"Oh my God hunny look at you,how are you,how have they treated you here?Eleanor rushed to her daughter the moment her eyes landed on her throwing question after question.

"Mom,"she had gotten out of the daze she was in the moment she heard her mother's voice"mom i swear i didn't do anything i don't know what is happening please get me out of here."She was frantic.

"I know hunny you don't have to tell me i know you to know that this isn't your doing and am going to fight tooth and nail to get you out of here."

Abi who was behind her mother revealed herself to show her support to her sister "Don't worry Ali, we believe you,you haven't done anything and we'll find the one who did this and make them pay."At that moment Ali knew that there were at least people who believed in her and she was grateful.

"What about dad he must be really angry,am sure he doesn't even want to see me now."she asked in a low voice playing with her fingers.

Abi and her mother exchanged a look,they didn't want to stress her more than she already is,so they agreed to not tell her anything.

"Don't worry about anything right now,all of that doesn't matter let's just focus on proving your innocence Ali"Eleanor was now brushing her cheeks as her hand went through the iron bar.Ali leaned into her mother's touch for comfort.

Claudia had left them to talk to her first before she could.She knew she'll have enough time with her since she's the lawyer.They went on conversing for a little while before saying goodbye.

"Hang in there sweetie,we're going to get through this."her mom spoke.

"I will mom"Abi came forward and held both her arm in hers."No matter what happens,just know that i will always be here for you and no evidence or court or some stupid judge will split us up,i know you didn't do it so just stay strong until we get you out of here okay?"

She nodded her head wiping tears that escaped her eyes and replied"okay i will"

Abi was more matured between the two even though they were both or on the same day,Ali was two hours late so they always thought of her as the last born of the the family.Maybe it was because there were still some last-born traits that lingered making everyone in the family want to protect her.

Claudia went forward and they both were quite for some seconds.She wanted Ali to cool off first."Just tell me Claudia,what do they have against me"

Claudia took a deep sigh and shifted her weight to the left leg rubbing her forehead.The news is going to be a blow to her.

"Ali.....when you went out of the office that day,you left your car there,someone was seen taking the car and that someone is suspected to be the one who smuggled the drugs inside one of the containers.They are still investigating the aim for him taking your car,how he had access to it and where he took it.That's the only thing they have against you together with the fact that you failed to give an alibi."

She was mystified by the news of someone using her car that day,she didn't even notice it,there wasn't even a scratch.

"You'll need to give an alibi Ali,i know where you were but if this is taken to court,then you'll have to say where you were that day."she told her.

"But if i say where i was that day they'll dig in to the matter and i'll..i'll--they'll find out about IT."Nervousness was written all over her face.No one has to know about that phase of her life.It will put her parents in a difficult position with all the media,they might also have a heart attack.

"Plus they might use it against me and make matters worse then what will i do"she asked worriedly.

"Even if you don't provide that as an alibi,they'll press into the matter more and use the fact to say you were co-operating with the criminals on that day so it will be worse,please just think about it okay?"

"Yes ma'am,your the lawyer here."she rose up her hands in surrender.Again,she was trying to create humor out of the predicament,Claudia didn't know if that's her way of coping with the situation she's in or it's just her being her.She didn't ask.

Her expression turned from serious to soft as she asked"how are you holding up?"

Her eyes roamed over the whole space as she answered "well i don't see any bed,i wonder if they'll be taking me to a different room for my good night sleep"

"Don't worry am getting in touch with a judge to bail you out"her friend reassured her.

"I don't know how i'll repay you,you've been so good to me"tears were brimming in her eyes

"Don't even think of that,we are friends we don't need to repay each other"she had a firm expression on her face as she uttered the same words that she once told her.

"Still,am very grateful for what you are doing."

__________________________________________________________________

"I want you to do everything in your power and get my daughter out of that place."Eleanor was talking to her husband,they were on the dining table as she decided to call for an urgent family meeting to discuss about Ali's issue.

Massaging his temples,he looked at his wife exhausted,the office today was a turmoil,he had a horrible headache"Eli,am not the law, i can't just go there and ask them to release my daughter,there are procedures to be followed."

Eleanor was not having it,she knew he was tired and probably down but that didn't stop her from demanding his support "Well i don't care about any procedures David,use your contacts and bring my daughter back home to me,that's why you have them isn't it?"her voice was high,it made everyone on the table wince,they never saw their mother acting that way.

The man was now angry,his wife couldn't understand that he can't just order some people around to get her out just because he's got 'connections' their reputation is already tainted doing that will completely tarnish it.He has to wait and know the weight of the matter.

"Why don't you understand just this once Eleanor,i can't do that it will tarnish us."he also raised his voice,the kids were just starring at them,non of them uttering a word.

