Chapter Eight

Ellie came back few minutes later with a very big file in her hand and laid it on the table. She then shifted the table shifting its position from their middle to their left. She leaned on the edge looking at the two of them. Nobody knew what she was thinking but she fixed her gaze more on Alice who was saying.

"I don't know what happened. I mean, I arranged it in such a way that if it should go wrong or was discovered, she would be the one behind bars and not me and that was going to be after she handed Silvia's company and Stan's company over to me on a platter of gold. I can't think of what went wrong" Alice said

"You seat before me telling me how you ruined my life because of your selfishness. You abandoned me in the hospital, you didn't want me and never allowed those who did to have me. I was condemned to life in the orphanage because of you. Do you know how many times I stood there listening to the conversation of those who wanted to adopt me and at the end they adopted another child. Do you know how many times I went to bed hungry or how long I had to wait to get a new dress? You condemned me to a life of suffering ruining my every chance of happiness and to think I was your biological daughter" Ellie said angrily 

 Everyone could swear they had never seen her so angry like this. Silvia pegged her wicked not knowing that her lovely mother was the devil and Ellie was a victim too. 

"I didn't make you suffer, she did!" Alice said pointing as Silvia. Ellie never believed she could do what she did. She shot off from the table and slapped her mother on the face and grabbed her by the neck.

"Don't you dare blame somebody else for your sins?" Ellie said and tossed her back harshly making Alice hit the chair forcefully with her back.

"Wait, if you knew all this why did you come back to help her?" Silvia asked

"At first she convinced me that you were responsible for all my misery and that destroying you would give me back my rightful place. Then I was angry and hurt and having someone to blame made it a lot easier, so I agreed. She said she had a plan that the plan was hatched when you were small and vulnerable but she had to wait but now the time had come and that I would gain more than I ever imagined. She must have thought me stupid. I got in and found out that instead of being the villain you were the victim and you were too blind and gullible to see that the person you called mother was the witch stabbing you in her embrace"

"But still you joined her in plotting against me" Silvia replied.

"No, you see I was around before you ended up in jail but I was in the background. You forgot to mention the phone call that prevented you from drinking that wine that day, it was me. I also sent people who deflated Stan's tires so he wouldn't make it to the party. I figured that if he survived somehow he would make sure you did and I wasn't wrong. I figured a way to punish her and save you so I met up with Stan. He didn't agree and when I showed him my ID card and that it was the only way of saving you he agreed." Ellie replied

"Your ID card?" Silvia asked

"Sorry I forgot to introduce myself, Barrister Ellie Johnson. I also work as a private investigator sometimes, so it wasn't hard for me to locate my own mother and find out she didn't want me"

"You..!" Alice wanted to curse but was interrupted. 

"When you were busy planning a way to ruin her life, I was planning a way to save it and ruin yours at the same time. Silvia didn't need to suffer but you do. You are so greedy that you wanted two companies. I was smart to let you do your dirty works yourself and get the evidence" Ellie said in a cool voice.

It was Alice turn to be shocked, she never saw this coming. Now she knew why she ended up in police custody. There was only one person that knew the details. If she had known Ellie would turn against her, she wouldn't have brought her into this. No, she would have strangled her with her birth cord. Not that she wasn't planning to kill her after all, just as she did those who murdered the two assistants. She never left witnesses and blood was inconsequential. Like she always said life is a game for the fastest and most ruthless but it seemed someone was faster and more ruthless than she was.

"Don't look so sad mom, I also knew you were also going to kill everyone including me. It was a matter of time and I didn't want to give you time. You would have killed her father if I hadn't intervene, you knew he was allergic and was catching on to you"

"You may have saved their lives but not their empires and when I get out, you'll wish you weren't born" Alice said and Ellie laughed so hard that tears began to roll down her cheeks. When she calmed, she spoke.

"I managed to save their lives and their empire and also destroyed your empire. I'm looking forward to destroying your life" Ellie said sweetly.

Alice was confused so Ellie went on to explain. She told her how she made a duplicate of every file she had stolen from the companies. Ellie had stolen the original from Alice and left the photocopy for her. Her engagement to Stan was a farce and she never liked the man, he wasn't her type and the only thing that kept them close was freeing Silvia who he loved like life itself from the claws of her wicked stepmother. The loan Alice had taken in the company's name had been paid back with its interest directly from Alice account. The remaining money in her account and every other asset she had under her name has been transferred to Silvia. Ellie even showed her the paper work for each of the transfers. Alice was surprised to see her own signature on them. This girl was really sly as a fox and deadly as a viper, how did she get her to sign all these without her knowing. Ellie smiled and continued to tell Alice how she sold some of her clothes and jewelries and turned the remaining over to charity, she only left a plain brown dress for her burial. This sent a horrified chill through Alice's body. 

"what!? " Alice exclaimed.

