Chapter 82
Imelda’s POV
Police Station – Early morning hours
The cell door rolled open as I walked out head held high.
I walked out without any handcuffs.
Even after the dashcam footage.
Even after the accusations.
Even after the evidence was verified and certified at the police headquarters, I was walking out.
“Ms. Harmon, you are out, but on bail, so p>
“Mind your own business.” I waved my hand at him.
“Ms. Harmon, if it wasn’t for the fact your father helped me, I would not come. After all, you’re not paying me p>
“Ms. Harmon, you may be out on bail, but do not leave the city.” the officer said. “You will have to come when called p>
I didn’t reply and walked out of the station.
The moment I stepped out of the doors, the camera flashes exploded into my face.
I walked straight without looking at them, as the voices chased me from behind.
“Ms. Harmon, did you fabricate the audio recording of Mrs. Rollings p>
“Ms. Harmon, was the accident a staged accident? And were you responsible for it p>
“You claimed Mrs. Rollings did it in jealousy, are you jealous of their relationship p>
“What does Mr. Harmon have to say about this? Did you visit him in jail p>
At the moment, I couldn’t care any less for any of them.
I just walked fast towards the car my lawyer had arranged for me.
“This is the last I’ll be helping you.” my lawyer said steering the car through the street.
“You covered for my father, why not me?” I demanded an answer.
“I just told you,” he said without looking at me.
“He paid me,” then he exhaled.
“And now I’ve left that kind of work behind. Now unless innocent, I don’t take the case p>
“Ms. Harmon, I intend to stay in this profession, and I will not go down cause of a wrong client p>
Seeing he stopped his car at the bus stop, made me grip my phone tighter in anger.
I didn’t wait for him to tell, and got out of the car.
“Day six,” I whispered as he drove his car off, and I got on the public bus.
Till now I wanted to control Jonathan and make him obey me the way he did during those seven years.
But now, I realized he’s no longer the Jonathan I knew as the basis I could control him are no longer with me.
Adrian and the Blue Heart.
Now I will destroy their little haven and send them to hell.
Small Apartment – An hour later
I was back in the house.
I can’t call it a home, for that matter, I don’t even know if I ever had a home.
I made some black coffee and poured myself a cup, then went to the desk.
Files were spread across the desk.
Some had addresses while some had photos in them.
While some had official documents.
They were fragments of my life.
From being born in a mansion to living in this shabby small apartment.
I looked up at the faded walls.
The narrow balcony with its rusted rail.
Looking back, I can still remember their apartment back then when I used to go to meet Veronica for work or for Jonathan.
The walls were painted bright, the balcony railing was silver, the windows Mahoney color, bright medium-quality furniture.
Then I smiled.
“None of this will last long.” I said to myself. “I’ll soon be in a mansion the way I should p>
“No more the hiding princess, no more the reduced to no level heiress p>
“But I let everyone see Veronica for who she really is p>
I let out a laugh.
“She likes showing how she’s the victim. How she had to be a seven year secret wife,” I said.
“Now I will show them the real Veronica beneath that skin of hers. The Unworthy Rollings p>
This time I knew everyone would believe me.
I turned the TV on and put on the news for the headlines as I wasn’t interested in the details.
News reader:
“Is the CEO wife Veronica Rollings the secret wife from the slums? Did Veronica manipulate her way into Jonathan’s life? Was the Rollings’ marriage a hidden marriage or a corporate mistake p>
I put five-seven channels and all had the same headlines.
Just the way I wanted p>
To spread the headlines fast…super fast.
Again, everything was as planned.
Everything was controlled.
Deliberately placed, and was effective.
“I have you both right where I want you.” I said to myself.
“Not only will her image be ruined, but she won’t be able to lift her head ever again p>
“Oh, Veronica,” I said. “If only you had understood. You never belonged in the upper society. I gave you a way out. You should have stayed out p>
Now the climax will change.
Afterall p>
Doubt is easier to build than trust.
“Let’s see how you deal with this, Mrs. Rollings p>
I laughed my heart out.
It was already afternoon and I had been watching the news the whole time.
Every time the news reader would stop at ’be back with more updates.
But nothing changed.
In the morning, I had a familiar feeling.
A control p>
A momentum.
It was the way things went back then when I was the executor.
Before my press releases got instant action from Jonathan.
Back when we were together, he would react by stating he was with me. He acknowledged our relationship everywhere.
Even after she left, in the past seven years, he didn’t miss the chance to make sure everyone knew I was wrong.
But now p>
Why no reaction?
By now he should have released a statement.
He or she should have defended.
How could Jonathan stay silent? Isn’t his wife’s reputation of any value?
How could Veronica stay silent? Doesn’t she know these kinds of scandals can affect his stocks?
Something is really wrong.
