The Chosen Heir

Chapter 5: He's been arrested

The door closed behind them with a soft click, sealing away the night air and the faint echoes of the tenants murmuring about what had just transpired. Inside, the single bulb in the sitting room hummed faintly, casting a pale glow over the worn sofa and small coffee table.

Tessa sank onto the edge of the couch, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. She was still trembling, not just from the cold of the night, but from the humiliation that still clung to her skin like dust. Asher stood for a moment by the door, staring at the latch as if it might burst open again at any moment. Then he turned to her, trying to soften his expression, though the strain in his jaw was still visible.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

She looked up at him, her eyes shining, not from tears, but from a deep, restless worry. “Ash...what are we going to do? Eighteen months is not small money. Even if we have until the end of the month, that’s....” She trailed off, unable to finish.

He crossed the room and sat beside her, taking her hand in his. “I’ll find a way.” She searched his face, her voice tinged with disbelief. “How? You just started that driving job. Your first salary isn’t even here yet. And even if it comes… it won’t be enough.”

“I know,” he said, his tone steady, almost too steady. “That’s why I’m going to talk to my new boss. Call in a favor. Maybe he can advance me something, or give me extra shifts. I’ll figure it out.” She shook her head. “Ash, you don’t even know him well. And after tonight, if he hears you’re behind on rent...”

“Let me worry about that,” he interrupted gently. “I’ve got things under control.” He assured even though he had nothing, absolutely nothing under control. The words were meant to comfort, but they landed hollow in her ears. She studied him in the dim light, his eyes determined, but shadowed by exhaustion. She knew him well enough to see the cracks beneath the surface.

Ash squeezed her hand, then stood, pacing toward the small window. “We’ll survive, we’ll push through this. I promise.This… this is just another mountain.” She wanted to believe him, but the image of Braxton’s hand on his collar kept replaying in her mind. The laughter of the neighbors still rang in her ears.

“Promise me,” she said softly, “that you won’t do anything… desperate.” He turned, offering her a faint smile. “I promise.” The promise lingered between them, fragile as glass.

Just as the silence settled in, Ash’s phone buzzed on the table. The sharp vibration made them both glance at it. He picked it up, glanced at the screen, and frowned. “It’s Ben,” he muttered. His younger brother rarely called this late. Ash swiped to answer, pressing the phone to his ear. “Ben? What’s up?”

There was no greeting, only a rush of panicked words on the other end. Ash’s brow furrowed, his free hand tightening into a fist. “What?… No, wait, slow down. Where are you?… At the station? Which one?… For what?”

Tessa sat up straighter, her pulse quickening at the tone in his voice. Ash’s face hardened as he listened. “Stealing? Are you serious?… No, no, don’t say anything else to them. I’ll be there.” He ended the call and set the phone down slowly, almost mechanically.

Tessa’s voice trembled. “What happened?”

“It’s Ben,” he said, his voice low but tense. “He’s been arrested. They say he stole something, electronics, from a shop in town. They want someone to come to the station immediately.” She stared at him, her worry deepening into dread. “Ash… we don’t have money for rent, and now.....”

“I know,” he cut in, his mind clearly racing. “But he’s my brother. I can’t leave him there.” She hesitated. “Do you… do you think he actually did it?” Ash’s jaw tightened. “Ben’s made mistakes before, but… I don’t know. I just know I have to go.”

He moved quickly, grabbing his jacket from the hook near the door. The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension.

“No, wait,” she stepped toward him, her voice urgent. “Don’t go there tonight. Please. Call Brooklyn. He’s got friends in the force. Let him handle it. You’re already carrying too much, don’t add this to it.”

Ash shook his head. “Brook's done enough for me. He helped me enough. I can’t keep disturbing him with my problems.” “This is not disturbing,” she insisted. “This is family. If you go there tonight and start arguing with the police, what if you make things worse? What if..." She sighed.

“I’ll be fine,” he cut in, his tone firmer now. “I can’t just sit here while my brother’s in a cell. I need to see him. Talk to him. Find out what really happened.” Her eyes glistened with worry. “Ash listen to me. Visiting hours might even be over. You’ll be wasting your time...”

“I have to try,” he said, pulling his arms through the sleeves of his jacket. “I can’t sleep knowing he’s in there.” Tessa rose to her feet, following him. “And if they want bail money? Or if it’s worse than that? Ash, we can’t afford..."

“I’ll deal with it when I get there,” he said, slipping into his jacket. “One thing at a time.” But she could hear the undercurrent in his voice, a mix of frustration, loyalty, and the heavy weight of too many problems pressing in at once.

When he reached for the door, she touched his arm. “Just… be careful. And don’t get into trouble.” He looked at her for a long moment, then nodded. “I’ll call you when I know more.”

The door closed behind him, leaving Tessa alone in the dim room. She sank back onto the couch, pressing her palms against her knees, trying to steady her breathing.

The sound of his footsteps faded into the night. Outside, the compound was quiet again, but she could almost feel the whispers that would come tomorrow. First the landlord’s scene, now a brother in trouble, it was the kind of story neighbors loved to pass around.

She stared at the closed door, willing herself not to cry.