Chapter 116 - Cheers to Comeuppance
The internet was a buzz with all of the official statements. Most comments and direct messages were those of support and congratulations; however, a few commentaries cursed Annika and Leon. Most of the curses came from many of their respective fans and admirers. Still, a few of Jeffrey’s family members considered Annika their worst enemy now that the patriarch of the Hollands family fell from grace on national TV. Many felt Annika didn’t have to have Hunter drag Jack and Ruth through the mud with their private affairs. But unfortunately for them, Annika and her backers could care less how they felt because they were irrelevant to her.
“Okay, now that you two are officially engaged, when did you want to get married?” McKenna asked.
“Micky, we just announced the engagement. Let us enjoy it first,” Annika replied, laughing at her eager older sister.
“You think they’re rushing you now? Wait until you’re married. Not even an hour from the altar, they’re going to ask, ‘When are you two having a baby?’” Matthaeus grumbled, which earned a punch in the chest from Micky.
“I don’t think we have to worry about that,” Leon responded, placing his hand on Annika’s still-flat stomach.
“Oh, right, you did it backward.” Annika frowned at her brother-in-law.
“Ignore him, baby bear,” Huxley said to her. “Delia was already pregnant when we got married. There’s nothing wrong with it as long as Leon takes responsibility.”
“Geez, Huxy, you’re saying it as if you don’t love Delia,” Micky jabbed.
“I love her very much; thank you, Micky. I’m just stating that, as men, we need to take responsibility for our actions, regardless of whether it ends in marriage. I loved Delia, which was I chose to marry her. I chose to take responsibility for our child because it took both of us to make her.”
“Too bad not all men think that way,” Annika mumbled, referring to Jeffrey.
“That’s why he’s not a man. He’s an insignificant waste of space, and I’m glad we’re rid of him.”
“Okay, enough of that. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty details about the wedding!” Micky squealed. Annika rolled her eyes once more but couldn’t stop smiling. This was how it should have been. Surrounded by her family and loved ones, celebrating her happiness. She looked at Leon but frowned when she saw he was paying close attention to his phone instead of the hearty atmosphere.
“What’s wrong?” she asked him. He looked up at her and then back at his phone. He was contemplating if he wanted to share what was just sent to him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hide it from her, so he handed her his phone so she could read it herself.
BREAKING NEWS!
It has been reported that former Defense Attorney, Jeffrey Hollands, was found dead inside his prison cell this afternoon. Hollands, whom everyone knows, was recently caught up in a highly publicized divorce hearing from his wife of seven years, Annika Silverton.
After many twists and turns in the case, Hollands was stripped of everything and even found to have unintentionally committed bigamy against the very mistress he cheated with. Not only that, but Hollands was also publicly outed as the byproduct of his father’s affair with a minor at the time. Although the statute of limitations has long passed, it didn’t stop the rippling effect of a bad public image for Hollands’ entire family.
According to the jailhouse guards, they were fetching Hollands, who had a visitor waiting for him, his younger half-brother, when they found Hollands dead in his cell. Hollands was reported to have hung himself using the sheets of his bed.
We had an interview with the current acting District Attorney Reagan. When asked his opinion of Hollands’ apparent sui*cide, and whether or not he believed it, he said this…
“I believe it to be true. One must understand that the pile of charges against Hollands on top of his divorce would be enough to make even the toughest criminals crack under pressure. We already had plenty of irrefutable evidence that he was involved in defrauding Leonardo Von Doren a year and a half ago with Sadie Galloway. On top of that, along with the evidence tampering, the court was adding felony bigamy charges against him. Though it would have been proven that he was unaware of the bigamy, it was still an additional blow to his pride. Jeffrey Hollands was the youngest District Attorney in Manhattan, and to fall from grace the way he did, and as far as he did, it’s no surprise that he chose to take his own life rather than face his crimes. He would have spent at least twenty years in prison if not more. Though I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, Jeffrey Hollands got what was coming to him if you ask me. He got his comeuppance.”
This information comes to us just minutes after Leonardo Von Doren announced his engagement to Hollands’ now ex-wife, Annika Silverton, who revealed she is pregnant with their first child.
Annika’s face had paled after reading the article and the quote from D.A. Reagan. She couldn’t believe it herself. After everything that had happened, the ending was so anticlimactic. Rather than face his crimes like a grown man and take his punishment, Jeffrey decided to go out on his terms and avoid all charges by taking his own life. She hadn’t expected this one bit. Even though Jeffrey had hurt her in the worst ways possible, she never wanted him to die. But, in the end, it wasn’t up to her. Jeffrey chose his path. He ended up at a crossroads and chose the easy way out.
“Annika, honey, are you okay?” Madalena asked as Annika and Leon became quiet.
“No …”
“What’s wrong, Baby Bear?” Beau queried, concerned seeing the sadness in his daughter’s eyes.
“Jeff …”
“What about him?” Hunter asked.
“He …” Annika paused and looked up at Leon for assistance.
“Jeff Hollands hung himself in lockup. He’s dead.”