"Oh before I forget. I have laid out all the charges against you with their specifications and details" Ellie said producing numerous papers fastened together and laid it in front of her. Alice could only stare at her speechless. She knew she had stabbed and betrayed so many people but not with numerous knives just using and disposing them except Silvia but she doesn't count. She felt as if Ellie was squishing her heart and draining her life. Ellie continued.

"From my experience as a lawyer, you should be expecting a death sentence and there would be no alternative of a fine plus since you are too broke to get a lawyer, you'll get a state lawyer who can only plead for life sentence which would be in the worst and most secured jail in the country" Ellie said with a cheerful countenance. 

Alice bowed her head. For once she has seen a more powerful foe, her own blood. She nodded in understanding, accepting her faith. She never pictured the end of her road to be like this, she had never pictured it at all but now, she was face to face with it. She had thought that this was a minor setback but now it looked like the future in HD. 

"Oh? Why the sad face? I could be your lawyer if you want and I'll make sure you die as you are supposed to. You know I used to wonder what having a mother would be like, what my mother was like. I made it my life goal to find you and now that I did, I regret even thinking not to talk about actually putting effort. Truly I wish I had never been born rather than having you for a mother. I can't change the past but I can make sure you are never in my future which starts from today. Like you said life is a game for the fastest and the most ruthless. It's usually fun when it is going your way. You called them stupid but at the end it turned out to be you" Ellie said  

"Wow! If I am this speechless ..." Silvia said but didn't complete it. Ellie turned to Silvia.

"I'm sorry that the woman who gave birth to me made your life a living hell and I hate having to lie about my relationship with Stan. You have a good heart like your mother even though we never met her and I'm sorry about your dad. You have a good man in Stan and also good friends who have your back. You are really lucky" Ellie said soberly

"I am also sorry for treating you badly and blaming you for everything. Your life was rough and I can't make up for that but I want you to know you have a family and friends here and that you'll always have a place here" Silvia said

"thanks but despite all, I've managed to build a life for myself through excessive hard work, scholarships and all. I'm happy and content and would be heading back soon but then it feels good to know I have the family I've always wanted" Ellie replied with a smile

"Please spare me this trash! Take your family reunion elsewhere, I have more urgent things to worry about" Alice shouted. She couldn't believe her life was over before it started. What was she going to do?

"While you are worrying about those, you can also worry about this" Ellie said duping another paper into her laps.

"What is this?" Alice was too scared to ask but then she had to know. With the rate Ellie was going she could even produce a paper that stipulated she should be diced and bagged, the girl could do almost anything.

"Your divorce papers, signed, sealed and delivered. I did a really good job" Ellie said

"I'm divorced!?" the surprise was unmistakable and everybody laughed at the look on her face.

"Mmm, and with no settlement since it was proved you tried to kill the man and I also recorded all your confessions in case you try to deny them. I'll be taking these and will be seeing you in court" Ellie said packing all the papers she came with and heading for the door. She opened it and turned back.

"This might be the last time we'll have a conversation so I wanted you to know I met grandma and she wanted me to tell you that she is highly disappointed and wishes the law would rid the world of people like you or she would do so herself. I'll be careful if I were you" Ellie said and was about to close the door behind her when she heard Alice ask

"Why did you not just kill me?"

"I figured watching you suffer would be more enjoyable after all" Ellie said and slammed the door. It seemed she also slammed the reality of Alice's situation into her head. Alice eyes watered.

"You stabbed my mom at her back, stabbed me and thought you'll go free, that's the funny thing about this life, the tables turn unexpectedly. Since you are not my mother, I owe you nothing but justice and that I would gladly give you. Thanks for signing your own death warrant, see you in court" Silvia said as the policemen dragged her away.

"You can't do this to me! No..." Alice shouted.

"Things took an unexpected turn, I hope you are okay" the Detective said and left the room

"Thanks for everything and I still remember my promise" Silvia said to Sandra

"No problem, but it would be unfair to take all the credit, he's the real hero. Catch you later" Sandra said and left. It was remaining she and Stan, for a moment nobody spoke but then she broke the silence.

"I'm sorry for everything, for dragging you into this and more especially for doubting you"

"You don't have to apologize it's not your fault we were both victims and you even suffered the most on account of it. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner, she had me under supervision and I didn't want to mess up my one chance of saving you. I love you so much and didn't want you to suffer even if you were actually the one that did them"

"Thanks, I must admit the thought of sharing you would have twisted my senses but loosing you knocked them out"

"I hope they are back or I could help you search for them because you'll need them when we say, I do"

"What do you mean?"

"Marry me Sylvie. I know we were engaged before all this and you probably broke it off in your rage so I'm asking you again. Marry me. I don't want to wait anymore."

Silver rose to her feet and he rose with her. She stepped closer looping her hand around his neck. He drew her closer.

"Your proposal wasn't a question?" Silvia said

"Didn't want to take chances" he said and did what he had wanted to do for a long time and she was a willing participant.

The Detective opened the door, he wanted their signature on something, seeing they were busy he closed the door and left them to their business.