Chapter 68: Chapter 68

After the judge was informed of what had happened, he had no choice but to adjourn the case once again until Courtney's charge was settled. After all, his judgment was determinant upon this.

With Courtney being accused of being an accomplice to a murder case that was tied to the divorce trial, he had to put a hold to his judgement until a decision regarding the prior charge was reached.

Getting outside the Court, Bob subtly said his thanks and goodbye to the doctor and asked Mae to find a safe place to hide for a while until the case was finally over.

He wasn't certain if Courtney wouldn't find her way out of the crime she was alleged of having committed. She had a certain level of influence after all and Bob dared not underestimate this. There was just no telling what Courtney could do. Even Bob had stopped thinking he knew Courtney anymore.

Hence, in this case, he could only ask Mae to hide for now just in case Courtney finds her way out and it turns out that he still needed her as a witness in court.

With Courtney arrested, Bob didn't relent at all. Instead, he took it as a privilege to prepare himself even more for what was to come. He'd learned quite well enough in these few days and he'd never let his guard down again.

He bid Mae goodbye also after she had confirmed that she would still try to show up if he requested that he did so another time. Though, she increased her charge. Bob didn't mind however.

" Come with me, we have a lot to talk about" He grabbed Val by her hand and led her to the car.

...

Mark who had just arrived at the King County Superior Court in a cab heaved a deep sigh as he watched Bob take Val away in the car. He thought to approach them but the car drove off before he could.

He turned around to find that he was standing alone as there was no one else whom he knew around. He was confused as to whether the trial had ended soon or whether something else happened.

He checked the time from his leather wristwatch and he couldn't help but frown seeing that it was only 10: 12 AM.

Although, the trial was set for 9: 30 AM, Mark didn't think it would end so soon. He was late because he was unable to get a cab and due to other circumstances.

' It doesn't seem like anyone noticed my absence anyway' Mark shrugged dejectedly with the plan to leave as well, only to see Maggie at a corner, crying helplessly.

Mark was stumped for a second to see her in this state. He couldn't believe his eyes.

The cold and ruthless Maggie looked so fragile and broken that Mark could swear that this wasn't the Maggie he knew. Besides, what was she doing in Washington?

' Is it that she'd followed Courtney all the way here then?' Mark made a swift conjecture.

Although, Mark had grudges that he still had unsettled with Maggie, he still felt bad for her. Looking around, he realized that whatever has happened was not a thing of small relevance, and it basically has to do with Courtney without doubt.

Mark had learnt to pay attention to details.

Mark thought to not bother Maggie and was about to turn around to leave, but he thought to learn what had happened from Maggie.

He couldn't come all the way to Seattle for no reason and return to San Francisco just like that. Even if it was to get blasted at and insulted by Maggie, Mark was still willing to take the chance.

It wasn't as though there was anything else he had to do anyway. Mark was literally jobless and lifeless at the moment.

As he pressed forward towards Maggie with agitated heart, blaming himself for having ever thought to do what he was about to do, Mark seeing Maggie's state thought to take a different approach.

' Consoling Maggie wouldn't hurt at all right? and if she refuses, then at least I know I've tried' Mark steeled himself.

Mark arrived before Maggie who cried with her hands covering her face. There were gazes on her, but nobody tried to pry even after witnessing what had happened earlier and had led her to this state. They just minded their business...

" H-hey" Mark reached out to her in a concerned tone. He was uncertain if he was in the right position to do this. After all, Maggie is still Maggie, and she didn't seem in the best of moods at the moment.

Mark smiled wryly and considered leaving Maggie alone before he would annoy her even more.

Maggie continued sobbing silently for a while before slowly dropping the hands that she covered her gaze with to see who it was.

Her eyes widened and trembled in shock when she saw who it was.

' What is he doing here this wretched fellow? is he here to mock me?' Maggie's mind spun in different thoughts. She very well knew that at this point, Mark would have realized that she'd set him up to steal the Laguna teardrop in order to get him sacked and ruin his life. It wouldn't be too far off if he planned to take revenge on her now right?

What better feeling than dealing your enemy a fatal blow in their weakest state.

" I saw you crying out here and I thought to reach out" Mark said sincerely. He really had intended to do so after all.

" I-I..." Hearing this, Maggie was at a loss. She didn't know whether to be angry or sad. She was too emotionally devastated to even think of a way to react to Mark's words.

Courtney, her beloved, had just screamed at her that way and had said to stay away from her. Those words still hurt her till now, and she didn't know what to think of it. But most importantly, she was scared for Courtney. She could see the craze in her eyes earlier, and she knew she might have lost her. Forever...

Maggie's heart pained and hurt at the thought of this.

It wasn't that Courtney was trying to save her from being arrested along with her, nor was she throwing her out like trash... She knew it was something more.

Maggie knew it seemed to be the latter judging by Courtney's tone and expression. However, Margarette wasn't willing to believe. She thought they both had a thing going on, a serious relationship. She knew Courtney had only did what she did out of her shock and craze. Maggie knew of Courtney's condition after all. She knew her mind must have snapped from the shock of being arrested. And thus, she felt hurt and sad having to witness Courtney being like that.

If only Maggie knew relationships like these were never meant to be anything. It was only a matter of time before the true nature of everyone comes to light.

Maggie wasn't of any generic sexual attraction, it was just that for the first time, she had come to submit herself to Courtney since the latter seemed to understand her best. Both her emotional and physical needs were met by Courtney. And after having heard that this was a norm in the modern society, Maggie had believed what she has with Courtney was a thing it, and that they probably meant something.

