The Conglomerate's Hidden Legacy

Chapter 3: Going to Jail

The sentence of arrest uttered by the police left Zayn speechless. The man's condition had just improved due to a traffic accident. Zayn was fortunately grateful that there were no fatalities in the incident.

But the man did not understand the police's decision to arrest him. Zayn was also a victim in the accident.

"Sorry, sir. But you can see my condition yourself. I'm also a victim right now," Zayn said, trying to defend himself.

The two policemen just looked at Zayn with a flat stare.

"Mr Hayes, please don't complicate things for us because we're just doing our job. I've asked the medical staff that your condition is now quite good. So we will take you to the police station right now," the man said firmly.

Zayn had no choice but to obey the two officers. They had mentioned that things would be difficult for him if Zayn said more and acted rebelliously.

"Alright, I'll be cooperative with you guys," responded Zayn, who stood up to leave the ambulance.

Zayn looked like a criminal at this point. Although Zayn seemed to be carrying IV fluids, one of the policemen did not forget to put handcuffs on Zayn's hands.

The incident was witnessed by the crowd of people who were there. The people gave Zayn a murderous stare. This man looked like a high-profile criminal being paraded by the community with the assistance of the police.

Zayn was embarrassed by the treatment he received. He didn't expect it to be this chaotic. At the police car, Zayn heard people insulting and swearing at him.

"A man who drives like that should be punished accordingly."

"I agree. That rich man should be in jail for a long time. Crazy drivers like that will only endanger the lives of everyone on the road."

"The police should withdraw that bastard's driving licence!"

Zayn lowered his face as he entered the police car. The man was placed at the back, where officers usually put their arrestees. Soon the siren sounded and the police car, and at the same time the police car left the crime scene.

Zayn briefly looked to his left, where another officer secured his vehicle. The man saw clearly that his car was no longer usable. The expensive car had to enter the workshop with a lot of expenses.

"I'm so unlucky," Zayn muttered along the way.

The car Zayn was travelling in had now arrived at the police station. Zayn was dropped off and brought in by the two policemen.

Zayn, who previously looked like an honourable man, now looked like a fugitive who had just been arrested for running away. Everyone who passed by Zayn looked at him with the same contemptuous gaze.

"I think this has gone too far. You're treating me badly, even though you know I'm a victim here," Zayn said with a hint of anger.

"Mr Hayes, we are just following the procedure. Everything was not excessive. Besides, the data from the street CCTV clearly shows that you are a bad driver. You drove recklessly and almost made a child lose her life," the policeman chimed in and made several people in the police station also look at Zayn with an accusing gaze.

They all thought the man was guilty but did not admit his guilt. A typical criminal who would not admit to his crime.

"But it's true, the girl crossed by, not paying attention to the street lights. I just..." Zayn explained the truth, but he was considered to be defending himself by the people around him, making Zayn's image and reputation even worse.

"Mr Hayes, please behave yourself. It is a police station. Even though the little girl is wrong, he is still a minor while you are an adult here. The CCTV evidence is enough to get you convicted of a traffic offence. For tonight, you will sleep in jail, so make yourself comfortable until the trial tomorrow," the officer said firmly.

Hearing about the trial and the word jail made Zayn feel uneasy. The man did not expect that he would have to be in such a difficult situation in such a short time.

Zayn certainly couldn't accept that decision. Zayn's biomedical company was on the verge of bankruptcy; his wife was casually having an affair and celebrating their victory, while Zayn would end up behind bars.

"Officer, I'd like to exercise my right to call someone. I certainly deserve a defence before the law as a good citizen."

It was one of the only ways Zayn could get legal protection. The police, of course, could not refuse and allowed it to happen. Zayn was given a maximum of ten minutes to make the call.

Zayn immediately tried to call several phone numbers of people he knew, but unfortunately, no one answered Zayn's calls. The man began to get frustrated because neither family members nor friends of Zayn's business friends picked up the call.

Zayn stared at the position with a trembling body because he had spent the first five minutes without results. If no one can help Zayn, the man could end up in prison.

But Zayn didn't want to give up so easily. The man hesitated, but he tried to contact someone despite his doubts. Zayn called his mother-in-law, Jessica Brown.

Soon, the call was connected. Zayn tried to explain the situation and begged for help from the old woman.

"Mum, so can you work on that?"

"Zayn, are you losing your mind? How did you end up at the police station? You're such a nuisance and want to burden the Brown family. Where would we put our faces if people knew the Browns' son-in-law was going to jail?"

Jessica looked furious; her voice was so loud, and she scolded Zayn severely. The old woman was not thinking about Zayn's fate at all but was more worried about its impact on the Brown family.

From the beginning, Jessica did not like Zayn as a son-in-law. She was only forced to accept Zayn because of her daughter Bianca's plea. Now that the reputation of the famous Brown family is at stake, the solution Jessica has in mind is divorce.

She thought that if Zayn was going to jail, he should first divorce Bianca so that the Browns wouldn't be seen as complicit in Zayn's problems.

"Bianca usually handles our family lawyer. You can contact your wife as she knows better. Do not contact me about this because the Brown family does not want to be involved. We won't spend a cent on you again. I think that if you end up behind bars, you should really get a divorce from Bianca."

Zayn did not expect that his mother-in-law would once again mention divorce. The man was unsurprised because the Brown family had never accepted Zayn's presence sincerely. Every time there was a problem, no matter how big or small, Jessica would continue to offer the option of divorce.

Zayn is increasingly enlightened that Jessica's treatment is identical to Bianca's. How stupid of Zayn to ask for help from his mother-in-law, who disliked him from the start.

"Remember, you have to get a divorce!" the woman said before their call ended due to the time given to Zayn by the police.

It was with a heavy heart that Zayn had to accept the harsh reality that he would have to sleep in jail until his trial was held tomorrow.

"I'll fuck their lives when I'm out," Zayn muttered as he was escorted into the jail.