Chapter 66: Chapter 66

" Attention passengers, this is your final boarding call for Flight 376 to SeaTac City. Please proceed to Gate 8 for immediate boarding. Thank you and have a pleasant flight!"

The announcement jolted Val awake from her short stupor. She didn't know when she fell asleep, but she could tell it hadn't been too long. Val covered her mouth with the back of her hand as she yawned and stretched. She'd been sitting in the departure lounge for hours after all.

She looked to her side to see that Aidan was also asleep. Val nudged him awake before standing to grab her luggage.

" It's time to leave. You can go home to sleep" Val urged with a bitter smile and left towards gate 8 to board her flight swiftly. She could tell that he was very tired and needed to rest so she decided to let him return.

" O-okay." Aidan just nodded his head as he watched Val leave. He was embarrassed that Val had to see him sleeping as such after saying he'd keep watch over her. In fact, he was nudged awake by her.

Aidan waited till he lost sight of her before reaching into his pocket to grab his phone and text Bob to update him about everything that had happened. For an unknown reason, Bob wasn't picking his calls.

He'd already tried calling him but it was to no avail.

...

As early as it dawned in the morning, Bob sorted all the necessary files he'd obtained for his trial on the table with serious conviction.

Today was the day everything ends, and he had to be prepared.

" Attorney Chris should have obtained some things too." Bob muttered to himself as he robbed the area around his mouth.

" Haaah! if only my phone were here, I would have called to confirm" Bob thought aloud.

He'd dropped his phone when he went to see Mae and he couldn't take the risk of going back there after seeing Inspector Roosen there once.

He could tell that they probably had a lead on the Adam Mash case where he was the suspected culprit, and seeing him around there wasn't any different from confirming their suspicion. He'd been baffled as to why they were there but he had a thought.

Courtney had hired Mae from the same night club, which meant one thing. Whoever Courtney had hired to kill Adam was a member of the same night club, or the gang running the night club.

Bob's presence in the club was only a coincidence that could have led him to jail.

Thankfully, he had disguised himself prior to that and had managed to avoid the inspector's suspicion.

However, what baffled Bob the most was how and why Courtney had a connection with such a gang? He had stopped believing that Courtney was the same kind and timid lady he had asked to marry him.

' Anyway, I believe Mae should help bring my phone today. If not, I'll have to forget about ever finding it.' Bob didn't believe Mae had stolen his phone whilst she danced in his lap. He refused to believe that was the case.

Bob had already bought a new phone but he needed to retrieve some contacts from the previous one. Val and attorney Chris' exclusive number included.

He'd already tried calling attorney Chris' hotline but there had been no response from him. Bob knew he wouldn't pick up the call since he was probably busy working on his case and wouldn't know it was him calling since he got a new line.

' He is probably on his way to Seattle by now' Bob thought, not believing any problem could occur. He was certain that the trial was going to be smooth as he hadn't spent the last few days doing nothing.

He believed that even if Courtney dug the deepest of his secrets, she couldn't suck his wealth dry as much as she intended. Though, Bob was prepared to lose a fair amount of his wealth. There was no avoiding it.

After having arranged the files and putting it in his briefcase, Bob rose to go prepare himself for the trial. It was set specially for 9:30 and Bob would hate to not be punctual.

" I guess everything is arranged." He'd already visited the doctor who was to bear witness to the DNA results as well. Bob's back was straightened as he was confidently prepared for the trial.

...

8AM

Val landed in the Sea-Tac airport. After alighting the airplane, she rowed her luggage through the arrival lounge and stopped when she got outside the airport.

It wasn't until she got in the airplane that it occured to Val that she could have made Aidan call Bob. He probably would pick his call right?

' Is he avoiding me?' Val had been calling Bob for a while now but he wouldn't pick her call. Even though she only called just to hear from him, though he already said not to do so, Val still couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed and ignored. Did Bob forget about her existence already?

Val was hurt. She didn't think Bob would do such with the connection she thought they had.

In the end, it was only a one time thing. Val shouldn't have placed much emphasis on it. She knew this, she knew very well but still,

' How could he?' Val didn't like that Bob considered her cheap and an easy lay. She was going to confront him after the trial was over.

A car drove by and Val caught sight of how her expression spoke so much about her thought in the tinted glass window.