My fingers stilled as silence didn’t always mean the other side was weak.
For some reason this time it definitely didn’t feel like that.
This time it looked like they were preparing for something.
My gaze sharpened.
Veronica’s POV
Apartment – Same time
The headlines were going on since morning.
Each one was sharper than the last one.
I kept listening to everyone.
I didn’t react.
I didn’t flinch.
“Mommy?” Janet said in a warm voice.
“Don’t worry baby,” I said. “Back then I was alone, I didn’t let her win. This time I’m with your daddy p>
I lowered the TV remote as I felt content on hearing the news.
Jonathan was seated beside me holding my hand all the while.
He kept watching me.
He didn’t intervene not guide.
Just watched.
“So, she’s actually going to expose those seven years,” I said quietly.
“You finally spoke,” he said in a calm voice.
A pause followed.
“This time I won’t allow her to.” I said calmly.
I wasn’t angry.
I wasn’t trembling from remembering the past.
It was just a decision I made from hearing the headlines the whole day.
I exhaled.
At this time I understood every word she was saying, and every action she executed.
Her challenge p>
her pattern p>
Her intent p>
And this time p>
She will be the one who will answer as they strip her off that facade she’s been living behind for fifteen years.
Just then both of us got a message on our phone.
The message read:
Day 6, prepare to lose.
“You too?” We both said in unison.
“Imelda challenged me to a seven-day challenge five days back.” Jonathan said in a grave voice.
“She said she would make me choose her over you the same way as back then p>
“But Nicky p>
I cut his words midway.
“I know back then the reason you chose her over me was because of Adrian and the Blue Heart p>
“NO!” he said, shocking me as that’s what I thought ever since I knew the truth.
“It was cause of that video,” he said, broken.
“I was afraid once you saw the video, there would be no way to convince me I was innocent that night p>
“And you p>
“She met me five days back and said in the next seven days she would show me how you’ll chose her over me again p>
“Oh, Johnny, we’ve been fools all along,” I said, hugging him. “If only we would have spoken to each other back then p>
“I know,” he said, holding me in his arms. “I also…if I had told you about that night, those seven years that you suffered, wouldn’t have been p>
I leaned back.
“The time has come to confront her,” I said.
He didn’t interrupt me, and didn’t question me.
“And right here,” I added.
“The very place she calls a shabby low run down slum area p>
My gaze lifted…distant, and focused.
“The place from where she made me walk away from you p>
A pause followed.
Meaning settled between us as Jonathan nodded once.
“What do you need me to do or arrange?” He asked me.
“Nothing too complicated,” I replied.
My voice was steady.
“Just the press in our courtyard p>
“You got it,” he said smiling.
Within minutes he arranged for a stage and press to arrive at the courtyard.
Courtyard – a few minutes later
It would be as it is.
No studio.
No filters p>
Just the shabby old building behind me.
A place I’m familiar with.
The real place that saw me suffer.
Worn out p>
And real.
“This is the place I lived those seven years,” I said calmly.
My voice was steady.
My tone didn’t rise.
“I hid here from the world p>
A pause followed.
My focus went to the social media news as the news reader was reading the comments.
The viewer ratings of the news were increasing.
Comments were flooding in as the questions and accusations against me were rising.
Finally the time came, the press had arrived, people had gathered and we were ready to face them.
We walked hand-in-hand and walked right onto the stage.
We told Janet to stay back as we didn’t want anyone questioning her.
Jonathan had arranged for chairs as we were going to have a long talk with the reporters.
Silence followed the moment we got on stage.
Only the camera flashes were clicking away.
“Thanks to everyone for coming at such short notice,” I began.
My voice was steady and confident.
“You all would like to know about what’s going on in the headlines. How much is true, or is all true p>
Jonathan arranged for a large screen so we could play the videos and display the photos, and a laptop with all the evidence we were to show today.
First were images of me delivering the documents late at night, and some videos of me interacting with the clients and officials.
“As you can see, I worked for Imelda Harmon delivering confidential documents p>
Then the documents were displayed.
“As you can see, they are documents to forge another designer’s design under the Harmon Designs label. The same way I delivered the document that made the Blue Heart label under Sanders Harmon, even though the design belonged to Daniel Staf p>
“During the three years I worked as a late-night delivery person, Imelda never paid me any salary p>
“Why I worked for her p>
I paused as I knew what the next video was of, and I couldn’t bring myself to say.
Just then Jonathan took hold of my hand.
“As long as we are together, we’ll get through.” he whispered softly into my ear and kissed me.
The media was smitten on seeing us, and that gave me courage.
I tapped on the enter key and let the video play.
The video was the one Imelda had of Jonathan from the night.
