CHAPTER 44

Anna's POV.

I wouldn't have known what day it was except that the warden had an assistant who took the night guard. I counted each time he had been on duty to be able to tell the time. It had been my fifth day in this damp cold dungeon.

I looked around at the place I had come to call my room. It had concrete floors, dark moldy walls, a small iron bed frame with a thin mattress on it, and a thinner pillow. When I got a cold at night I had no choice but to use the scratchy blanket, grateful for its warmth.

Worse still no one had even explained exactly what my offense was, the only time I had a glimpse of what exactly I was here for was when the warden served me stale bread and milk and spitefully said  “You should be grateful for this you betrayer.”

His choice of words had confused me terribly and of all the ranging emotions I had felt while in this solitary confinement, the most constant was hurt. I couldn't come to terms that Lucius would let me be treated this way.

For what offense exactly? And even if he had a suspicion as to whatever the hell was going on in his head, why couldn't he confront me about it?

Being in this dungeon, I had a lot of time to think and I've decided in my heart that if I ever escape this place I'll divorce Lucius and go somewhere far away from this nonsense life.

Tears stung my eyes at the thought of leaving him despite what he had put me through. I still had feelings for him. But I had to admit I could never live a normal life with him, since the day he stepped into my world my life has been a hot mess

“I was sent here to prepare the prisoner for trial.” I heard  Gracie's voice and my head shot up immediately and I ran to the iron bars peeping out. I almost screamed her name but her eyes cautioned me not to.

I got the message that if I show any excitement in seeing her, they'd know we're friends and may fear she'd help me escape.

“Where's your pass?” the warden sternly asked and Gracie produced a letter with the Moreti seal and signature on it.

The man looked at me with heavy irritation in his expression, walking towards the cell with the keys “Don't have that stupid spark of hope in your eyes, this is the first trial you can't leave till at least the second you'll be back here soon.”

The iron door was opened and I took a shaky step out my legs feeling weak. Gracie ran towards me to support me, If she didn't I'm sure I would have fallen straight to the ground.

The warden nodded and one of the huge men that brought me here followed me and Gracie up the elevator. I thought I'd have the chance to shower and prepare for whatever trail in my room.

Instead, I was led to a strange room, the guard didn't enter, he only said “You have exactly twenty minutes or I'll come in there myself and drag you two out.”

The man looked like he meant it. Gracie nodded and bowed, helping me inside the room once we were alone, I tried to speak but fat drops of tears rolled down my pale cheeks.

“Shhh it's okay, don't worry it'll be fine” Gracie near tears cooed as though talking to a child.

She helped me to take a shower which I so desperately needed,  I wondered how she could have held me so close even though I knew I smelled like shit at the moment.

I was glad to at least have a dress over my body after having no other article of clothing on for five days but a robe. I sat in the chair in front of the dressing mirror while Gracie blow-dried and combed my messy hair.

By the time she was done, I looked a million times better than I did minutes ago but still not like my normal self. Tears sprang to my eyes as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I didn't recognize the woman that stared back at me.

My eyes had lost their shine, although I'm a petite woman I looked rather frail. What I felt for Lucius and his Mafia world at the moment was detest.

“We have about five minutes left before we need to head out,” Gracie said.

“Thank you,” I whispered in a tight voice knowing she was probably the only one who volunteered to come get me ready, everyone must have wanted to stay away from the betrayer.

“I don't believe a single word, I've heard what you've been accused of and I'd like to tell you but it wouldn't help you during the trial as they judge even your body language and if you don't seem so surprised as to what you're accused of it'll tell negatively on you.”

All I could do was nod, Gracie handed me a bottle of cool water, “Please drink at least, you'll need the strength.”

I accepted it and drank then we heard an aggressive knock at the door letting us know the time was up. Gracie hugged me one last time and whispered “Good luck, my friend.”

Before I could respond the angry guard burst into the room “We have to leave now!”

I stood up immediately not wanting Gracie to get into trouble because of me. At this moment I don't know how but I found courage with my chin up. I said, “Let's go, I'm ready.”

The guard gave me an amused look before he led me out. The trial room resembled some sort of courtroom. It is a fairly large building within the estate. I had passed it a couple of times when leaving the estate.

As we walked to the trial house I noticed the way everyone seemed to stare at me, I also noticed several cars parked.

This was going to be a whole event and I was to be the entertainment when we got to the building I could see most people were already seated. I was brought in through a side door at the front of the hall but not before my hands were bound together by a knot once more

The Moretti were seated in a panel-like fashion as though Supreme Court Justices were trying a wanted criminal. The first person my eyes met was Lucius, it was as though all the resentment I had for him disappeared in the moment.

Could this be what it feels like when you like someone? Just minutes before we got here my resolve was set strong against him but now I felt powerless against his glass, ocean-blue eyes.

The eldest of them Demicia hit a wooden hammer on the table, “Settle down everyone we are starting the trial, Anna, can the charge and evidence please be presented”.

I gave a small bitter laugh noting how they didn't add my newest surname when they called my name, Dominick read out the charge.

“You Anna have been accused of the pre-attempted murder of Lucius Moreti, head of this mafia clan, in collaboration with your ex-boyfriend Chase Lancaster Monterio who is the heir of Monterio.”

I felt like I was in a fever dream, my mouth hung open what the actual fuck? Chase is in the mafia and holds up. How did I conspire with him to kill Lucius?

Why the fuck would I even want to kill my husband to what end?

“In addition to that you have also been accused of feeding a rival clan with vital information that helped their interim leader ( Chase ) escape. We will display the evidence on the screen for all to see”.

I felt very dizzy, I could feel my heart pumping blood. Who could have fabricated such lies against me? And why did everyone believe them?

I turned towards the projector screen and the first thing displayed was a note sent to corroborate what I was being accused of.

The second slide was my phone and the text messages between me and Chase at first I felt relieved because it would prove my innocence. But what I saw displayed on the screen was altered from the actual real messages.

It was very twisted and very much corroborated the other evidence which was in the letter.

Everyone gasped and shook their heads at me.

I didn't have the strength to stand straight anymore. I fell to the ground, Lucius instinctively stood up immediately but Demicia held his hand urging him to take his seat.

He had his fist clenched tightly and looked very uncomfortable, I wondered why. Didn't he believe I wanted to murder him and had an affair?

Dominick continued speaking but this time to me “Now that you know your offense and what you're accused of. You can prepare your defense for the next trial where a judgment against you will be passed.”

That was the last thing I remember before I blacked out.