It is nothing but a lusty phase, it was meant to end at a point. It is definitely not a thing of permanence.

' Poor Maggie...' Mark thought seeing her pitiful state.

" Hey, it's okay... You'll be fine" Mark moved closer and reassured Maggie with a compassionate expression on his angularly sculptured face. He gently placed a palm on Maggie's shoulder, not caring about the differences they both had in the past. Right now, Mark had no enmity towards her. How could he after seeing how sad and devastated she was?

Maggie was without doubt surprised to see Mark being so kind to her despite the past they had.

' Did he hit his head? Did the sun freeze over and did the world end?'

Val pondered in thought of why Mark was consoling her?

However, at the moment, Maggie was too deep in her feelings to give much concern to Mark's reason for his solace outreach.

Maggie slowly moved forward and stuck her head in Mark's chest. Feeling secure, she cried her heart out to satisfaction.

Even if Mark had other plans for her, she didn't give a care. She just wanted a shoulder she could lean on at the moment.

Mark was surprised that Maggie was being like this. This was a new side to her that he never thought he would ever see.

To him, Maggie was a bossy cold lady, and that was why he couldn't see her as an ideal lady. But now, he was confused as to what to believe. Was this really Maggie?

Both were directly confused as to this side of themselves that they never knew.

' I guess if you never get to really know someone, then you might be mistaken as to whom they really are...' Mark smiled bitterly and gently wrapped his arms around Maggie.

He just stood there and let her cry in his arms without saying anything. It was a peaceful feeling that had him feeling emotional. He couldn't help but wonder just how much hurt and pained she was.

Did she love Courtney so much? Or is she just heartbroken after reality struck her?

' Poor Maggie. Even with the same gender, you could still get your heart broken.'

Mark had begun to understand why Maggie put up a cold and indifferent front. She must have been trying to keep her soft and fragile heart from being betrayed and broken by ruthless people.

Mark smiled bitterly once again. He pitied Maggie so much that he wanted to help her.

" T-thank you, Mark" Maggie said through sobs in a muffled tone. She was too embarrassed to even look at him, but she wanted to stay like this for a while. It was comforting and a source of solace for her. She didn't have to fear being looked at by everyone as she cried her hearts out in Mark's embrace.

" Don't mention it, Maggie." Mark said, hugging Maggie even tighter. He didn't know what came over him, but the sudden feeling to care for her surged within him. Mark knew very well what it meant to lose someone whom one really loved. He couldn't help but think about Kaitlyn.

' In a minute, they're here, and in the next, they're gone... forever ' Mark thought about Val as well as he added the latter part. After having seen Val leaving with Bob, he knew there was no getting her back. Never...

Mark was emotional as well, and he felt better having someone to hold in his embrace.

Perhaps, he and Maggie were more alike and similar than he thought.

They stood like this for a very long while as the rain drizzled in them. It wasn't until later that Maggie moved to break away from the embrace. She lowered her head to hide her reddened and sullen face from Mark.

Maggie was embarrassed quite alright, but she had the decency to not look Mark in the face. After all the things she'd d done to him, he still stood to help her out when she was at her lowest. She didn't know how to react to this act of kindness.

" You okay?" Mark asked concernedly. He was also embarrassed to have hugged Maggie that way. He felt perhaps this was why the latter had broken away from the embrace.

" I- I'm fine now... I'll be fine thank you!" Maggie tried to smile as she nodded her head in answer to Mark's question. She had begun to see him in a new light.

" ..." Mark was at a loss for words. He believed he must have made Maggie uncomfortable just now as he was lost in his own emotions.

" It's just ... I really didn't believe she would ever say such a thing to me" Maggie muttered, her voice broke as her emotions welled up once again.

Realizing this was his chance, Mark pursed his lips for a while in thought before speaking,

"... I'm sorry you had to go through that..." Mark stated. " If you're willing, my hotel reservation doesn't expire until late in the evening, we could both head back there to unwind before returning to San Francisco?" He offered in a sincere tone. Mark had made an hotel reservation to crash the night in Seattle before heading back to San Francisco the next day. However, he froze and realized he might have sounded a little too pushy just now with his suggestion.

He had only intended to hear Maggie out and figure what happened.

Maggie looked to the left in thought of the idea for a while. In any case, Mark was really helping her to even offer her a chance to talk. She really needed it.

She looked up slowly and nodded her head affirmatively.

" Yeah, we should"

...

In the car, Bob turned to face Val who had a baffled expression that made her look even more attractive. He stared at her without knowing what to say for a very long while.

Val didn't know what to say nor where to start either, she knew he was expecting him to start recounting to him what had happened, and why she was in Seattle.

" Well ..." Val thought to start by telling him about that first time she'd fell unconscious at Attorney Chris' place first, however,

" You know what, save it till we get to my place. You don't look too well..." Bob said looking Val up and down. Her face looked pale and flushed, and she had small sweats covering her face which was weird since it was cold and damp outside.

Val raised her brows, not knowing whether to feel offended by his words or be happy that he really cared about her. It had been long since he'd seen him and this was all he had to say to her? Val had imagined a lot of scenes, but this wasn't a part of any of the scenes she had in mind.

" Haah! Alright" Val sighed exasperatedly and nodded her head. She stared ahead at the windscreen and reclined in the seat to relax. It had been a really long process for her since the day before. She had not rested nor relaxed since the day before, as she had been in situations after another until now.

Val's eyelids suddenly felt heavy and she decided to just close them for a while.

" Val! Val?" She heard in a dull echo but she was too tired to even bother. It felt like she was in a lucid dream as not long after, Val's consciousness drifted away peacefully like an ocean wave.