“This video was the reason I worked for her p>
“At the time Jonathan was a rising businessman, and if this video was to be leaked, it would have ruined his company, a company that hadn’t even set up p>
“Next, instead of speaking, I’ll let you hear an audio p>
Audio recording:
“I don’t believe this video,” I said. “I have to ask p>
“Ask Jonathan and I’ll release this video.” Imelda said. “Just do as I say and your husband is safe p>
“What do you want from us?” I yelled.
“Simple, I have some work that can’t be done during the day. You will work for me, in return I’ll make sure this video never sees the light p>
I held a paper in my hand.
“This is the government approved certificate to verify the voices are mine and Imelda’s p>
“During those three years, I had to wait for hours before I could get the signed papers back. At times I would stay the whole night drafting, delivering and submitting them back to the office to a Clara Hayes who was in charge of Imelda’s system p>
“During those three years, I would leave my daughter at home alone with a nanny as Jonathan wasn’t with me at the time p>
Video of Janet sleeping as the nanny sat in the living room were played.
Videos of Imelda coming over in the middle of the night and telling me I had to go for a delivery were also played.
“That was not all,” I continued. “After Jonathan made me get a job at Harmon Designs, her manipulations didn’t stop p>
“She knew Jonathan had to listen to her so she deliberately arranged my desk near the trash cans p>
“She made me do everyone’s work, clean the office before the staff came and make coffee for everyone whenever they asked for it p>
Jonathan was still holding onto my hand so I felt when his grip tightened.
I soothed him by placing my other hand on his.
My gaze remained steady.
“She made sure no matter what I could not leave p>
“She controlled everything around me p>
“When Jonathan made me join her office, she said I would get a hundred thousand every month p>
Pay slips and bank account statements were displayed.
“But she only paid me one hundred dollars every alternate month p>
“I could only send our daughter to the community school p>
“I barely managed to give her three times meal p>
“Even on her birthday, I would get the smallest cake p>
“At the office, during lunch break she wouldn’t let me eat p>
A video was played.
Video 1:
Imelda walks in, the staff gets up.
“Everyone please take your seat. From today onwards Veronica will take your order and get your lunch for you. Be a little patient as she’s alone and serving everyone will take some time p>
Video 2:
“As long as I’m in the canteen, you will not eat in front of me p>
She didn’t leave until the lunch hour was over.
Seeing she was leaving, I went over to get some lunch for myself, but she pulled the tray from my hand.
“Lunch hour is over, Mrs. Rollings (She purposely took my name). Get back to work, I don’t pay you to slack off p>
Video 3:
Jonathan had come to the office and it was lunch hour.
As always I was going to take orders, Imelda walked over.
“Veronica,” she took the notepad from me. “Why are you serving them? Did they bully you p>
“Come on, Jonathan is here. Sit and eat p>
Video 4 – Harmon Designs staff
“Yes, if Mr. Rollings wouldn’t come then Veronica wouldn’t get the chance to eat p>
“Actually I was shocked when I first saw Veronica eating with Mr. Rollings. After all, he was Ms. Harmon’s fiancée. At the time it didn’t make sense, but now it does. She was eating with her husband p>
A slow breath escaped my lips.
“Sometimes, if Jonathan didn’t come, I wouldn’t get the chance to eat the whole day p>
“Only when I’d come back home would I eat p>
“During the three years, I often fainted due to malnutrition, exhaustion and fatigue p>
“She would take me, get treated and back to work. She made sure Jonathan would never know p>
Silence followed.
And it was louder than any sound.
“For her I wasn’t Jonathan’s wife p>
“For that matter… I wasn’t even a human p>
My voice stayed calm the whole time.
Even though I was trembling inside.
“In reality…I was only a tool she used to do her work by blackmailing me with his video, and later on his hope he would soon be free from her and could be loyal to me p>
Social media sites were open on the laptop.
I could see the comments were surging violently.
Some were shocked.
Some were angry over her doings.
Some were distraught on knowing the truth.
I didn’t react as this wasn’t the time to.
“The shabby apartment behind me is the place where I spent those seven years alone with our daughter Janet p>
“Because at the time it was the only place I could afford p>
Then I paused.
As this wasn’t a performance that I needed applauding for.
It was the truth that I held in for fifteen years and today I finally let it go.
Then I stepped aside as Jonathan took over.
He stood composed and precise.
Jonathan’s POV
“During those seven years, you all knew me as Imelda’s fiancée and Adrian’s adoptive father p>
The video was played again.
“I was in a meeting that went till late, and I ended up getting drunk from drinking or so I thought p>
“Overall, I have a good alcohol tolerance. I can drink five-seven glasses and be sane p>
“That night, I got drunk on the third p>
“It’s after seven years, after losing my wife, I found out I was drugged by Imelda so she could stage her play p>
“After that night, she stopped seeing me,” I continued.