' Although, I don't think Aidan realizes what was on my mind earlier considering the baffled expression on his face all through. He must think I was trying to get out of San Francisco out of fear of Attorney Chris...' Val pondered whether Aidan noticed this earlier in San Francisco but dismissed with a shake of her head.

Val looked around feeling the foreign air of SeaTac. Val had never been to Seattle her whole life, and this was her first time.

The air in Seattle, compared to San Francisco's stifle atmosphere, was crisp and refreshing yet damp and cold. It carried the scent of damp earth and fallen leaves.

As the sun rose from the horizon, the city awoke to a symphony of colors, merging with the tall buildings of dazzling lights that adorned the streets. The dried leaves on the trees paint the streets with vibrant hues of red, orange, and sparkly gold.

Val could see the famous Space Needle standing tall and piercing through the morning mist that had cars and leather jackets slightly wet, offering a breathtaking view. Val felt that it was the perfect time to grab a cup of coffee from one of the many cozy cafes and take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront, enjoying the tranquility of the season.

Seattle in the morning of autumn was magical sight to behold. Making Val feel as though she were finally free. The weather was soggy however, as it reared to rain very soon.

Val stopped a cab after several minutes of waiting,

" King County superior Court" She said when she got in the cab. The driver who was a middle aged with brown receding hairline and of ordinary appearance nodded his head and drove off.

9:17 Am

Val arrived at the court and dropped off of the cab after making the fare. As she hung her handbag over her shoulder, Val looked around, searching to see if Bob was already around.

The King County Superior Court opens around 8:30 Am and thus, the place was bustling with lawyers, attorneys, court personnels and law enforcers who had business in the court already.

Val knew not if Bob's case was the first to be tried, but it definitely seemed so since it was adjourned so early into the morning.

" Where is he? Could he have gone inside already?" Just as Val contemplated and walked ahead towards the court, she caught sight of a black car roll by not quite far across. Val intuitively had a feeling it was Bob so she turned around, waiting for the person inside to alight.

Bob in a formal grey suit stepped out of the car with another person standing beside him. He instantly froze when he saw Val standing across in the distance with a creased gaze at him.

' Why is she here?' Bob frowned after a short express of shock and surprise.

He quickly walked towards Val. He still couldn't believe Val was really here...

" What are you doing here?" Bob grabbed Val by the arm to ask in a low tone that almost passed as a groan.

" I'm here because I have to be!" Val shot her head forward in confrontation and snatched her hand away from Bob's grasp.

" I kept trying to call your line over and over again. If you had picked up then perhaps you wouldn't have had to see me here" Val's eyes reddened as she slat with clenched jaw. She looked towards Mae who stood behind by the car and Val couldn't help but scoff in disdain. She didn't know Bob had this side to him, and for a moment, she thought perhaps Courtney was right in trying to suck him dry.

' He deserves it!'

Bob smiled wryly hearing this and pleaded shortly.

" I left my phone and she'd only brought it to me just this morning. I would have called you after the trial but, Haah! here you are"

Val raised a brow hearing Bob's words. However, she frowned again realizing something. She shot a gaze towards Mae and looked back at Bob as if to ask,

" And she is?"

Bob smiled wryly seeing this. " This is Mae, I've managed to convince her to be a witness in court as to Courtney's claim of my infidelity" Bob pointed and introduced. He did so in a way that Val would comprehend that he wasn't with Mae and would stop acting up. He understood Val's anger and thus, didn't want it to escalate.

As though taking the cue, Mae walked towards Bob and greeted Val.

" Hello"

" H-hey" Val responded in a meek tone. She felt embarrassed to have thought that Bob was with Mae. After Bob had introduced who she is, Val could tell that she was the lady that Courtney had set him up with and had claimed that Val had cheated on her with. Bob had told Val about this before so it wasn't hard for her to relate.

Seeing Val's reddened face, Bob was amused and he tried as much as he could to not let out the chuckle that was stuck in his throat. He couldn't believe Val was jealous.

Mae who noticed the air of familiarity between the two just looked from Bob to Val and stood aside. She knew not to meddle as Val seemed to have a lot of questions for Bob at the moment.

' I'll ask why he'd left his phone at her place later, right now it's more important that I inform him of what's going on...' Val frowned.

" Bob, something bad has happened!" Val stated in an alerted tone, causing Bob to frown as well and ask.

" What is it?"

" Attorney Chris... He's been arrested!"

Bob's eyes widened hearing this and his previous confident stance shattered. If anything could have really went bad, this was the worst yet!