Chapter 46: The beginning of a long story

He smiled, simply that, but nothing. He had the nerve to laugh at my face, especially after he tried to order me around.

"May I ask what's so funny?" I ask, glaring at him.

He looks at me with a smile on his face and analyzes me for a while, incredibly his smile didn't leave his face even after he saw that I was stressed.

"None, Miss Parker". Speaks with a slightly mischievous smile.

I am impressed by the way he called me, but I try to cover it up. How could he make my anger disappear in a few seconds?

"Your ride has arrived Miss Helena". Liam's driver speaks up as he enters the room.

"Thank you Leo, I'm coming". Responding with a gentle smile.

I get up from the chair, after recovering.

"We had to go to the police station, where are you going?" Liam asks, looking at me confused.

"To the police station". Answering as if it were obvious.

"I'll take you". Liam says getting up from his chair, looking at me confused.

"I'm sorry". I say walking towards the car.

"Wait Helena". He speaks from a distance, walking quickly towards me. "Is this because of yesterday?"

His expression was one of confusion, making me roll my eyes.

"I was just trying to help you". He answers, stepping closer to me.

His gaze reflected his good intention, making me sigh. I move closer to him, as he watches me intently.

"I know that". I speak in my usual tone of voice. "But you need to start doing this the right way". I try to be as straight as possible and at the same time cautious. "At that moment I needed you to listen to me and I needed your support. I understand that you hate him as much as I do and I like that because it shows how much you care about me. The point at issue is that Richard is not like his brother and I will believe that until I look into his eyes. I need to see him". I tell him, looking into his eyes, showing how important it was to me.

He nods, still silent. He takes my hand and moves closer to me.

"I'm sorry, I can be a little protective sometimes". He looks at me seriously and I smile, making him laugh. "I want to go with you and make sure you're safe, is that okay?" He asks me, and looks a little worried by my answer.

I hold his hand more firmly and smile at him, nodding my head. He quickly goes into the house to get his things and soon we are in the car, heading towards the police station.

[***]

"He is receiving a visit from his wife, you will have to wait for her to leave". The policeman answers and points to a waiting room.

He would only go to the prison as soon as Liam's lawyer handed all the evidence to the judge and as soon as Liam authorized it. We sit there and I remain attentive. Soon I see Attila, Ricardo's wife, leaving the room. She goes to the counter and fills out some papers, then leaves.

She was downcast, different from usual. She always used to have a smile on her face and we always had a good relationship. She and Richard were great to me, standing by my side when I had serious fights with Joy. That's why I refuse to believe that the man who comforted me many times could be behind this.

"Is she the wife?" Liam asks curiously, seeing me following Attila with my eyes until she disappeared.

"Yes". Answering, sighing. "She's my friend and I couldn't even do something for her". I confess my feelings, as I felt guilty for all the mess that was growing around me.

"It's not your fault Helena". Liam speaks seriously, looking me in the eyes. "If he is really innocent like you believe, nothing bad will happen to him".

I nod, comforted by those words. I stand up and am released to enter. They are going to take Richard out of the cell and then bring him into the room I was in. I was sitting in a chair, while Liam was standing next to me. There was only a small square table, only two chairs on opposite sides.

I soon see a policeman opening the door and soon he brings Richard, who had his head down. As soon as our gazes meet, he looks at me startled.

"Helena?" He asks, looking at me as if I were the last person he expected to see.

"Ricardo". I greet him by standing up.

I look at him from head to toe, seeing that his clothes were dirty. He had a purple part of his face and some bandages. His dark circles under his eyes were deep, as if he hadn't slept.

"Helena, I didn't do anything, I swear!" She walked towards me in complete desperation. "I would never do that, you know!"

"Calm down". The policeman speaks loudly, pushing him away from me.

Liam was also closer to me, like a shield.

"No need". I say to the policeman, who releases Ricardo. "Where were you when the accident happened?" I ask, and he looks surprised.

"I was at Filipa's basketball game".

"Is there a camera there?" I ask and he lowers his head, denying it.

"Was it at her school?" I ask, and he nods, looking at me curiously. "I'll call the school and check all the cameras there. If you show up on any video, I'll get you out of here".

"You don't believe that I would be able to do anything against you, do you?" He asks, looking at me with pleading eyes.

I sigh, bowing my head.

"I do, and I want to continue to believe in you, Ricardo. I will search for proof of your innocence with all my strength, because I don't want to believe that you were capable of something like that".

"I would never do that to anyone, especially not to you, Helena. I don't know who took my car that day". I don't know who took my car that day," she says in desperation.

"Was it stolen?" I ask in surprise and he nods.

I look at Liam, who did not seem impressed to hear this. I leave the room after promising that I would look for proof of his innocence and was praying that I would actually find it.

"The car has been found?" I ask Liam as soon as we get into the car.

"No". He answers, turning his attention away from his cell phone. "I've already sent a warrant request for the school's cameras, we'll know later today if what he says is true".

I nod, turning back to my thoughts.

"You don't have to worry about that, things will work out in the end". Liam says, holding my hand, as he looks at me intently.

I just force a smile and move closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder.

[***]

I was painting a random picture, which possessed the tones of a sunset. I had started that painting to have something to occupy my mother, trying to hide the anxiety that was growing more and more.

My cell phone rings and I quickly look at it. I grab a cloth and wipe my hands that were dirty with paint, answering the phone as fast as possible. I see that the call was from Liam, making my heart race.

"Do you have any news?" I ask as soon as I answer, failing to control my anxiety.

"They found proof that Richard was really with his daughter at the basketball game. He was seen three times". He answers.

I let out the air I didn't know I was holding and open a big one. Hearing that was relieving.

"Thank God". I talk with my hand on my chest. "When will Richard be released?"

"The evidence went to the judge, he should be out today".

I soon end the call, after we talk some more. I was relieved to know that Ricardo was innocent and that he was the person he always showed himself to be. But after finding this out there was still one big doubt: who had tried to kill me?