Chapter 140 A Visit Behind Bars
Chapter 140 A Visit Behind Bars
After a night filled with revelations about the Elino assets, Alice felt there was one last thing she had to settle before truly closing the book on her past. She wanted to see Vinnie. Not to forgive her, but to witness firsthand the end of the woman who had tormented her for years.
That morning, the sky was slightly overcast. Evan was strongly opposed to the plan. He stood beside his black SUV, his expression dark with displeasure.
“Alice, you’re four months pregnant. That place is filthy, loud, and full of dangerous people. Why are you so determined to see that woman?” Evan asked as he opened the door for his wife.
“I just need to see her once, Evan. I want her to know that Edwin’s secret has been exposed. I want her to stop dreaming about blackmailing us ever again,” Alice replied calmly, her tone steady but firm.
Evan let out a long sigh. “Fine. But I’m going in with you. I’m not letting you be in the same room with her without protection.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t want to be alone in there either,” Alice said with a faint smile, trying to ease her husband’s worry.
The drive to the women’s correctional facility took an hour. The atmosphere changed the moment they arrived. Tall concrete walls topped with barbed wire loomed before them. Evan held Alice’s hand tightly as they passed through the strict security checks.
“Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel, please proceed to the private visitation room. We’ve arranged additional security,” one of the officers said.
They sat at a long wooden table separated by thick glass, though this private room had a small opening for conversation. Not long after, the iron door across from them opened.
Vinnie entered wearing a dull orange prison uniform. Her face, once always adorned with expensive makeup, now looked sallow, her wrinkles clearly visible. Her hair, once perfectly styled, was tied back carelessly. The moment her eyes landed on Alice, her gaze sharpened with pure hatred.
Vinnie sat down on the metal chair across from them. She did not speak right away, only stared at Alice’s rounded belly with a sneer.
“So, the orphan comes to show off her success?” Vinnie’s voice was hoarse and harsh.
“I came to visit you, Aunt Vinnie. And to tell you something important,” Alice said, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart.
“Visit me? Don’t play holy, Alice! I know you came here to laugh at me rotting in this hole while you live in luxury on Nathaniel money!” Vinnie shouted.
Evan leaned forward, his eyes cold as ice. “Watch your mouth, Vinnie. You’re speaking to the rightful owner of Elino Group.”
Vinnie burst into bitter laughter. “Rightful owner? Don’t joke! Elino belongs to Edwin! You stole it through a court you bribed, Evan!”
“That’s exactly the point I’m here to make,” Alice cut in calmly. She took out copies of documents from her bag and pressed them against the glass. “We found the recording and the original letter from my father. Uncle Edwin sold all his inheritance rights ten years ago to pay off his gambling debts. He owned nothing even before my father died.”
Vinnie’s face went rigid. Her eyes widened as she scanned the lines of the document. “That’s a lie! Edwin never told me anything about this!”
“Because he’s a coward,” Evan replied coldly. “He lied to you, lied to Selena, and tried to lie to the world. He used you to torture Alice so he could reclaim assets that were never his anymore.”
“NO! YOU’RE LYING!” Vinnie suddenly stood up and slammed her fist against the glass. BANG!
Alice flinched, instinctively shielding her belly. Evan sprang up at once, wrapping an arm around Alice’s shoulders and pulling her back.
“Sit down, Vinnie! Or this visit ends right now!” Evan barked as guards rushed in to restrain her.
“YOU WHORE, ALICE! YOU AND YOUR FATHER ARE THE SAME! BOTH OF YOU ARE SLY!” Vinnie screamed hysterically, her face flushed red. “I should have let you starve to death! I should have let Edwin get rid of you sooner!”
“Auntie, wake up. All of this happened because of your own greed,” Alice said sadly.
“GREED?! WE ONLY TOOK WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OURS!” Vinnie thrashed against the guards’ grip. She spat against the glass in front of Alice. “You think you’ve won? You think that baby in your belly will bring you happiness? That child will grow up with Smith blood, the blood you despise! That baby will be your curse!”
Evan finally lost his patience. He signaled the guards to take Vinnie away. “Enough. We’re leaving, Alice.”
“YOU’LL REGRET THIS, ALICE! YOU’LL ROT JUST LIKE ME!” Vinnie screamed as two male guards dragged her toward the iron door. “ENJOY THE MONEY WHILE YOU CAN, BECAUSE SOON YOU’LL LOSE EVERYTHING!”
Her screams still echoed down the corridor when the iron door slammed shut with a heavy clang. Alice stood frozen, her body trembling slightly. Evan immediately turned her to face him.
“Don’t listen to her. She’s insane,” Evan whispered, brushing Alice’s cold cheek. “Come on. Let’s get out of this cursed place.”
They walked out to the parking lot. The fresh air outside felt like a blessing after the suffocating visitation room. Evan helped Alice into the car and handed her a bottle of mineral water.
“Are you okay?” Evan asked anxiously.
Alice nodded slowly and took a small sip. “I just didn’t expect her to be that furious. I thought knowing the truth might make her feel even a little remorse.”
“People like Vinnie have no room for remorse, Alice. There’s only hatred in her mind,” Evan replied as he started the engine. “At least now you’ve seen it for yourself. She has no power left to touch you.”
Alice gazed out the window at the prison gates fading into the distance. She felt a gentle kick from inside her belly.
“You’re right, Evan. It’s all over,” she whispered.
The car moved through the increasingly busy streets. Evan glanced at Alice several times, making sure she was truly calm. After a few moments of silence, he reached for her hand and placed it over the gear shift.
“After this, we never talk about them again. Promise?” Evan asked.
“Promise,” Alice replied.
But as the car stopped at a red light, a message appeared on Evan’s phone, mirrored on the dashboard screen. It was a notification from the security team at the hospital where Edwin was being held temporarily before transfer to the central prison.
Evan read the message, then suddenly slammed on the brakes, causing the car to jolt.
“Evan? What is it? Why did you stop so suddenly?” Alice asked in confusion.
Evan stared at the dashboard, his eyes wide. The message read:
“Sir, Edwin Smith has just been found unconscious in his cell. There was a letter in his hand addressed to Mrs. Alice, and he keeps muttering about a secret regarding Alice’s ‘biological mother.’”