Zephyrine POV
I sat staring intently at the judge, anxiety written all over my face as I awaited the verdict of the judge concerning my brother's case.
My brother, Jerry, who was accused of a crime he never committed, 'murder'.
I knew my brother was innocent. He was framed by the people he worked for as a cleaner in their mansion, along with the victim who happened to be his girlfriend.
She was murdered by the son of his boss, it happened like an accident. To manipulate the situation, they fabricated a video as evidence showing my brother push the girl from the story building. They bribed the other workers to act as witnesses into accusing Jerry instead of their son.
"This honorable court…." He paused, his gaze fixed on the accused, Jerry, who stood in the witness box, visibly consumed by fear and anxiety.
"….hereby adjourn this case until tomorrow.
Sadness rose within me as soon as I heard the judgement. I should have hope and believe that he won't be found guilty, but that hope was gone.
I tried to reach to my brother but was stopped by the cops as I watched them whisk him away from the courtroom.
"I promise to get you out of here, Jerry!" I screamed at the top of my voice.
Seething with rage, I glanced at the real culprit and his family, who were assuring their son of getting him out, no matter the cost.
I stomped outside to go and have a talk with the lawyer Michael had put in charge of my brother's case.
"Barrister Davis!" I called out, and a young man in his early thirties, dressed in the customary attire of a black robe and white wig and clutching a leather-bound legal briefcase, turned to me amidst the crowd leaving the courtroom.
I hurried down to him, slightly exhausted as I said. "Barrister Davis, we both know that Jerry….isn't guilty of the crime he was accused of. You have to help me get him out." I said, my voice trembling as I spoke to him.
"Well….you heard what the judge said, the case will be finalized tomorrow. I have no power to do anything if the defendant brings more evidence." He said with a shrug.
"I really tried my best to help you and your brother, but Michael has refused to complete the payment, the case is out of my hand now. You will have to wait for the court's judgement tomorrow." He said with an air of indifference.
"You can't say the case is out of your hand, you are a lawyer, and you should know the punishment for a murderer. You know what they would do to him." I said at the verge of tears, pleading with all I've got.
"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. Please excuse me." And with that, he walked away.
I felt my phone vibrate in my hand and as I checked the caller ID, it turned out to be the doctor in charge of the hospital my mother was admitted to.
"Hello, Dr. David," I said as soon as I picked the call.
"Good day, Miss Riley. As you are aware, I'm calling regarding your mother's health."
"Her health is deteriorating rapidly, and her heart has ceased to function," he explained over the phone. "I'm afraid there's a significant risk that she may not survive this illness unless she undergoes a heart transplant in at least two days. Luckily for you, we've found a potential donor for her," He concluded.
I was already suffocating after hearing what the doctor said. Michael refused to assist in the payment. He stopped paying after sometime, and I was left alone to raise the remaining fund.
"Dr. David, please, I am begging you to do everything in your power to save my mother. I promise I'll find a way to get the money…. I'll pay you," I said with a shaky voice.
"I'm afraid there is nothing we can do, Miss Riley. The surgery should have been conducted today, but you were unable to deposit at least half of the money. You should try to deposit something between today and tomorrow else we can't do anything for her."
"Remember the more time you waste, the more her life keeps deteriorating. You said the same thing before that you will pay up, and yet, we didn't receive a dime from you. Or, better still, you can take her to another hospital."
"Have a nice day." And with that, the call came to an end.
I felt like the whole world was crushing on me. I wondered how I was supposed to come up with a whopping sum of fifteen million dollars for mother's heart transplant when I only had five thousand dollar in my account. Likewise, I wasn't sure if Michael will give the company I requested for to me.
Frustrated, I crouched down in front of the court as others left the court premises. I decided to go back to Michael's mansion to pack what was left of my belongings and if possible, sell them to raise more fund.
The only money left in me was enough to take me halfway home. I sighed, accepting my fate. I was going to walk half way and then take a cab. Thinking about my predicament, I didn't realize the old woman in front as I collided with her.
"Oh, my I'm sorry." I said as I hurriedly picked up her bag and a shining object. It looked like a jade bracelet having golden and light blue emerald round it.
"Here you go, ma'am. I hope you aren't hurt?"
She gave me a short smile and I nodded hurriedly leaving, and she called me back.
"Miss?"
"huh?" I stared at her outstretched arm. "Are you hurt there, ma'am?" she shook her head and opened her palm. I gasped, the jade pendent.
"Take it child, it will put a stop to your suffering." she said.
"But ma'am....."
"You're hurt and suffering child, take this and all your sufferings will be over."
I don't know how this woman knew about my predicament, but I'm rushing right now. On a second thought, I took it from her. I was still staring at the pendent and turned to look at her, but she was gone.
Weird. I thought and stuffed it into my pocket.