Awakened Behind Bars: The Golden Finger

Chapter 8: Call the police

All eyes fell on Desmond. People gasped, staring at him with pure disgust. “Oh my gosh… is that him?” someone whispered.

Another woman shook her head slowly. “Is that the groom or security staff?”

A third voice scoffed quietly to her friend. “If he were my son, I would deny knowing him.”

Desmond clenched his fists, his chest tightening as murmurs spread through the hall.“He looks disgusting, even in that suit,” someone said openly. “Gosh.”

Desmond looked around at the faces judging him, his voice shaking. “I didn’t do anything,” he said. “She’s lying.” He pointed toward Cherry. “Yes, I wanted to talk to her, but it was about my sister. She did all of this to herself. She cut herself. She hit her head on the wall. And then she ran out and—”

PAH!

A sharp slap landed across Desmond’s face before he could finish. His head snapped to the side. Mrs. Vixen stood before him, her eyes blazing with rage.

“Have you gone mad, young man?” she shouted. “I knew you were unstable, but this…this is beyond insanity.”

Desmond held his burning cheek which had already turned red. Mrs. Vixen grabbed him by the collar, yanking him closer. “Why would you do this to my child, hm?”

She spat. “You ungrateful thing. You fool. You are getting married to Cherry Vixen. Men line up for her. Thousands of men send her proposals every single time. Men sell their land, properties, and even break up with their girlfriends just to be with Cherry. And you…” her voice shook with rage, “... you're privileged to stand beside her to walk down the aisle and do such a thing?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Desmond said hoarsely. “I didn’t do anything.”

Two men moved at once. One snatched his phone from his hand and slammed it to the ground, grinding it under his shoe until it was nothing but shattered plastic.

Desmond’s head throbbed. Hunger gnawed at his stomach. His back burned with every breath. And everyone was on his neck.

“I didn’t do it,” he repeated weakly.

Mr. Vixen finally spoke, his jaw clenched. “Shambu. Call the police. Let’s get this bastard arrested.”

Desmond’s eyes widened in horror. “Please.” He dropped to his knees. “Please don’t get me arrested. Please. My sister is still out there. If I get arrested, no one will be able to take care of her. I didn’t do anything. Ask your daughter, she’ll tell you the truth. Cherry, tell them the truth.”

He looked at Cherry.

Cherry lay there, her lashes fluttering as if she were about to pass out. “Mom,” she whispered weakly. “He… he tried to touch me.”

“It’s okay, dear,” Mrs. Vixen said at once, kneeling to pull Cherry into her arms.

Desmond stared at her, stunned, trying to understand how someone could be so sly. She was as devious as the devil himself.

“Please,” he begged again. “Please, sir.”

Just then, the huge door swung open.

All eyes turned toward it. Desmond’s heart jumped, wondering how the police could have arrived so fast. But instead, a woman he didn’t recognize walked in.

And beside her…

Desmond's breath hitched. “Vivian?” he breathed, his voice filled with shock.

The moment she saw him, she ran to him.

“Big brother!” She threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. Her hand brushed his wounded back, causing him to wince. She pulled away at once with soft eyes. “I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”

“It’s fine,” he said, wrapping his arms around her again as tears streamed down his face. “It’s fine. Oh my gosh… I’m so glad I can hold you. I thought I would never see you again.”

She cried hysterically. “I was so scared. Aunt Lily said she called you. But when you didn’t come, I thought… I thought maybe you abandoned me.”

“I would never abandon you,” Desmond said through tears. “I just couldn’t come. But I’m glad you’re here now.”

She clung to him. “Mom…”

“It’s okay,” Desmond whispered. “It’s okay…It'll be fine.”

The sound of someone clapping slowly, interrupted their moment. “Wow,” Mr. Vixen said coolly. “What a pleasant family reunion.”

Desmond instinctively pulled Vivian closer to him. Mr. Vixen looked down at her. “So this is the little Vivian you’ve been talking about.” His lips curved slightly. “Well, it doesn’t matter now, does it? You’re going to prison anyway.”

“What?” Vivian’s eyes widened. “Prison?”

“What?” Nurse Liliana gasped softly.

Desmond turned to her. Only then did he notice her fully. “You… you’re the nurse,” he said. “Thank you so much.”

She nodded nervously. “It’s okay.”

Mr. Vixen’s gaze snapped to her. “And who are you?”

The nurse stiffened.

“If you don’t want to get on my bad side,” Mr. Vixen continued coldly, “leave this place. Get out.”

Liliana trembled. She looked at Desmond. “Please… take care.” She kissed Vivian’s head gently and hurried out.

Mr. Vixen clapped his hands once. “Now. Where were we? Yes, calling the police.”

He looked at Shambu. “Call them.”

“I already did,” Shambu replied.

“Please,” Desmond said, pushing himself to his feet and walking toward Mr. Vixen. He clasped his hands together. “I swear, I didn’t do anything.”

“Then explain,” Mr. Vixen said sharply. “Explain the bruises on my daughter’s arm.”

Murmurs travelled through the room as eyes turned to Cherry. “How does she have so many bruises?”

“What about that cut on her hand?”

“And her head…what happened to her head?”

“Have you lost your senses?”

One of the guests who had moved to examine Cherry spoke up hesitantly. “These bruises look like finger marks,” she said. “I think she was assaulted, sir.”

Mr. Vixen’s expression hardened. “You hear that?” he said coldly. “She was assaulted.”

Just then, the distant wail of sirens filled the hall. Desmond’s heart pounded in his ribs. Panic seized him as uniformed officers stepped into the hall. He turned quickly to Vivian, pulling her closer to him.

“Please,” he said desperately, his voice breaking. “For my sister’s sake…She’s just a child. She wouldn’t be able to take care of herself alone. Please. Please just help me.”

Mr. Vixen stepped forward at once. “Officers,” he said sharply, “take a look at my daughter. Everyone here is a witness to what this disgusting man did. He didn’t just try to assault her, he tried to kill her.”

The officers barely even glanced at Cherry to confirm. They didn't care. If Mr. Vixen said Desmond did it then he did.

“Aren’t you the one all over the news?” one of them said with a frown. “You dare pull a stunt like this again?”

“Officer, please,” Desmond said, shaking his head. “Believe me. I didn’t do anything. She’s lying. She hurt herself. She did all this just to frame me. She doesn’t even want to get married to me, that’s why she did this.”

The officers exchanged a look.

“Look,” the lead officer said tiredly, turning to his men, “arrest him.”

Vivian rushed forward, tears streaming down her face. “Please, please don’t arrest my brother!” she cried. “He would never do such a thing. My brother is very kind…he’s very good. He would never hurt anyone. Please, just believe him.”

“Hey, little girl, get back,” one officer snapped, pushing her aside and she fell to the ground.

Desmond's eyes flashed with rage. He moved forward, pushing the officer away. “Why would you push my sister like that?” he shouted. “What wrong has she done?”

“Oh, I see,” the head officer said coldly. “So this is your true nature, huh? Violence.” He shook his head. “You’ll have plenty of time to show that in prison.”

Rough hands grabbed Desmond snapping handcuffs snapped around his wrists before dragging him away.

“Big brother!” Vivian screamed, struggling as someone held her back. She reached for him, crying uncontrollably.

Desmond turned his head as far as he could, tears rolling freely down his cheeks. He wanted to fight. He wanted to scream. But his body was weak, his hands cuffed.

All he could do was watch as his sister’s cries echoed behind him, growing fainter with every step they pulled him away.