“I thought it was cause of the night, I felt guilty as she was a woman, and if I did, then I was wrong p>
“But four weeks later she came with a DNA report holding Adrian saying he’s my son p>
“Four weeks later?” a reporter asked.
“I know, but at the time of seeing the DNA report, I didn’t see the date and believed her lie p>
“She threatened me with the report and video about telling Veronica p>
“I can lose everything in my life, even my life itself, but not…her p>
Video is played:
“What do you want?” I asked, holding the DNA report.
“Jonathan, I also don’t want to destroy your marriage, but now with Adrian, I don’t want him to be called an illegit child. So, for the next two years, play my fiancé, adopt Adrian as your and give him your name. After two years we’ll break up, and you can go back to your life. And I promise I’ll get the Blue Heart for you as well p>
“And Veronica?” I asked with a trembling body.
“We have a daughter p>
“I know, that’s why nobody picks fingers at her for being a single mother, you’ll tell her to say her husband is dead and to keep her and your daughter near you, she can work for me and serve at the parties p>
Seeing that, I was hesitant.
“Or I could send her the video and this DNA report and then…I don’t think she’ll wait even a day, let alone two years p>
“No!” I said. “She can never know, not until I can explain what happened p>
“Imelda, remember one thing,” I said, jaw clenching.
“Veronica and my daughter are my bottom line, as long as they are safe and with me, I will do as you say p>
“Don’t worry, I’ll never harm them.” Imelda said.
Her words hit harder than any blow could.
Then the real report was displayed.
“This is Adrian’s real DNA report, he has no connection with me p>
“He never was my son, and now I found out he was already a year old when Imelda trapped me in her trap. The reason she avoided meeting me was she never was pregnant and if she stayed in front of me, it would be impossible to make me believe this p>
“She knew the Blue Heart was Rollings Designs foundation, so she used that to coerce me into going with her year after year p>
Silence followed.
“For seven years, I lived at the Rollings Mansion as my wife and daughter lived here p>
“Even Imelda and Adrian used to come and live there, but not my wife and daughter because she told everyone would be suspicious of allowing a widow and her daughter to come over p>
“Even when I used to come here, I made sure no one found out p>
“Because of Imelda’s lies, my wife lived seven years as a secret wife p>
“My daughter could not call me ’daddy’ in public p>
“All because of this planned night she drugged me and made me believe a lie p>
“I don’t deny what I did and what suffering I allowed Veronica to suffer,” I continued.
After all, there was no excuse.
There was no defence for what I did.
It was just a fact.
Then the message was displayed.
“After receiving this message, I thought allowing everyone think Harmon Designs daughter is my fiancée would help protect Veronica p>
“As I didn’t know who was threatening me by targeting my wife p>
I glanced over at her.
“I was wrong p>
The words settled deeply into my heart.
Because I was the image of power p>
And power rarely admitted it was at fault.
Then we displayed the seven days events that lead to me leaving and the past five days what she did.
“Today is day six of her challenge,” I continued.
“Imelda said she would do something that would make me come back p>
“Imelda, now that Veronica knows everything, my daughter is with me, you can show, do, take anything you want. I care a damn p>
I looked straight into the cameras.
With that everything shifted.
The reporters erupted after this.
“She should be arrested p>
“She should suffer all she made Mrs. Rollings through p>
“Seven years?!” a reporter said. “That’s illegal abuse p>
“Her son should be taken from him, she doesn’t deserve to be a mother p>
Realizing Adrian will suffer as well, I looked over at Veronica.
“Whatever you say, I know you won’t be wrong p>
“Everyone, about Adrian p>
“I practically raised him and he still is under my name. I haven’t taken the adoption back p>
“So, please do not target him p>
With that we commenced our press conference and went back to our apartment.
I switched the TV on.
The headlines had shifted.
News reader:
“Imelda Harmon is accused of coercion. Fake DNA reports forced Jonathan Rollings from playing along. Seven years’ secret wife speaks about the pain she suffered during those years p>
We both exhaled.
For the first time p>
What we did or said wasn’t controlled.
It was decided by us.
Imelda’s POV
Small Apartment – an hour after the conference
The screen went dark as I switched the TV off.
For a brief moment, I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t react.
I was frozen on the sofa.
At first I thought I was losing control over him, but now I realized I was losing my life.
An hour before I thought I had everything planned and after today, he’ll be back with me.
But here I sat knowing he might be hugging her this very moment.
My fingers curled slowly.
So they think telling the truth will help them.
But they forgot,
Truth comes with limits p>
Some limits even break a person.
To the level of no return.
A slow smile formed on my lips.
A cold, precise one.
“I totally forgot she was your bottom line,” I whispered.
“Every time it’s about her p>
“Then it’s time I show the one with the money wins it all p>