Chapter 41: Chapter 41

The room was empty when she entered, she wrapped her arms around herself and shivered not from the cold but for something else she couldn't put her finger on.

After looking around and finding no sign of Eva or evidence that she'd been there, she dipped her hand in her pocket, took out her phone to call William.

"Looking for something?" Halal turned, alarmed and saw Darrell at the doorway. "What do you want, what are you even doing here?" she asked him.

"She's been moved" Darrell answered the question lingering in the air.

"Who moved her and how did you know she was here?" Halal asked annoyed.

"It doesn't matter, she has been moved. Whatever happens to Eva from now on is no longer your business. Just know that she's paying for her sins" Darrell said coldly.

He walked over to her and saw angry tears in her eyes. "I don't want you to be hurt Halal,  I would die if anything terrible happens to you. Detective Jack called me, they are still on the case and even though they think you're innocent, there are those who still think you're a prime suspect. I did it to protect you, Eva has been shipped to some people who deal with bad people like her. She'll pay for her crimes, you don't have to worry about it" Darrell assured her.

"I don't need your protection Darrell,  how many times do I have to tell you? You knew I was going to the office with Jacques today, so you snuck in when we were not around and took her. Vengeance is mine and no one else, how could you take her away? Where is she, where did you take her to?" Halal asked hitting his chest.

"That's a secret I'll take to my grave, I can only hope that with time you'll forgive me" Darrell murmured.

"Eva was my revenge Darrell, you took that away from me.  I will not forget and I won't forgive" Halal said coldly.

Darrell nodded before walking away. At least she was safe, that was all that mattered. She was no longer in the danger of getting killed or arrested.

A Week Later.

Felicity looked into the eyes of the man that she'd once loved and respected, that man was gone.  This one was frail, his eyes were red and sunken, his expression darker, he even had more gray in his hair now.

"I spoke to the judge, he reduced your sentence. You're lucky Harvey, three years and you're out" Felicity said.

Harvey shook his head "What about Janice?" He asked with resignation.

"I'm sorry Harvey, Janice is in for life. Her crimes were numerous, it was either that or a death sentence" Felicity said with pity.

She felt no pity for Janice but she did feel bad for Harvey. His wife had put him in this mess.

Harvey broke into tears "I have no reason to live,  my wife is as good as dead, my children have deserted I and their mother,  I can no longer practice as a doctor. My hospital....my hospital is now government property" Harvey wept.

Felicity didn't know how to console the broken man.  "I'm sorry Harvey, I really am. I'll write you every day, anything you need while you're here I'll provide  it till you leave this place. And even after you leave, I'll be here for you. I'm sorry that Janice put you in this mess"  She said.

The guard signalled that her time was up, "Goodbye Harvey" Felicity stood up and picked up her bag.

She watched the guards take him away and hoped he would survive. Prison was a ruthless place to be,  she hoped he'd survive it.

Two weeks later.

It was Maria who had answered the door when she rang the bell the second time.

"Is Halal in?" Daria asked Maria. Maria's eyes widened at the other two beside her but didn't comment on it.

"No see anybody today" Maria mumbled.

Daria cocked her head in response.  "I'm sorry what, isn't she in?" Daria asked with a frown.

"She in, she no see anybody today" Maria responded.

"Ooh, please tell her it's Daria. I'll wait" Daria smiled.

Maria nodded and ushered them into the house, but only Daria walked in. "Living room, wait. I come" she murmured and went upstairs.

Halal showed up minutes later. "D,  how are you?" she hugged Daria.  Daria hugged her back. "I'm fine, how are you?" Daria asked.

"I'm okay" Halal shrugged.  She sat down on an arm chair and picked up a magazine on the table.

"I've been speaking to Darrell,  he told everything. I'm sorry I didn't come to check on you, I wanted to give you space." Daria said apologetically.

"You knew his plans?" Halal asked. Daria nodded, he'd told her. Jacques and William had been involved too but she refrained from telling Halal that.

"It's alright, I understand. It's not your fault, you made a promise to your brother and I  understand he'll always come before me. Family before friends" Halal said bitterly.

