A wave of satisfaction washed over me as I watched the police officer grab her by her arms to twist them behind her back and handcuff her within the next second, without a single warning.
"Ahh!" She let out a loud yelp and the reporters began to snap pictures and were scrambling to make sure that they got the best shot. Her cheeks were flushed red and anger was evident on her face as she glared at the officer with disbelief. "Are you crazy?! Let me go!" She shrieked in her high-pitched voice that pierced through the air.
"Do you know who I am?" She continued to question through gritted teeth, her voice shaking with rage and anger when the officer didn't say another word. "I am the daughter of the richest family in the country! You cannot arrest me!" She screamed, yelling at the top of her lungs while Xavier and I stood aside quietly with a smile on our faces, watching everything unravel before our eyes just as planned.
"I don't care if you are the daughter of the richest family in the country. Even if you were the President, I'm still arresting you," the police officer warned in his deep voice, his voice remained unwavering as a look of certainty was stretched across his face. "Nobody is above the law, not you, not the President. No one," he said, his voice heavy with finality.
"I… I…" she stammered, not knowing what to say as her eyes swept across the area helplessly, hoping that someone would come to her rescue. "I told them, I told everyone that it was a joke! Why are you arresting me? I didn't do anything wrong!" She insisted, as she continued yelling and shouting.
Despite her endless protest and struggles, everyone only watched as she was taken away by the police officers within the next few seconds, disappearing out of sight. That was when the attention was turned to Xavier and I, the camera flashes shining brightly in our faces as we squinted our eyes.
"Were you the one who released the audio of the confession from the judges online?"
"How do you feel now that justice is served?"
Questions after questions were being hurled right at us.
I turned to look at Xavier, the corners of my lips curling upwards into a small smile before I turned back to look right into the camera pointed directly at me.
"Honestly.." I drawled as everyone looked at me with anticipation swirling in their eyes, waiting for my answer. "I feel great."
***
It was the next morning when the news was plastered all across the papers and the television screens of almost every household, it was the hot topic on everyone's tongue for that day.
It was revealed that James and Evelyn have both been arrested for interrogation and questioning. But of course, they were quickly released after paying the fines that same night, walking away scott-free with a smug look plastered across their faces.
I watched as Xavier tossed the newspaper aside, letting it fall onto the ground as he clenched his jaw tightly, anger burning within the depths of his dark eyes.
"That was barely a slap on the wrist," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain and contempt. "How were they released the same night?!"
I let out a soft sigh. "Well, they are the richest family in the country," I pointed out. "The law always works in their favour, but hey, at least it was still satisfying watching her being taken away by the police."
"Yeah, it was." He let out a deep chuckle as a smile crept onto his face this time. "Come on, let's go," he urged.
I grabbed my bag and slipped on my heels, as we made our way towards the front gate, ready to head to the office, but not so ready to face the gossip and judgement that would soon come inevitably.
We had just stepped out of the gate when my eyes fell on a familiar pair of eyes staring right back at me, emotions running wild in her eyes.
Surprise flashed past my face as I stared ahead, wondering what she was doing here, standing before me.
"Mum? What are you –"
The words barely left the tip of my tongue when my mum marched towards me, closing the distance between us in a mere couple of seconds before slapping me across the face harshly, leaving a red mark instantly.
I glared at her with wide eyes, taken aback by her actions.
"Jennifer! What do you think you are doing?!" Xavier's voice boomed loudly as he stood in front of me, standing in between the both of us. His fists were clenched tightly beside him as he glared at my mother with narrowed eyes.
"This is none of your business!" She snapped back, glaring at him with a determined look in her eyes. "I'm disciplining my own daughter," she sneered through gritted teeth as she breathed heavily almost as if she was trying to catch her breath.
She raised her hand again and I grabbed onto her wrist before she could even strike me. I tightened my grip around her, my nail digging into her flesh as I stared at her with an intense look.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I questioned crudely, still holding onto her arm.
"Let me go!" She shrieked in a shrill voice as she struggled to break-free from my grip and I finally released my grasp on her arm. "Are you still trying to act innocent? You should know what you have done!"
I stepped towards her, closing the gap between us as my body loomed above hers.
"I don't know what you are talking about, mother," I spat, each word that left my lips was dripping with venom as I narrowed my eyes into thin slits.
"Come on, Aurelia. Don't waste your time and breath on her," Xavier snarled as he glanced over at my mother with disdain and he tried to pull me away but my mother didn't care.
"Is this familiar then?"