INFINITE TIES

DEFENCELESS AND IMPRISONED

Chapter 5

DEFENCELESS AND IMPRISONED.

Ciara placed her hands on her cheeks,

She couldn't see but felt the design of the lady's five fingers on her face.

Words failed her to express her rage.

“You have the mind to look at me in the face and call my husband ‘your man’?” Ciara said gently, with her voice going faint as if she was slowly losing her breath.

“Adrian, since when did this start?”

“Huh,” Adrian lips curled. He smiled at her mockingly and hesitation, giving his new found mistress a peg before giving her a reply.

“Looking at your countenace, are you sure you would want to know since when it started? Huh, I hope you won't finally collapse on hearing that?”

Ciara remained silent, it was 100% unbelievable to her that the man talking was actually the husband she married.

“Well, if you insist, I'll tell you. But please, don't die before signing the papers, Ariana and I needs it for our marriage to be legal.

So for you information, it started since before I met you!”

“What?” Ciara exclaimed. Her brows furrowed and eyes widened.

“Yeah. I wouldn't have had anything to do with you if not because Ariana disappeared to overseas. But thank God she came back at the right time! A time when –”

“Stop!” Ciara yelled, blocking her ears with her hands.

“Enough!”

“Let me have the papers,” she said angrily, abruptly dragging the papers from Barr. Smith, who has just been quiet in the midst of all the drama.

She held the biro with her trembling hands. She still can't believe that she's signing an end to her pure heaven marriage, as she always described.

“Ouch, baby. My belly hurts!” The mistress lamented, locking her arms into Adrian's and leaning on him.

“Sign the damn papers fast, Ciara. I don't have much time to waste with a murderer like you!” Adrian yelled bitterly.

“You're even lucky I settled you with an alimony. Thank God your arrest came at the right time. You can rot in jail for all I care. At least, the one descent woman I've ever wished to marry is right here by my side.” He declared and gave his mistress a peg.

With a smile on her face, she replied, “I know, right. And thank you for waiting patiently for me. I promise to love you till my last breath.” Ariana assured with a smile.

Ciara paid deaf ears and blind eyes to all their acting, which was aimed at hurting her the more.

“You can have it.” She said while she handed the papers back to Barrister Smith.

At the instant, her heart became hardened. She's now prepared for the worst to happen.

At first, she wanted to reject the alimony given to her. Besides, 70% of his wealth was from her.

A few years ago, Ciara was so naive and fooled by love that she put most of her properties granted to her by her father in her husband's name. She had always believed that their love was eternal.

Unbeknownst to her, Adrian had an ex that was out of town and would get back with her any moment she showed up. After all, his ex, Ariana, was his mother's favorite.

Before she could open her mouth to say ‘No' to the offer, another voice in her sharply whispered, “Accept everything he offers you, Ciara. It is your right to obtain those things.” She listened and heeded the voice.

She held her own copy of the divorce agreement and returned back to her cell.

She was left with no one in the world to console her. Her only brother had turned into her worst enemy because of how Helen Marcos had instigated him into despising her, making him believe that Ciara killed their father so that he'd not change his next of kin.

The next day, Ciara appeared in court with no personal lawyer to defend her. She was helpless, and a sentence of three years imprisonment was passed on her.

“Move! This is your room. You shall live and abide by the laws of the prison. Failure to do so or making any attempt of escape might lead to an extension of jail term.” The warden said and pushed her into the room like a hardened criminal.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Clattering laughter of women filled the room as she entered.

They were all dressed in green t-shirts and black trousers with the name and logo of the prison boldly written on them.

“Fine girl. Awww, see how innocent she looks. Did you steal? Huh, or did you kill?”

The old prisoners teased and made gest of her, some holding her chin and lifting her face up.

“Let me guess, it is certainly stealing that has landed her here. Can't you see from her face; she resembles a thief?" One of the prisoners suggested mockingly, and they all laughed.

“Welcome to your new home, young lady. I hope you enjoy your stay here! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!” One of them said.

Ciara ignored all their clatterings and maintained silence. Her focus was to get on her bed and continue mourning her miserable life and how she'll waste three years of her life in prison, sleeping and sharing the same restroom with over twenty people—an experience she has never had.

“What are you trying to do?” One of the prisoners yelled and dragged her legs, almost falling her down to the floor.

“That is boss Margaret's bed you want to sleep on.” The lady yelled.

Ciara had promised herself not to talk, but with this, she was forced to say something.

"But that is the same bed the warder showed me.” She replied calmly.

“Shut up!” A deep feminine voice echoed from one of the corners. A chubby middle-aged woman looking scary with tattoos and brownish dread appeared. She should be approximately sixty in age.

She sniffed, looking fiercely at Ciara. She walked slowly around Ciara, observing her from head to toe.

“Boss, please, take it easy on her. She's new, that's why.”

“I'm sure in a few days she'll learn that this place is not her house,” two prisoners pleaded simultaneously on Ciara's behalf, even before the chubby woman would say a word.

Ciara's mind flees. “So there's a boss among prisoners?” She thought inwardly and maintained a remorseful expression on her face.

“You're lucky we still have some good people who can apologize on your behalf,” the woman said with a frown.

“Now, listen to me,” the woman squeezed her wrist tight, which hurt Ciara really well.

“Your place is on the floor. Do you hear me?” Ciara nodded with a crease of pain on her face.

Guys!” The lady shouted, and all those in the room answered with utmost respect, accompanied by silence.

“From today till the next fourteen days, nobody is to wash the dishes and toilet except her! Hope I'm understood?”