Daria sighed "Don't talk that way, you should know you're my family too.  I pick you over Darrell many times and honestly I didn't tell you about it because I didn't want you to be hurt. Not because of Darrell, but you Halal" Daria said.

"I understand....." Halal said stiffly.

"No you don't. Right from the very beginning, your relationship with Darrell has always been the problem in our friendship. Halal you're the one who always picked Darrell over me, if he's mad at you, you're mad at me.  If you're mad at him, you're mad at me. Honestly everything would be a lot less complicated if you weren't dating my brother" Daria said.

Halal smiled bitterly but said nothing.

"But that's just selfish Daria speaking. You make Darrell happy, he makes you happy. And I wouldn't want my brother to be with anyone else. And honestly, asides I and my late mother, you're the only woman he's ever loved"  Daria finished.

"Did he ask you to come here?" Halal asked.

Daria shook her head "You know he isn't like that, I came here because I wanted to speak to you. Darrell can't fight his own battles on his own" Daria said.

"Are you saying I should forget what he did?" Halal asked.

"You hid things from him too,  you never told him the real reason you'd left him for Valentino until years later,  you also hid the pregnancy from him. I'd say you two are even now. I want you to forgive and forget. Stop being stubborn, It doesn't suit you" Daria finished.

Halal frowned "Seriously Daria, I hate it when you play love guru or the peace maker" Halal hissed uncomfortably.

Daria chuckled "Come on, I didn't do anything. You were going to forgive him anyways, you just wanted him to sweat for it.  And right now, he's almost sweating blood. Give my brother a break, he loves you and he's going out of his mind already" Daria urged.

"Fine, I'll call him....but not today" Halal said rolling her eyes.

"What if I tell you he's outside now?  he's waiting for you" Daria said.

Halal looked at Daria in surprise "You brought him here?" she asked. Daria nodded and smiled sheepishly.

"Fine, I'll see him" Halal said straightening her shoulder.  "I'll go get him, I'll give you two privacy" Daria grinned getting out of her seat.

Darrell walked in seconds later sans Daria. "Hey" he looked tired and miserable.

"Hey" she got out of her chair and walked over to him. "What happened to you?" she asked him taking in his disheveled state.

"You left...." he muttered.  "You hurt me" She replied him.

"I did it to..." he began but she cut him off "I didn't ask you to protect me Darrell,  I don't need protection" Halal insisted.

"You think you don't but you do,  and honestly Halal you don't need to ask me to protect you before I do" Darrell said.

"Why?" Halal asked. "Because I love you Halal, because I'll never stop loving you. Because I'll have my arm severed off before you lose a finger, because I'll lose myself if anything happens to you. Halal you're my world, you're my existence, I don't want anything to happen to you.  Don't you understand?" he asked cupping her face.

"I'll forgive but I won't forget" Halal maintained.

"Let me.... Let me help you forget" Darrell said kissing her.

Jacques turned to Daria "Don't you think we should check on them?" He asked.

Daria smirked "No, I'll bet one of my kidneys that they've made up already" She said.

"I can't hear them, I'm getting worried" Jacques said.

Daria smiled "No need to, I know those two.  They're probably making wedding plans as we speak" Daria chucked.

Jacques was about to counter her opinion when the door flew open. Halal stopped short when she saw her dad. "Dad, what are you doing here?" Halal narrowed her eyes at Jacques.

Daria and Jacques smiled sheepishly causing Halal to shake her head.  She turned to Darrell "You three in this together?" she asked.

Darrell simply smiled "You two made up rather quickly" Jacques noted. "Told you so" Daria whispered.

"Jacques, Daria. We're getting married" Darrell announced.

The surprise on Jacques face was so evident, then he grinned in excitement.

"Told you so... " Daria whispered to Jacques again.

"How soon?" Jacques asked happily.

"Friday, court house" Halal replied smiling. "And I know you're already planning this flamboyant wedding in your head dad but please we want something small.  Something between family and a few friends" Halal said.

Daria walked over to Darrell and hugged him"You certainly took your time Darrell but I'm glad you did the right thing at last." Daria said to her brother.

She'd never met a couple more suited for each other than the duo in front of her. It was a relief that they were finally getting married despite all the odds that had happened.

A huge relief.