34: C34 Chapter 34

C34 Chapter 34

“Vera...thanks God. You’re finally back.” Vera’s aunt moved from her seat, heading to Vera who swiftly stepped aside when that woman was going to embrace her. “Vera, I am your aunt.”

“You are not. If I am a niece for you, why do you do this? Why do you ....?”

“Vera, we love you. We don’t want to lose you.” She did not let Vera finish her sentence. “We thought that you were kidnapped. That’s why we are here, reporting to the police about your missing. Please come back.”

“In order that you can trade me to that man,”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend to be a good human while you are a cursed evil,” Vera said coldly.

“Because your niece has come back safely, you should revoke your report, Ms.,” the police officer talked to Vera’s aunt.

“Yes, Sir.”

“I would like to make a report, Sir.” Vera assertively spoke to the police officer. That tall thin middle-aged man wrinkled his forehead. “I report my aunt and that guy,” Vera glared at that man, “for sexual harassment case. She traded me to that man.” Vera’s forefinger pointed to her aunt then to Tony who looked pale this time. We were all aghast. Vera’s audacity fascinated me. Tony and Vera’s aunt got anxious.

“Alright, Miss. Could you please take a seat?” Tony was about to protest but the police officer signaled him to calm down. “Now, please tell me the details.”

“It has happened for one year.” We all moved our eyes to her in shock. “My aunt introduced me to that bastard.” That guy almost bowled his eyes out. “She said that that man was her boyfriend. And they would get married soon. I was not suspicious at the beginning until my aunt sent me to his house. And that man did something to me. He harassed me. He rapped me.” Vera could not hold her tears. I soothed her. The police officer handed her a tissue.

“You don’t have any evidence.” It was Tony who interrupted.

“I have a witness.” I knew who Vera meant as a witness. It was me. I was the only one in that house. But, I did not see what Tony had done to her.

“Hahaha....are you threatening me? She didn’t witness that I did any harm to you.”

“Vera, please...don’t be hard on yourself!” Vera’s aunt came closer to her. That woman was supposed to touch her. Vera dismissed her hand.

“I have contacted my lawyer. You still remember her, don’t you, aunt? She was the one who was in charge of my parent’s divorce.” That woman’s face strained. It indicated that she did not expect Vera still communicated with their lawyer. “She will be here in less than ten minutes.”

“Do you think I will be scared of your threatening words? Do you think I am a child?” Vera’s aunt got mad.

“Alright, because you have reported this case, we will do some investigation soon.”

“That’s my lawyer.” A sweet elegant woman with wavy short hair at her late forty just entered the room. Her dark eyes affirmed her intelligence. Her full lips and pointed nose asserted her stern feature. She wore dark blazer coating her red blouse and long pants.

“Good evening, Sir.” That woman stretched her hand to the police officer. They shook hand. “My name is Rania. I am Vera’s lawyer.”

“Have a seat, Ms.”

“Vera, I think we can talk about this.” Vera’s aunt was persuading. “Look! You don’t have to go this far. We can still discuss about it.” Vera did not listen to her aunt, ask her lawyer to talk to the police officer instead.

The lawyer explained the details about her client’s case. She showed some evidence to the police officer including the pictures of marks, bruises and scratches on Vera’s arms, shoulders, belly and legs. Those pictures proved that Vera had experienced sexual abuse. There was also a picture in which Vera’s aunt took her to Tony. She did not do anything even if Vera wriggled from Tony’s hug and pleaded for her mercy to save her. I had no idea who had a nerve to take those pictures. It might be one of Tony’s assistants. That picture could be strong evidence that Vera’s aunt got involved in that case.

“You also have to provide the report of post mortem result from the health service. We will issue a covering letter for your client to take a post mortem test in the hospital.” The police officer said. “For you both, you will stay here tonight.”

“Have you planned all of this? Do you intend to put me in jail, Vera? I am you aunt. I have taken care of you since you were very young. How could you do this to me?” Vera’s aunt protested. “Tony, please do something.” Tony could do nothing but accepting the fact that the case would drag him to the court.

After bidding a goodbye with Vera who joined her lawyer, Reno and I left the police station together by motorcycle. We had to return the motorcycle to Mrs. Ali soon. It was almost midnight. We did not talk to each other along the way. We were busy with our thought. Vera’s case still lingered on my mind. She was smart. It was how she resolved her problem as well as handled her trauma that mesmerized me. The way she managed everything including contacting her mother’s previous lawyer was just an awesome thing a teenage girl could do in a really hard situation. It was no wonder that Reno might like her. She deserved to be loved. She was kind, intelligent, and humble. Thinking about that discouraged me. I was nothing compared to her.

“Here we are, Ilana! We have arrived at Mrs. Ali’s house.” Reno reminded me. I immediately dropped off. I was just quiet even after Reno and I headed out of the housing where Mrs. Ali lived. “Are you okay? You were just silent. I know Vera’s case has consumed our time and thought.” Reno began a conversation.

“Yes. How could she be that steadfast, tough, and brainy?”

“You’re her inspiration.” I looked at Reno in disbelief.

“How is that possible? I am not smart and tough.”

“You are tougher than what you can think of you are. You are the one whom Vera and I admire.” I did not want to believe what came out of his mouth. But before I could respond to it, two mighty men impended. They politely instructed Reno to follow them. They were his father’s men. Reno had no choice but coming with them. I could not guess what Reno would meet at this time. He once told me that his father was strict. Could I still see him again? This question guided me to another question. Did I start falling for him?0

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