Chapter 5 I Swear I'm Innocent

After that day, Cornell didn't change. The next day, while his father was away, I had just returned back from work and when I entered my sitting room, my best friend, Isabella, was there. She looked at me in the most disgusting way as I walked into my room to freshen up, ignoring her presence. Then after, I made my way to the kitchen and she followed. I was preparing a meal for myself when she took out a bottle of water and poured it in the glass cup.

She poured some of the water on the tiled floor. I tried to ignore her, remaining focused on my cooking. She then grabbed the insecticide from the cabinet and started to wave it around.

Soon after, I saw from the corner of my eyes as she slipped, falling to the ground. Panic surged through me as I rushed towards her, trying to help.

Just then, the front door flew open, and in rush was my husband, Cornell. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the chaotic scene before him. Isabella continued to cry out, pretending to be in pain, and I could see the rage building in Cornell's eyes.

"What the hell is going on here?" he roared, his voice full of anger.

Before I could even utter a word, Isabella quickly turned the situation in her favour. "Ava pushed me! She poured the insecticide in my eyes! I can't see. She's trying to hurt me!" she cried, her voice trembling with fabricated fear, acting like she has indeed lost her sight.

Without a second thought, he charged towards me, his hands clenched into fists. Before I could react, he grabbed me by the throat, squeezing it tightly. My vision blurred as the lack of oxygen began to consume me.

"Cornel please!" I gasped, struggling to breathe. Tears streamed down my face as I desperately tried to break free from his grip. But his strength was overpowering, and all my efforts were in vain.

Isabella's eyes filled with satisfaction as she watched me being attacked. The betrayal etched on her face made my heart ache. How could I have not seen this side of her before?

He finally released his grip, allowing me to collapse to the floor, gasping for air.

"Pray nothing happens to her," Cornell said urgently and without wasting a single second, he scooped up Isabella into his arms and rushed towards the car. I followed close behind, her face etched with worry and tears streaming down her cheeks while she stood and watched him drive off.

***

Silence enveloped the car as it sped through the streets towards the hospital. Cornell couldn't bear to tear his eyes away from Isabella's face. Sweat trickled down his forehead the moment he ran into traffic, his grip on the steering wheel growing tighter, he needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

Arriving at the hospital, Cornell carried Isabella and sprinted through the doors, not caring about the confused looks he received from the people around him as the nurses attended to Isabella.

A few minutes later...

"Doctor, please... how is she?" he asked the moment he saw Isabella's doctor coming out from the room where she's kept.

The doctor's eyes met Cornell's. "I'm afraid the damage to Isabella's eyes is severe," he said gravely, "An eye transplant is our best chance at restoring her vision."

"I'll be right back." Cornell said as he ran out.

Returning home, he grabbed Ava by the throat, he forced her against the wall with a grip as cold as ice. Ava's eyes widened in terror, her voice choked with fear. "What... what are you doing?" she gasped, struggling to breathe.

"You did this to her. Your negligence, your carelessness and jealousy," Cornell snarled, his voice heavy with accusation. He pressed harder against her throat, his eyes burning with rage. "Isabella's blindness is on you, Ava. You will pay for this with your own eyes."

Tears streamed down Ava's face. She weakly pleaded for her innocence, her voice strained and desperate. "No, Cornell! I swear, I didn't do anything!"

Cornell's grip tightened further, his anger reaching its peak.

Her voice trembled, weighted with sorrow. "Cornell, please believe me. I would never do anything to harm Isabella. Please..."

Cornell's eyes bore into hers, searching for any signs of deception. He released Ava as she fell weakly to the floor.

Immediately, Cornell's grip tightened around Ava's arm as he pulled her forcefully towards the boy's quarter. The building lay secluded, far away from the main compound. She stumbled, her feet dragging along the uneven concrete path, but Cornell's relentless pace didn't care.

Finally reaching the boy's quarter, Cornell shoved Ava into an empty room and shut the door as she cried out. "I haven't done anything to Isabella! Please believe me" she shouted, her voice reverberating against the cold, empty walls.

Ignoring her pleas, Cornell locked the door as Ava pounded on the door, from this prison of unjust accusation. Tears streamed down her face, screaming, knowing that no one would come to her aid.

In silence, Cornell drove back to the hospital. He arrived at the hospital, walking until he reached the doctor's office.

Cornell explained that he had found a donor willing to give Isabella her precious sight back. The doctor, a weary figure adorned in a white coat, listened gently.

The doctor sighed, "Very well, we shall proceed with the eye transplant. It will be done first thing tomorrow morning."

They quickly arranged the necessary documents and signing on them.

As the final signature was done, the doctor gripped Cornell's hand in reassurance. "Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to make this operation a success."

Cornell nodded. "Thank you, doctor. I'll be waiting anxiously for her recovery."

With that, Cornell made the necessary payment.

Cornell returned home late in the evening with two tall, muscular men flanking him as they made their way towards the secluded boy's quarter. As they reached the wooden door, Cornell unlocked and pushed it open. Ava was already sleeping after crying all day.

The two men wasted no time, moving fluidly, they prepared her for the transplant. They donned gloves as they undressed her which jolted her awake while Cornell watched in silence.

With steady hands, they changed her into hospital wear.

Turning their attention to the medical equipment, the men gently placed a drip into Ava's arm as she struggled with them. The clear liquid snaked its way through the tube. As the men injected a potent sleeping medicine, it went with the clear fluid, ensuring that Ava wouldn't wake anytime soon.

Cornell watched as the men carried Ava and walked out of the room into the car, heading towards the hospital. They got to the hospital and kept her in the room where the doctor had already arranged for her.

Soon, Cornell walked into the room Isabella was kept.

"You will be fine soon. The doctor has assured me of that. And don't worry, Ava will pay for what she has done, with her own eyes."

Isabella's head turned slightly in his direction, her face marred by the fake pain she couldn't see. Cornell took a step closer, his hand reaching out tentatively to caress her cheek.

"I promise you. Ava will never hurt you again."