow to know another face apart from his nanny's. "Amie's captors and killers have been caught," I told Ana the last time I visited.

She beamed and clapped. "Yay. We should take them with us to Amie so that she can punish them." Then she added, "Amie is now very powerful." She proceeded her words with a raised arm, showing me her biceps. "Her powers are here. I saw it. She showed me." I just smiled and nodded. And she did the same, flashing me her beautiful smile.

•

The henchmen that the captors hired, the ones that they claimed were the ones that shot Amie, were later arrested too.

My surprise knew no bounds when I saw who the captors were. Tabitha and the men that gave me lectures and the stupid immersion bath for me.

At that moment, I berated myself for letting them go like that. When I found out that they were fraudsters, I should have reported them. If I had, Amie might still be here, and Ana would be fine.

I had blamed Aiden for acting on his own, for his wife's involvement but we're all at fault in some way. This whole thing began because of Tabitha's obsession with me and thirst for revenge. Intertwined in it all was Aiden's wife, Sharon, who feared that Ana might take Aiden from her. And then there was Ana... Maybe, just maybe if she had listened to us and allowed one of us to go, this wouldn't have happened. But then if Aiden and I had been on the same page, she wouldn't have felt inclined to take charge. It was all and none of our faults. So I told the police everything I knew about their profession and what they made me go through. Turned out that they didn't even tell the police about that.

***

As the day of their trial day drew closer, I cleared my schedule for the day so I could attend.

Because no matter what, I have too see them get the punishment they deserve.

On the day, I left early to see Ana.

These days, I actually now believe the doctor. Ana was getting better. She doesn't scratch her skin like she used to anymore, doesn't stare into space for hours long and the best part, she has stopped talking about going to join Amie. "Hey," I said as I pulled her into a hug.

She hugged me back, a shy smile on her lips. "How's Justin?"

"He's fine, he misses you."

She sighed. If only they'd let me leave," she scratched her brows as she said, pouting.

"They will, soon," I told her as I walked us to a seat.

I put my arms around her and we sat in silence for a while. All the while, she picked at her nails.

"Amie will get justice today," I finally told her, watching her to see her reaction.

The doctor had warned that I should be careful whenever I wanted to talk about Amie with her.

She stilled and remained silent, then she looked up at me. "But that wouldn't bring her back."

I pressed a kiss to her forehead and hugged her head to my chest. "Nothing would. But atleast, her killers won't roam free anymore."

Silence, then she muttered. "Yes."

After a short chat, I stood up to leave.

She hugged me. "Take good care of Justin."

"Of course."

****

I sat in the cold, hard pew of the courtroom, whispers came from all sides, stolen glances casted in my and Aiden's direction. He was seated several pews away from me.

The judge entered, and the bailiff's voice boomed, silencing the murmurs. "All rise."

We all stood up.

The defendants were brought in, hands cuffed, the expressions on their faces were a mix of fear and defiance.

As Tabitha was dragged in, our eyes met and I was satisfied with the sheer fear I saw in them. The defiance and pride long stripped from her.

The judge began, "Court is now in session. The defendants are charged with kidnapping in the first degree, leading to the death of the victim, Amie Dennis. How do you plead?" "Not guilty," they each muttered.

My jaw clenched, my hands curling into fists.

The prosecutor stood, her voice

steady and strong. "Your Honor, the evidence against the defendants is overwhelming. Surveillance footage, witness testimonies, and forensic analysis all confirm their

involvement. We seek the maximum

sentence for this heinous crime."

The defense attorney rose next, "Your Honor, my clients maintain their innocence. The prosecution's evidence is circumstantial at best, and there is no direct proof tying my clients to the victim's death."

I wanted to scream. Circumstantial?

She's dead because of them! But I stayed silent. From where I sat, I could see Aiden throwing a death glare at the defense attorney and right then, I could tell the thoughts running through his head. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

The trial dragged on, each piece of evidence disseminated for all to see.

And then, finally, it was time for the verdict.

"Will the defendants please rise?" the judge commanded.

They stood, their shackles clinking.

The judge's voice was steady and unyielding. "After careful

deliberation, the jury has found the defendants guilty on all charges. For the crime of kidnapping resulting in the death of Amie Dennis, I hereby sentence each of you to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole."

I sucked in a sharp breath. Life. They would never walk free again.

Their eyes bulged as they gaped at the judge. What were they expecting? A few years so they could return to cause more havoc in people's lives?