Pardoned murder.

(Check exiled from the heavens.)

After Bryan had long left.

Xie Yu had to hide in the bathroom as she wept over the situation.

'Murder! How now?' Xie Yu's sobbed. Her voice was clear from the front of the door. No one knew Xie Yu had strong feelings towards Bryan till now.

"Aunt Xie Yu?" "Maeia tried calling out to her aunt.

The way the morning was going on, just made Mae's heart heavy as she felt the burden and pain of losing her lover. She thought if what may happen if the judges sentence him behind bars for life?

These thoughts tormented her. Now Mae leaned on the closed door as she wanted to make her aunt Xie Yu relax. She had to stop her from crying over the situation.

" Make?" Mrs Yumaa walked up to her and gave the beautiful youth a consoling hug.

"There is nothing to fear about." Mrs Yumaa spoke calmly. She was the person who had confided Bryan to accept arrest and charges. Her husband too was to the least shocked by the situation.

'Just murder of one person! Again Prince Ge!' Mr Yumaa had mocked the inspector earlier. To Mr Yumaa, the Gindi were indomitable, powerful and ethical. Bryan being arrested was nothing more than just a life experience all boys should go through.

Mrs Yumaa hugged the girl loosely as she let her cry. She had to leave for the station too, to give back her hope that Bryan will be just fine.

"Let you aunty rest."Mrs Yumaa repeated as Mae agreed to drop the feelings and instead try focusing on something optimistic.

" Bryan won't have done that if not for William's threat." Mae talked to Mrs Yumaa back in the living room.

Mrs Yumaa knew this, she knew inspector Joe Ken will do his best to get an understanding lawyer, again one who will be able to save Bryan from this completely.

"There isn't a thing to worry about." Mrs Yumaa finally said as she pulled on a weird smile.

She knew what death meant, especially when you feel it after can induce it. Self, a woman who had no option but to kill during life situations knew of the pleasure and horrors of the act.

It was devilish and scary, but once your hands are covered in blood, you will require cleansing at least the evil spirits led you into more of these terrible acts.

"I'm going to leave for the station. I will be back soon." Mrs Yumaa announced as Abi walked into the room dulling.

"Can I come along?" Mae begged. She too wanted to check on Bryan. She already missed him so bad. How was she going to sleep with her lover locked in a cell?

"Is best you remain to keep aunt Xie Yu company. I will be back as soon as I can." Mrs Yumaa promised as she excused herself. She had to hurry to be sure inspector Joe Ken was on their side.

The moment she left, Xie Yu walked out of the bathroom. Her face was pink in emotion as she sat next to Maeia.

"Bryan is a tough guy. He will make it." Aunt Xie Yu spoke as if she was meaning that Bryan would fail or rot in jail. Her talks just added sorrow to Mae. Abi listened from near the couches.

'I pray to be fine.' Abi looked just usual. On the outside, though her face was weak with gloom, her voice and judgements were just but like how she was, normal. No one would understand her better than her mother or Bryan who was at a compliment able level of knowing Abi.

"Abi, can you please help me with water?" Aunt Xie Yu looked back from her point as she wrapped her arm around Mae's shoulder and sent Abi on an errand.

"Not a problem." Abi was obedient enough to fetch a glass of water for aunt Xie Yu to watch.

She never drank the water but placed it on the table like an artefact of admiration as she played her fingers around the glass, not lifting it to her mouth.

"Is there anything edible?" She inquired.

"Yeah. I can prepare anything aunty." Abi replied with a smile as Xie Yu seemed to think of what she needed. She was not hungry at the moment, but she had to get Abi out of her sight.

"I would prefer a cup of chocolate." She finally said as Abi turned down her order.

"Aunty Xie Yu? There is no more chocolate left." Abi did say as she volunteered to prepare tea instead.

"That won't be bad. Is ok." Xie Yu agreed as Abi left for the kitchen.

"I'm going to help her. We need to prepare dinner early Aunty Xie." Mae who fidgeted wanted to help Abi out with the dishes or floor.

