Chapter Eleven
"Mummy ! I think the steak au poivre contained more pepper and that's why he got choked !
He doesn't like pepper that much !"Liza said after giving Clinton some water .
"I see ! Love bells are ringing ...!"Jean sarcastically said and Liza looked at her with raised eyebrows and furrowed them a little at Jean .
"My dear ,I'm sorry . I didn't know about that !"Elisa said with so much care .
"Aunt Elisa ,you shouldn't worry .On the contrary ,the steak au poivre is very delicious !
I love it !"Clinton added taking in another spoon .
"Don't worry Clinton ,I will make Liza tell me about all your likes and dislikes the next time we arrange a dinner like this one !
Why don't you try the brown sauce instead !
It's made by the addition of stock to a heated and browned mixture of butter and flour and I'm sure you would like this one better !"Elisa grabbed his plate and began to dish it out for him .
"Dessert is ready everyone! It's time to try my steak and kidney pie ! It's a savoury pie I made from beef ,kidney ,gravy and a whole lot ingredients that would make you have a watery mouth !
Come on ,try it y'all !"Corazon happily said .
"Oh my God Corazon ,it's really nice and I think I should come for cooking lessons on how to prepare steak and kidney pie from you ;the great chef !"Elisa said ,almost finishing her plate .
"Come on Elisa ,it's just a dessert and I want my future son in-law to know that the women in the house are not only beautiful and hardworking but also great chefs !"Corazon flattered herself .
"Well I doubt I fall in that category! My soft hands just aren't meant to chop veggies ; they're meant to party with my beauty!"Jean said plainly and they all laughed over it .
After chatting for a while ,Liza escorted Clinton to the door .
"Thank you for not telling everyone that we have broken up !
We gave them the happy news about our relationship and breaking their hearts so soon is not right !
I suggest we keep on the act for a while and tell them the truth later !"Clinton said .
"You and I know that if you had not interrupted me then I'd have told them the reality of the case !
Drive safely and send my regards to your parents !"Liza walked out on Clinton into the house .
"Gosh ! You just walked out on him like that ?
Don't you think you are being hard on him ?
I mean the guy loves you and is ready to do anything for you !"Jean said emotionally .
"Wow ! Emotional Jean ! A day ago ,he drove me away and I still couldn't remain adamant on someone who didn't even want me anymore!
It doesn't make sense to still cling on someone who doesn't appreciate you or understand you !
The only thing I'm happy about is that he returned to the firm !
We are both handling a case involving blackmail !
In each day ,people complain about losing their fortune due to blackmail ! It's becoming worse and it must be stopped as soon as possible !"Liza said , picking up a few files .
"What information have you gathered about Melody ?"Jean asked curiously while going through a few files too .
"A lot and I'm sure you won't believe it !
I sent three detectives to investigate them and I found out about something that I never expected !"Liza said ,passing her hands through her hair busily.
"Take a look !"Liza handed her over a few files .
"Unbelievable !
Melody is such a hypocrite and a full time criminal !
She has two children who are twins and is expecting a third one ?
Wow !
Wonders shall never end !
I knew she was bad but not that bad !
I can't believe this !
"Jean sat down still in shock .
"Don't be so shocked Jean ! Melody and Rowan are both corrupt !"Liza added with furrowed brows .
"She's not the only one who has suffered from desperation !
Liza ,you have been through a lot but you never thought of being the head of a blackmail cartel ,did you?
They are both criminals !
You should have told me earlier that you knew all this then maybe ,I wouldn't have been so shocked like I am now !"Jean added .
"I needed to conduct a private investigation and that's why after you tracked her destination ,I assigned people to fix CCTV cameras in the house !
All I needed to do was to sit back behind my computer and listen to their conversation .I know it's not right but I needed to do it !
I now have every evidence to conduct my client's trial when the date is fixed !
But...!"
Liza was interrupted by a telephone call which she answered quickly and hastily wanted to rush out of the house but Jean stopped her .
"What is it Liza ?"Jean asked confused .
"The police have arrested Melody since Gee confessed to her crimes !
According to her ,she was feeling guilty so she needed to speak up since the people she robbed of their fortune once helped her on the streets !
Melody and Rowan were arrested on the run since one of their informants tipped them on Gee's confession!
I wanted her arrest badly but I didn't know it'd be so soon !
