2024-03-04 17:43:16Dean stood up angrily and turned to face the man. Yanking his shirt, he swung his fist and punched his jaw.
He watched the man's eyes roll back in his head and punched him again. This time boxing him near his ears. He tossed the man away as soon as he went limp in his hands. Then he turned and fought the other men."Stop Dean." He heard Jasper say and he finally came back to his senses. A deep sense of sadness washed over him. He knew instinctively he would not be going home tomorrow. As he turned to walk away, he felt something cold pierce his side. At first he felt nothing except harsh breathing against his neck. He turned to see Marshall was staring back with excited eyes like an insane man.Then he finally felt the pain. Dean looked down and saw the knife buried in his stomach, only the hilt was visible. "I swore you will never leave this place." Marshall said. Dean's legs gave way under him and he came down with a heavy loud crash. His sight became blurry but he could still see everyone running away, back into the building. Only Jasper came towards him and held his hand screaming out. "Help, help." Dean smiled in confusion wondering if this was it. Was today the day he died? But he was supposed to get three more reminders. Was his grandmother wrong? She had told him as a child about the rule of three. Everyone got a silent reminder three years, three months, three days and three hours before their death to hurry up their activities on earth. Why was he at death's door now after just getting his first reminder only a few minutes ago. Or had he not been paying attention before and missed the rest?He felt people surrounding him and then pulling him into a stretcher. He could not keep his eyes open anymore so he closed them and let the darkness take him.***When he opened his eyes again, he saw bright lights everywhere. There was a measured beeping sound nearby too. He looked around and relaxed. He was at the hospital. He finally noticed the dull but pulsing ache on his side. His heart beat faster as he pulled up the lightweight hospital dressing gown he was wearing with his left hand to take a look. His right hand was cuffed to the bed.The place he had been stabbed was neatly bandaged, and he could feel stitches beneath it. He collapsed back on the bed in exhaustion and relief.Just then, a nurse walked in. Her mouth and eyes widened in surprise. "Mr Connor. You're awake." She said moving quickly to his bedside. "Looks like it." Dean said dryly, trying to smile. "Lay still and I will call the doctor." She said as she clicked on a button, and then went on to check his vitals. The doctor came and after some physical examination declared him LUCKY. "We spent hours in the surgery room trying to save your life. Even then, we were not certain how you would recuperate." The doctor said."Thank you Doc." Dean said in genuine gratitude. When the doctor and nurse left, Dean sank into deep thoughts. Since there was still a metal handcuff on his wrist, and some police officer stood just outside the door, he was still a prisoner. Only now he doubted he would be leaving as planned. Marshall was a notorious trouble maker. But if he had not said the things he said, Dean was certain he would have not lost control of his temper and fought back.But what is done is done. He could only hope he had not completely jeopardised his chances of getting released. He had served his time in full and had been looking forward to leaving. ***Dean was taken straight to the prison chief executive's office after the doctors proclaimed him well enough. He was led into the room, in an orange coloured jumpsuit, with his hands cuffed in front. He greeted everyone present in the room.The chief executive and a very wealthy looking couple who Dean did not know their identity were seated in the room."Is this the bear who dared to lay his paws on my precious son." The woman said standing up. Her eyes flashed in fury. Dean recognised her then. The resemblance between her and Marshall were unmistakable. "We will get to that Mrs Miller." The chief said firmly. "Take a seat 1722." He said to Dean, addressing him by his prison number.Dean obeyed."Why did you attack Marshall?" The director barked sternly."I was defending myself." Dean said simply. "Liar!" Mrs Miller screamed. "My son would never hurt anyone."Dean said nothing. There was no need to, there were witnesses, physical proof too. The wound from the stab was still there. "You wretched thing. You sit there calmly and accuse my son." Mrs Miller continued shouting. She stood up again and tried to attack him but some guards restrained her. "Sit down Sophia." Her husband finally spoke up. She moved her weight from foot to foot restlessly in displeasure, before she finally took her seat. "Call him in." Mr Miller said, turning back to the Chief. The Chief nodded to the guard at the door. The guard went out and returned with Marshall.Marshall walked in, handcuffed just like Dean and was made to stand at the centre of the room. His head was all bandaged up."1689. How did 1722 get a stab wound." The chief asked directly. "He attacked me, I was simply defending myself." Marshall said, in the most innocent tone Dean had ever heard from him. Dean turned to look at him in surprise, why would he lie so blatantly. "I told you." Mrs Miller said triumphantly. "My son would never hurt anyone. This criminal must be punished for telling a lie against my son." She said"There is no need for any of that mom. I would accept a simple apology." Marshall said. Dean looked up to see Marshall's eyes gleaming with mischief. "If he gets on his knees and beg for my forgiveness I will forgive him.""He will still be punished." The chief said. "This is a correctional facility, and we don't condone violence.""I was only defending myself." Dean finally spoke up. He could not keep getting punished for something he did not do. The powerful and wealthy have oppressed him all his life and even threw him in prison. "What proof do you have?" Mr Miller asked calmly, looking at Dean. He had a quiet voice."The other inmates will testify. Ask anyone there." Dean responded. He saw Marshall exchange glances with his mother. He saw the victorious smile on his lips and realised he just made a grave mistake.