"Let her prepare. It's not much of work." Aunt Xie Yu wanted to poison her niece's brain with vileness but it turned out useless.

"You will both do it when Mrs Yumaa will be back." Xie Yua had to accept in the end.

"Maeia," Xie Yu made it right. "You should help Abi out when Bryan is back."

Mae knew her aunt was reasoning and so she didn't pull on any more resistance.

"Mae, I need to speak with you alone outside." Xie Yu requested.

"Ok. Aunty." Mae won't refuse or grumble. Not against Xie Yu who had turned into her Godmother.

Soon the two stood outside in the arbour Old Miss Gindi used to take care of.

The gardener still did a good job over the weekends by toiling and assing samples of flowers. The place still looked more if a paradise.

"Maeia. You have to agree to this before I talk over it." Xie Yu looked worried, fearing that Mae might disagree with her plans.

"What is it, Aunty?" Mae who had no option but to nod and agree to the deal beforehand insisted to know.

"You are like my daughter Maeia. I won't wish evil of you but good." Xie Yu opened her speech. She was going to add just one more person to the list she had for the new project.

"I need you to do something, .." Xie Yu still had her arm around Mae's shoulder as she sent secret eyes over the place, whatever she was going to say was not a thing to be spoken of in public.

Even the walls had ears.

Xie Yu who had now made sure it was just the two of them, took out her poisonous words to strike Mae's desires.

*****

Inspector Joe Ken had Bryan uncuffed as he drove out of the mansion.

"You should have tried your best not to go beyond the limit." Inspector Joe Ken tried to talk to Bryan.

Bryan knew Inspector Joe Kenn was a good man, he trusted him a bit and even told him of some events that had happened, including the morning old miss Gindi was assassinated.

"Listen Bryan. Your case is not punishable, you shouldn't fear a thing. Everyone knows Prince William had a gun and you reacted in instinct. To protect your life."

As Inspector Joe Ken spoke. A car came honking none stopped uphill in their lane.

"What the...!" Inspector Joe Ken who stopped on the brakes as he swerved off the road cursed. Just who was this? Does he even have a license?

With the command to remain in the cruiser unless necessary, Bryan watched as Inspector walked toward the opposite cab that too had pulled over on the other side.

There was a person in there, unharmed but psycho looking. It couldn't be! Bryan saw the figure open the door of the cab to stand face-to-face with the inspector with no uncertainty.

"Erick!" Bryan knew he was in trouble.

*****

Back at the mansion.

Xie Yu smiled as she made an approximation of the time Erick should execute his task.

Standing in front of her was Mae who was all timid looking...

"Mae, I want to let you know that you should own the chain business your father had. By now you should have realized that Bryan is taking away everything you had." Xie Yu was not sure if her words will work but she continued.

"You should make sure Bryan never signs those papers no matter what!" Her voice was not convincing.

"Why should I do that aunty? Like he promised to marry me." Mae stupidly trusted Xie Yu.

"Don't be a fool, my daughter. Bryan is already to Abi!" Her speech made Mae break down.

This could not be true. Bryan loved her, she even knew that Bryan had more love for her than Abi. 'Aunt Xie Yu must be lying.'

Mae thought over it.

"This is my last words, Mae, if you fail to do this never come to me begging for shelter!" Xie Yu turned strict as she made Mae realize her mistakes.

"Didn't Prince Ge promise you more money than what Bryan spends on you? You are wise enough to know not all last forever. At one point, .. Don't be angry at me!

But I tell you, I'm sure Bryan will ditch you for someone else." Xie Yu broke Mae's last hope as she closed her speech.

"If you don't want to regret it, you have to do as I say. I know Mrs Yumaa will come back with Bryan." Xie Yu realises Mae was dumb too. So she did her last play.

"If you don't believe me you can prove it for yourself. Take this, it's just a sleeping potion that will make Bryan sleep for over 24 hours. During that period you will learn the truth." She handed the potion to Mae and left with no more words.

...

....