"I don't want to understand anything,all i want is my daughter"

"Well you won't get her by screaming and shouting who knows maybe she is somehow involved she's been confusing lately,did you ask her sister to tell you about her escapades,maybe then you will understand where am coming from."

She looked at her husband in disbelief "so you don't even trust her do you?you think she had something to do with it?you think she messed up with your company?"her voice started out low but on the last statement she was screaming with tears rolling down her eyes.

"Our company Eli not just mine,plus it's not that i don't trust her it's just that--"he trailed off

"Just what? why don't you finish your sentence?"

"Mother you should come down and avoid stress,what father is saying is true,we don't know if she has something to do with it if she has then we won't be able to do anything,"Leo tried to clear the air and Jack helped him"Yes mom we should at least try and understand dad,he's going through a tough time"

"So you two are siding with him?"she let out a dry humorless laugh "your saying that he's in a tough time and i agree and will be with him side by side,but what about my baby?She's in there with some criminals God knows what they'd do to her."She was hysterical,crying and Abi tried her best to coax her to stop.Giving them a fierce look she said"If anything bad happens to my daughter,am never going to forgive you three for not believing her."

Throwing her napkin on the table harshly,she stood up with Abi holding her and stormed out of the room leaving a plate full of untouched food and a tense environment.

Alex was in his office as the news spread,it was Mark who brought in the news.He couldn't believe it at first,he knew his Ali, she wouldn't dare do such a thing 'but are you so sure' a voice in his head nagged.He once found out that she was involved with a very dangerous group.Still this wasn't enough to believe the accusations.He didn't want to judge her by her past.

He called his contact in the police force and asked about her case, although he was told that it might be impossible to get the information since he's from a different department,he was able to find out about the evidence.After all he was a big shot.

What he found was heartbreaking,the evidence that was found pointed directly to her.'How could she do this?'his mind now a jumbled mess.The pain in his heart was unbearable, as if someone stabbed him right through his heart twisting the knife.He gave her his heart,trusting her not to break it but she did the opposite.

Tired of sitting there sulking,he decided he was going to face her and demand for answers.

The moment Claudia bid her goodbye,she returned to her daze like state,everything else was non existence as she drowned into the depths of oblivion that she didn't hear the footsteps or the cell being opened.Once she noticed all these movements,Alex was already inside standing before her starring with a gloomy expression on his face.

Following her eye sights,she saw him but his expression went past her,she was too much delighted that she didn't pay attention to it.

"You came,"she got on her feet and ran to hug him so tight as if he was life itself.For a long time she stood there hugging him snuggling her head on his chest but she didn't feel his arm caging her like always,they were still buried deep in his pockets,she didn't want to believe it she moved back removing her arms from his waist.

"Your doubting me.....aren't you?"she queried with disbelief,her voice trembling with fear of what might come.

"Why did you do it?"his voice was low and calm but only she knew the anger brewing in him not because she has ever experienced it no she has never,but she's seen people who have and it never end well for them emotionally,no matter how much she tried to stop him from unleashing his wrath on them,she never was successful.

"I can't believe this,you of all people don't trust me,yet you proposed to marry me"hurt was evident in her eyes,she could take all the allegations from everyone even her family but from him,it was very hard to take it,she trusted him with everything she's got,finding out he couldn't say the same for her made it unbearable.

"Do not try to divert the topic here Alina just answer the damn question"he was furious to the point that he had shouted at her,it has never happened before.

"I didn't do anything"they were starring at each other as if it were a starring match.She refused to back down.

"Oh really?why are you here then,were you giving out candy to some f*cking kids on the road?"Ali decided to keep quite and listen to all of what he had to say."Am talking to you Goddammit answer me.

"What did you want out of that.Money?i would've given you everything,if it's more money you wanted,power or any other thing in this damn world i would have sail it give you.Why the hell did you decide on that i wasn't dead was i?"

She was now leaning against the wall listening to whatever his rage had to say "Everything you say,except your trust right?you'd be willing to give me everything except trusting me,is that how much you love me dear fiancee'"stressed on the word 'fiancee'

"Stop trying to emotionally blackmail me Ali, it won't work.So,who made you do it or should i say who is your accomplice?Is it the bastard who used to sell that crap to you?Did he force you or do you have something going on with that excuse of a man"she understood what he meant by saying 'something going on' she walked to him and slapped him so hard that his face turned sideways.

"It is one thing to not trust me but completely another to insult and disrespect me Alex,i am not going to explain anything to you,if you don't want to believe me then go ahead and leave i wont take anymore of your insults."

"I pity you Alina really i do,looking at your fragile form you can't stand jail for a minute,how will you do it for five or seven years?"he tsked "I just pray you find the strength"he started leaving but heard what she said

"I guess this is over then"Ali painfully stated but he couldn't bring himself to agree with her,so he left.He left without sealing the deal.

Chapter 8 Custody.

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