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Three inmates who had been chosen at random came out and testified against Dean one after the other, he was not surprised. But he was left speechless nonetheless.Till the last moment, when he saw the look between Marshall and his mother, he never thought this could happen.He never thought people could lie and testify against him so badly. Were they bribed or threatened?"You can ask Jasper." Dean said after the last witness was escorted away. "Your little friend will always lie for your sake." Marshall said."The way your little friends just did right?" Dean fired back. "Enough." The Chief barked. "How dare you? In my presence?" He glared angrily at them."1722, it is a shame that you were so close to leaving this place." The Chief said looking at Dean with disappointment. "You have two options. You can either ask for forgiveness and only face punishment from us. Or you don't beg for forgiveness and have the estimable Marshalls press charges against you." He said. "Those charges
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Dean had difficulty believing what they just said."You cannot mean that?" He said in disbelief. Leilani loved this child as fiercely as he did. From the moment she first held her, the plan was to adopt the baby as a couple, as soon as possible. "We have not seen her." The oldest Reverend Sister said, looking at him with kind eyes. Dean felt sad. The mockery from others, and his fear must be true then. Leilani did not come for any of his court hearings, never visited him in prison, and completely abandoned Alanna who was supposed to be their child. He did not know which hurt him the most. Leilani abandoning him, or Alanna."I thought Alanna would have been adopted by now." Dean asked."She has not bonded with any family. In fact, you are the only one she has favored with a smile in years." The Reverend Sister explained. The two other sisters nodded in agreement.Dean wanted to ask some more questions but decided not to. He stood up abruptly and said he would be back. He went out
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Dean walked back to the desk of the customer service personnel. She frowned as she saw him walking towards her. "You have still not called out to me." Dean said with a polite smile."Exactly. So I wonder why you are here." She said angrily. "I will call you when I have answers for you." Dean went back to his spot and continued standing. Another forty minutes had passed when a security guard of the bank came to stand before him."You cannot be here. Please take a seat." He said. Dean glanced back to where he had been sitting. The rich kid was no longer there, but all the seats were taken."There are no vacant seats." He said, turning to look down at the security guard."But you cannot stand loitering here." The guard responded with a frown. "I am not loitering. I am waiting for a response from her." Dean said, turning to point to the customer service agent. He was shocked to find that the queue was gone. The woman was even having an idle chat with her colleague. Dean felt anger b
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The woman smiled back at him sadly. "You know it has never been about money. We only authorize adoption to stable married couples." She said. "I understand that. But can't you make any exceptions? You have known me for years. You know I will treat Alanna right." Dean said "I do. But she needs the love of a mother just like she does a father." The woman explained. Dean felt defeated. He had heard all these before. That was why he and Leilani had been putting in extra time at their work so they could save up and get married quickly. Till that ugly incident happened and he went to jail and Leilani abandoned them.He really wished they had taken Alanna to some other orphanage. These religious ones took propriety seriously. Would he have to just find a random woman and marry her? He could afford to do that now, with all this money. But he did not want to give Alanna a bad mother. He stood up. "I'll come see her tomorrow." He announced and left after saying goodbye to Alanna.It was
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Leilani crouched low. Despite the painkillers, despite the fact that she'd lost the baby for days now, her belly still cramped painfully.She winced as she turned to her side on the bed.Her nurse was busy watching television, ignoring her completely. The woman hated her gut now. No one found out that the nurse had been drugged, the monster thought she was careless and punished her severely. She hated Leilani for this and was extra high handed with her.Leilani silently watched her now. The nurse turned suddenly. “Lost something?” She frowned angrily. “Why are you staring?”Leilani winced as her belly twisted again. “I need painkillers. My belly hurts.” She managed to get out. The nurse scoffed at her and looked away. Leilani closed her eyes as the pain enveloped her body. She should have known the woman would not help. She clutched the bed sheet and clenched as the pain coursed through her body and seized her thigh, back and pelvis in a vicious grip. When the pain dropped again
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Dean sighed. Not again, Not today!He maintained a calm expression though, and walked around her to open his front door. He had forgotten how persistent Lyda can be. He should have known she would not back off easily. He went in, she followed him and closed the door behind. He hoped she would not try any of that seduction trick today. He went to the room and confirmed the painting was still hanging on the wall. “What do you want Lyda?” He said as he stepped out. She looked calm, not as distressed as she did yesterday. “Why did you not tell me you were leaving for another woman?” She asked.“What?”“I worried something was wrong with me.” She said dropping her purse on a nearby couch. “I really thought something was seriously wrong with me, that is why you could not like me even though you were single and straight.” Dean kept looking at her.“Why did you
