"Marry you?…" Maisie read out the words with horror written on her face.
She was shocked once she read the document.
Jake Dwight quickly adjusted himself and interjected," No, you got that wrong, Ms. Duval."
Maisie couldn't understand what he meant. However, this stranger didn't look like someone who was going to harm, she presumed.
She hasn't had a visitor in months, and now this strange man is asking her to marry him.
Is he crazy?
"Ms.Duval, it's true that I'm asking you to get married. However, you're not getting married to me."
Jake was nervous. If this plan falls through, he will be skinned alive.
Maisie scoffed, seeing how nervous Jake looked.
Consequently, Jake pushed the document in front of Maisie before saying," My boss, the CEO of Stellar Corp., is willing to help you out on one condition."
Seeing her face,the assistant took time to explain things in detail and told her about the mysterious man who's ready to marry her and get her out of prison.
Maisie laughed in self-pity before asking expressionlessly."Why would anyone put themselves at risk to help me out? What great thing did I do to deserve this help? Or are you trying to scam me out of some money?"
She was not easily convinced by Jake.
Maisie learned that everyone who tried to help her was threatened viciously by Eric and his family.
When this stranger popped out of nowhere, pretending to help her, she was disgusted by him.
At this moment, Jake could not breathe. His face turned pale and he was speechless. He hadn't expected this woman, who was in trouble, to act so belligerent.
Before Jake could say a word, Maisie chimed in, saying," It would be fine if you cursed me out and made me feel miserable for my decisions, but I'll not allow you to mock me with a ray of hope."
Maisie's eyes were filled with tears.
Jake could see Maisie's eyes. They looked like they were about to slice him into a thousand pieces.
Seeing this, Jake couldn't bear to watch her suffer. So, he chimed in, saying, "Ms. Duval, I know how much you've been through; I'd never taunt you no matter what! I'm only here to help you."
"Why? Why did you choose to help me? Don't you know how dangerous it is?" She asked why he chose to help her. She assumed that nothing goes for nothing.
"This is because my boss is eternally grateful to you for saving his life, and now that you're in trouble, he wants to repay your kindness," Jake gently explained with his eyes fixated on Maisie.
Maisie couldn't remember who the boss that she helped was, and she really couldn't recall helping anyone. So, she assumed it was just a big scheme to trick her.
"Tell whoever your boss is that I don't need his help now. Moreover, a few of my friends are willing to pull some strings to get me out of here; you don't have to worry about me."
She wasn't convinced and decided to opt out,saying her friends would find a way.
Jake couldn't help but let out a soft laugh before delving into his pocket and pulling out a phone.
He glanced at the content and pushed it towards Maisie while saying,I don't think your friends have a lot of time on their hands to come help you soon."
Maisie slowly picked up the phone and glanced at it. Her face suddenly turned pale when she saw it.
What she saw in the video shocked her.
Her friend Clarrisa Saunders and the rest were having a dinner date with her ex-husband and her bitchy friend, who betrayed her.
Maisie was shocked to the bone.
Clsrrissa Saunders had deceived her. She claimed DHD was on her side and was willing to do anything to get her out.
Because of this, she gave him access to the saving vault, where she worked her previous gems, and now?
How could they be having fun when she was on the verge of rotting in jail for doing nothing wrong?
Nonetheless, Maisie shook her head and smiled bitterly. What was the purpose of regretting now?
Maisie was in denial. She looked at the video once more and threw it back to Jake.
Before she could say anything, a tear dropped from her cheeks and stained her face.
She was unable to say a word. Jake didn't urge her either. He thought it was best she process things on her own.
After a while, she looked at Jake and spoke, "Im so confused right now, I don't know what to do. Give me some time to think about this."
Saying this, she beckoned on the jail warden, who led her back to her cell.
Once she was out of reach, Jake Dwight stood up and left.
...
The prison guards pushed Maisie through it, and after quickening her pace for a while, she looked up and saw four other inmates in her room. All of them had large, imposing figures, and they shot her ugly glares of malice.
The door creaked and closed, and the guards left.
Maisie panicked. "What are you trying to do?! I'm t-t-telling the guards!"
Someone reached out, grabbed her hair, and slammed her head against the wall.
Thud, thud, thud. A rhythm, Maisie, could be heard. She could not be freed from their grip, and black spots filled her vision.
"What are you doing?! Stop! Noooo!"
Her screams fell on deaf ears. The leader responded with her own irate yell. "Wow! You're trying to be a snitch,huh? We got a snitch b*tch!" the leader of the gang snarled. "Go ahead and tell them, I dare you. You can even tell God if you want, but, honey, not even He can save you. Here, you're just a b*tch. Our b*tch. Get on all fours and start barking!"
The rest of the people parroted their leader. "Yeah, get down, b*tch! Bark, bark!"
Maisie bit her lip. "I..."
She had not even completed her sentence when she felt a kick to the back of her knees.
Her legs buckled, and she fell forward. Then, the inmates pinned her head down to the ground. She had to be on all fours for the rest of the day.
The night offered no solace either. They did not let her sleep on the bed, and she was only allowed to sleep in the corner of the room.
Maisie tried to get the guards' help, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. All she got in return was escalating violence and bullying.
Her mental state deteriorated, and her face was permanently tear-stricken. The only thing anchoring her to life was the child in her stomach.
That night,she was bullied and tortured by other inmates. Afraid that her baby would suffer as well,she gave up her dignity and opted to marry the mysterious man.
For the sake of the child in her stomach, Maisie had to live positively.
••••
The next morning, Maisie asked the guards to get Jake to come see her.
Once Zachary got the news,the man smiled to himself and ordered the assistant to make preparations to welcome the woman who saved him twice.
Jake Dwight was all smiles when he saw Maisie waiting for him at the visitor area.
He carried a box with him and set it on the table. When he opened it, a sweet scent wafted out, and Maisie's tummy grumbled with hunger. Her cheeks turned pink. "Go right ahead, Miss Duval. I heard you didn't eat much, so I got you this congee to help you replenish your energy."
Jake spoke, and Maisie instantly began eating the meal. She didn't have time to question how he knew about her predicament. She was too hungry to care about any of it.
She was almost dying of hunger. The food was like heaven as she munched on it.
When the man saw how hungry she was, he felt sorry for her.
She touched her belly after eating and hoped the child had eaten to its satisfaction as well.
Once Maisie ate until she was full,she turned to the man with her face flushed with embarrassment.
However,Jake pretended to notice this. Then he pushed a document toward her.
Jake said, "Ms. Duval sign the document and let's get started."
Maisie looked at the man uncertainty. "What is this?"
Before Jake could divulge what the document says, Maisie picked up the pen and signed it.
She concluded that she wasn't in the best position to be picky and quirky.
Jake picked up the signed document and sent a text message to someone.
Within a twinkle of an eye,she was sent to this prison VIP hospital, where she got her wound dressed.
Within a few hours, she was released from prison on the basis of a lack of substantial evidence. However,it remained a secret that she was released.
In the end,she was sent away to prepare for her wedding with her mysterious husband.