I need to head to the police station now !"Liza said ,picking up her car keys and her trench coat .
While at home resting , Clinton gets a call and heads to the police station as well .
He bumped into Liza once he arrived at the station .
"As soon as I got the call ,I came here right away !"Clinton said panting from all the rush he put himself through .
"Since you are here ,let's go and see Melody and her lover boy Rowan !"Liza took the lead .
Once they got to the cells ,Melody was already holding the bars angrily and in tears .
"Wow ! See who we have here ,huh?! The two lover birds ,hehe !
I guess you are both here to mock me in the face , ain't it ?!
If that's the case then go on ,mock me because I've crossed all the barriers of pain now !
And you Liza , shouldn't you be more happy that I'm here ?!
This was all you wanted ; to see me behind bars and you won !
Congrats !
Unfortunately,I can't throw a party for you since I didn't earn your money and I'm locked behind these stupid metallic bars!
Trust me ,even if I'm locked in here ,I can still destroy you both !
I still can ...!"Melody angrily said almost wanting to break down the bars .
"Blah ! Blah !! Blah !!!
You talk too much and you take less action ,you know ?
Just for once ,shut up and you'd come to know that with where you are now , there's certainly no going back !
You confined behind these cells and it will teach you the greater lessons of life !
I hope you will have a fun time in here because this is you and the cells are your level !"Liza mocked her .
"What ! Stop looking at me and say something!"Melody shouted at Clinton who was looking at her with much disgust and much fury .
"Say what ! That you're such a fraud and a criminal?!
How could you Melody ?! How could you ?!
You took advantage of me and I fell for your tricks !
I curse the day I decided to help a shameless little creep like you !
You're so disgusting and heartless ! "Clinton screamed it to her face .
"You won't understand because you have no children !
I did it for my children and if you were in my position ,you would have done same !
You don't know how it feels to be desperate in life because you only have everything so easy on your sides !
I had no choice and I'm sorry but for the sake of my children ,please let me go !
They need me ; they're too young to handle the pressure !
My baby Ellie has asthma and she could get complicated sometimes and Jessie ; she's got a chronic heart disease that we're still dealing with !
If I stay here ,they can both die because only I can take care of them !
Moreover , I'm pregnant and you know it's not safe to give birth in here !
I don't want history to repeat itself again and give birth to my child prematurely this time ,please !
I need to go home !"Melody pleaded in deep remorseful tears .
After speaking to Melody and Rowan ,Liza felt helpless but Clinton didn't.
Liza could understand them perfectly well but a case is always a case ; she'd say .
After spending some time in the cells ,the trial date was finally set .
It wasn't an easy trial .
All victims of their blackmail testified against both Rowan and Melody and their entire cartel .
Melody and Rowan were both sentenced to twenty five years in jail each !
Their members were sentenced to twenty years in jail each too .
Her children were given to social service personnel so that they don't lack for anything.
The trial was quite emotional but the judge's verdict couldn't be changed .
They knew what they were getting themselves into .
After nine months ,Melody gave birth to a bouncing baby boy !
Within these nine months ,Liza kept visiting her in prison to see how she was fairing along with her unborn baby !
They had became the best of friends !Clinton had travelled to Pangasinan .It's been nine months since he left and Liza was missing him everyday .
She couldn't even tell him how much she loved him before he left and they couldn't fix their relationship as well .
"Here Melody ! I brought you some food !
For you and for the baby too !"Liza said handing it over to her .
"Thanks so much Liza ! It's been you all this while ; through all these months !
Thanks!"Melody said facepalming her .
"It's not a problem ! If you need anything then just call me and I'd be here !
I promise I'd support you and that's exactly what I'd do !"Liza said firmly .
"Heard of Clinton?"Melody chipped into their conversation and Liza shook her head sadly .
"Don't worry ! Clinton loves you and he will be back for you Liza . I'm sure of that !"Melody said assuredly .
"Can I hold him ?"Liza asked taking away the baby from Melody .He was so cute like Hardy's baby .The only difference is that ,his baby is a girl . Liza thought giving him a kiss on his forehead .
"Liza ,he is yours now !"Melody said in a small tone .
"What?!"Liza asked .
"Yeah ! I called you here so that I can give my baby to you !
He can't survive in here ...!"Melody added sorrowfully.