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“Callaso.” Jasper responded. “Do you know him?” “I cannot be sure yet.” Dean said, as he sent a quick text to the cops in charge of Rob's case. When he looked up, Jasper was looking at him with a strange expression. “You look good. You look really good.” He said in wonder. Dean shook his head and smiled sadly. Then he launched into a long explanation, bringing Jasper up to speed with everything that had happened to him so far. The more he told, the more incredulous Jasper looked. Dean tried to hurry through the details as fast as he could. There was a time limit to every prison visit. Jasper had both hands supporting his chin by the time Dean was done. Dean sat back and watched his reaction. He understood it to some extent. He believed the reason he had not freaked out yet was because he had not had a peaceful moment to really think about it. Everything had moved fast since that night he got ou
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Dean stepped back as if he had been slapped. He looked at Lyda's face, moist with tears. But he felt no pity. “That is not love. You were selfish. You lied because you were only thinking about yourself.” He shouted angrily. How could she claim to love him when she did not even know the most basic quality of love. How could someone as selfish as she was, claim to love him?He chose her because he needed her help. That was selfish. He could never claim he loved her. She brought in benefits and he compensated her adequately.“Do you understand that our marriage is null?” He asked, remembering what Jean had told him. “Our marriage was never recognized because you were married to another.” He ran his hands through his hair as the full implication of this hit him. He would never have been able to adopt Alanna, even if he had beat Già to apply first.They would have verified, found out his mar
Null marriage
“I know it's none of my business, but it came up in one of these investigations.” The private investigator said. It's confusing how you have a wife and then a fiance.”“It's not what you think.” Dean said, and explained the situation of things. Jean sighed and shook his head. “Alanna is fine. Just not in school yet.”“You're sure? How do you know?” Dean asked. Jean looked at him with a frown. “Of course, It's your job to know.” Dean said, feeling stupid. “I am just surprised they would take good care of her. You know by now how evil that family is.” “They have no reason to hurt her. She is important for Luke's campaign.” Jean replied. Dean paused. “Wait. You mean there is a chance Leilani and Alanna are in the same house?” He asked, as he got an idea.“I can go there under the pretext of going to visit Alanna.”Jean looked angry, and Dean
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Rob looked from Dean to the cop. Then he looked down at his hands. It seemed he was contemplating whether to reveal this big secret or not.“There was a ring tucked into a seat in the truck. Some drops of blood too.” Rob said. Dean felt his whole body go cold. “Blood?”“Yes. A few drops.”“Did you report this to the cops?” The cop asked. “No.”Dean lost it and punched him again. This bastard! It would have been so much easier to find Leilani if only he had spoken up when this happened. “I did not want to get in trouble. When I asked Charles he said to burn the note and mind my business.”“What note?” Dean and the cop asked in unison. “A note was tucked in the ring.” Rob said hesitantly. This was getting even worse. Was this man simply a dumb idiot who only knew how to hit women, or was plain selfish and could only think of saving his neck.
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Dean got off his zoom meeting with the celebrity with a smile. He had finally secured her contract with Ally.It had not been difficult. Just like he had predicted, she had been ecstatic at the fact that the CEO contacted her. The offer was also too juicy for any sane person to reject. Now, looking at the signed contract on his desktop, he could breathe a sigh of relief. There were currently no loopholes for competitors like Patel to infiltrate through.Things were finally beginning to take shape. If things continued like this, he would be rounding up all his goals soon. Now if only he would at least get an update about Leilani. He was beginning to worry more. This was taking longer than he had ever expected. As if on cue, his phone rang. It was the private investigator calling.“We’ve narrowed the search down to the driver.” Jean Akio said as soon as the call connected. He sounded
Two more mintues
Leilani watched her nurse clear the dishes away, and tried to convince herself about things that were not true. If she believed these things, she could play the pretending act well.She acted like today was a normal day, and the plates her nurse was taking away didn't contain her final approval for her escape plan to happen today. She felt like a duck on water, calm and serene on the outside and frantically paddling underneath the water in distress. She had no idea how she was going to spend the day pretending to be calm. She was bursting with anxiety. She hugged her still flat belly, hoping to draw comfort from her baby. She was mostly making this escape for this baby. She could not just sit and let them sell her child in some black market like a common slab of meat.“One day I would tell you about this sacrifice I am making just to keep you safe.” She whispered to her sixteen weeks old foetus, caressing her stomach. “Don't get too attached to that thing.” Her nurse said, start
