Chapter 202: The Price For Her Betrayal

Martha had never realized how loud and uncomfortable hospitals could be until the day she was set to leave this particular one. The beeping monitors, the squeak of nurses’ shoes, the tasteless food, the murmur of voices outside her door, it all pressed against her ears like static. Yet under all that noise, she felt strangely hollow.

She sat on the edge of her hospital bed, dressed in a loose blouse and dark trousers that her sister had brought from home. Her body still ached from the injury, but her mind was sharper than ever—too sharp, too awake to rest. The morning light cut across the room in pale slants, glinting off the IV stand beside her.

The nurse had told her she could be discharged by noon the next day. And Martha had smiled politely, even thanked her for the care they rendered her. But as soon as she was alone, she reached for her phone and opened her bank app again, as if to reassure herself that it wasn’t all a dream.

There it was.

₿ 500,000,000,000.

A whole five hundred billion without tax. Deposited directly into her account probably by one of Alaric’s offshore corporations.

Her hands trembled slightly as she stared at the numbers. It was enough to change her life forever, she could comfortably without ever working again. Enough to buy her freedom, comfort, even forgiveness—at least, the kind money could buy.

A tear slipped down her cheek, and she brushed it away quickly, half in disbelief, half in shame.

He had kept his promise.

She had risked everything, her loyalty to her closest friend and ally, her name, her soul, her remaining conscience and he had rewarded her exactly as he said he would.

And yet, the happiness that should have come with it didn’t arrive. Instead, a heavy ache settled in her chest. Because she knew what the news headlines had said that morning.

“Judith Radsford Laid to Rest in Quiet Ceremony.”

No press was allowed but few managed to get some pictures before they were chased off. She had read the article more three times, unable to look away from the photograph—the small coffin under gray rain, Rex standing at a distance, Judith’s mother alone by the grave.

Martha’s throat had closed up.

She had known Judith since they were barely socialites. Known her pride, her ambition, her laughter that could fill a room and the darkness that grew behind her eyes slowly when love turned to obsession. Judith had become reckless, cruel at times, but she had once been kind too. She had given Martha a job when no one else would.

And Martha had repaid her by selling her out.

She let out a broken sigh and pressed her palms together, staring at the floor. “Am I even worthy to go to her grave?” she whispered. “After everything?”

Her sister, Amanda, poked her head into the room just then. “You ready?”

Martha quickly straightened up, forcing a smile. “Almost. Just need to sign the discharge papers.”

Amanda stepped in fully, followed by her husband and their teenage son, Caleb. They carried her small suitcase and a bouquet of flowers one of the nurses had left earlier. The room suddenly felt too small, too full of life for the thoughts still circling in Martha’s head.

“You’ll come stay with us till you’re strong enough to travel,” Amanda said kindly. “We can leave the country next week, like you wanted.”

Martha nodded, her heart skipping at the word leave. That was the plan. She had already spoken to a broker in town who promised to secure new passports for her entire family, a house abroad—somewhere quiet, where no one knew the name Judith Radsford, how she betrayed her only ally or what had happened at the docks.

A new beginning.

A chance to bury the past before it buried her.

She rose slowly, wincing from the pain in her side, and reached for her bag. The transfer papers were signed, her release form stamped. In a few more minutes, she would walk out of this place and never look back.

But fate, it seemed, had one more turn waiting.

The door opened again—this time, not by family or nurses.

Two men in dark uniforms stepped in, followed by a woman in plain clothes. They moved with calm authority, flashing badges before anyone could speak.

“Martha Blue?” the woman asked evenly.

Martha froze. “Yes?”

“I’m Chief Inspector Barton from the Criminal Investigation Department. You are under arrest for your involvement in the kidnapping of the Yin twins and the murder of Robin Blankson.”

The words hit her like a physical blow. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. “W-what? No, that’s not—”

Amanda stepped forward, alarmed. “There must be a mistake! My sister’s just been discharged—”

One of the officers cut her off gently. “We have a warrant.” He handed Amanda a folded paper. The official seal gleamed under the hospital’s fluorescent light.

Martha’s pulse roared in her ears. “This is wrong! I helped them—I helped save those children!”

The inspector’s tone stayed calm, almost pitying. “You also helped hide them, Miss. Blue. We have digital records of communication between you and Judith Radsford, including financial transfers from her accounts, video surveillance of your meetings and other evidence. We also have evidence linking you to the disposal of Robin Blankson’s body, your DNA was found on his body.”

Martha’s knees gave way, and she stumbled back onto the bed. “No—no, I didn’t kill him! I only—”

Amanda caught her arm, eyes wide with disbelief. “Martha, tell them the truth!”

“I am!” Martha cried, shaking. “I swear I didn’t kill anyone! Judith—Judith did that! I just— I just wanted to survive and helped dispose the body into—”

But the officers were already pulling out handcuffs.

Amanda’s husband stepped forward, furious. “Is this necessary? She’s still recovering!”

The inspector gave a brief nod to one of her men. “We’ll treat her carefully. But the warrant stands. Her assets have been frozen pending investigation.”

Martha’s eyes widened in horror. “My—my assets? All my assets? Including my bank accounts?”

“Yes, ma’am. Every account and property under your name, including offshore transfers made in the last thirty days.”

It hit her all at once—the cruel irony of it. The 500 billion that had felt like salvation just hours ago had become evidence. The key that could have bought her freedom was now the chain that would drag her down.

Amanda clutched her hand desperately. “We’ll fix this. I’ll get a lawyer, I’ll—”

Martha shook her head slowly, tears spilling down her face. “It’s too late, Amanda.” Her voice broke into a whisper. “It’s all gone. Everything.”

The officers gently took her by the arms and led her toward the door. The cuffs clicked shut around her wrists—cold, final, humiliating.

As she was guided out, hospital staff and patients in the corridor turned to look. Some whispered, others just stared. To them, she was just another criminal caught in the aftermath of a scandal that had shaken the country.

Martha lowered her head, unable to meet anyone’s eyes. The hallway lights blurred through her tears, and the sound of her sister’s sobs followed her like a fading echo.

Outside, the rain had started again—soft at first, then steadier. It soaked her hospital gown and ran down her face as she was placed into the back of the police van.

She looked out through the small barred window, watching the hospital shrink in the distance.

Her life, her freedom, her fortune—all gone.

And in the hollow quiet of that ride, she understood something she had never wanted to face: betrayal had its price. And no matter how much it paid at first, the debt always came due.

Martha finally realized that she has fallen perfectly into Alaric’s trap, he didn’t save her because he wanted to but for her to pay for her sins. Though he rewarded her with ₿500,000,000,000 for her help, the money was never a token of forgiveness, it was merely payment, a transaction, a calculated way to tie her fate to the crime. With Judith dead and unable to face justice, someone had to bear the blame, and Martha now understands that person is her.

Every move she made, every message, every deal, had been anticipated by Alaric. He had given her wealth not out of mercy, but as evidence, a trail leading straight to her. By the time the police arrived to arrest her, she knew there was no escape. She had been useful to him once, but now she was expendable.

For the first time, she whispered Judith’s name—not in anger, but in mourning.

Then she lowered her head and wept.