Chapter 144

15 Days Later

In the past 15 days, a lot has happened. First, Sarah has given birth to a beautiful baby boy. Secondly, Arina was already in prison. Thirdly,everyone who was a victim of Arina has pressed charges. Fourthly,Angelina has woken up from her coma but is still in the hospital recovering.

Alexander has placed some restrictions on Lily, and for the past 15 days,the only place Lily was permitted to go wvas the hospital to see Angelina,his mother. She was restricted from going anywhere else. She had a company to run but could only stay home to manage it. She had been a full housewife for the past 15 days. One thing she enjoyed about the punishment given to her was that she could spend a lot of time with Viola,who was so happy that her mommy was home with her.

Lily danced, sang, drew, swam, and did other fun activities with her daughter during these 15 days. She also spent time talking to Sarah on the phone and video calling to see her godson since they could not return yet.Alexander had said they would be moving into their second mansion once the case with Arina was over.

She now had the time to make delicious meals for Alexander whenever he came home from work. Alexander was no longer angry with her;there was no way he would stay angry with her for long because she was the love of his life. Their sex life had gone from a zero to a hundred since she returned home. She had missed her husband so much during their time apart. She always wore see-through nightgowns and laid on the bed waiting for him to return every night from work. Alexander also missed her so much, so he always looked forward to coming home and making

love to his wife.

Sometimes he left work early and returned home to spend time with her and their daughter. There was a sudden peace in their life now that Arina was in prison.

Today was the first and only court trial of Arina. Lily stood in front of the mirror fully dressed in a short black skirt, paired with a suit jacket and stilettos. She looked so beautiful and professional. They had decided that this would be the only trial held for Arina because there was a lot of evidence proving her guilt, as well as the live confession she made.So,she would be tried today and sentenced today.

"Are you ready?" Alexander said as he placed his hand around her waist.

Lily smiled. "Yes, and I'm glad it will be all over today."

"It won't be completely over until I'm sure she's dead," Alexander said.

Lily turned to face him and smiled. "Let's not do that, Alexander. I don't want blood on our hands."

"Blood won't be on your hands, rather blood will be on my hands. Let me be the one to bear the burden. I've always told you that I don't want your hands to be stained," he said while caressing her palm.

He kissed her forehead and then her lips. "I love you so much, Lily."

"I love you too,Alexander."

Alexander hugged her. "I have a surprise for you after thetrial is over."

"Really?" Lily smiled.

"Yes, love," he said as he moved her hair away from her face.

Lily sighed. "I can't wait."

Lily smiled.

They both left the house and headed to the court after leaving Viola with her aunt Sandra.

The court premises were filled with civilians and the families of the deceased persons whom Arina had killed in the demolition. There were posters all around, waved in the air by civilians demanding justice to be served.

Their vehicles stopped in front of the court premises, and Lily and Alexander stepped out after their bodyguards had blocked the reporters from obstructing their path.

Reporters kept taking photographs of the Haywoods and started throwing questions at them. For the past 15 days, reporters had been trying to interview Lily, but all to no avail because she was hardly seen leaving their residence. The only times she did leave, they could not talk to her.

Now was their chance to ask her about what happened that day when Arina's confession was streamedI live. Lily and Alexander kept climbing the staircase without saying anything to the reporters.

The courtroom was already filled by the time they got inside. Lily hugged her father when she saw him. They had been speaking on the phone,but this was the first time she had seen him since he returned to the country.She also went to greet her grandfather and everyone else she knew before sitting down on the front row with Alexander.

Alexander was a very protective husband, as always. He made sure to have the guards close by, even though they were not allowed in the courtroom.

That woman, Arina, was crazy, so anything was possible. She might even have someone helping her outside while she was in prison,so Alexander needed to be protective.

Soon, Arina was brought in with handcuffs, and the families of the deceased started cursing at her.

Lily looked at Arina, who was made to sit at the defendant's table. Arina looked so unkempt, but it was understandable since she had been kept in prison for 15 days.

Arina's eyes met Lily's, and Arina immediately looked away.

"Was she feeling ashamed for all she had done?" Lily thought to herself,but she doubted that was the case with Arina.

Soon, the judges arrived, and everyone stood up. They all took their seats again when the judge signaled for them to.

The case started soon after. After the prosecutor presented all evidence and witnesses spoke, including Lily, Arina was found guilty and sentenced to 5O years in prison.

The families of the deceased sighed in relief. She was going to pay for her crimes, for sure. Lily was glad that she got such a sentence,even if she felt that what Arina deserved was death.

Caleb and Alexander were certainly not satisfied. These were men who ruled the underworld, so following the law in cases like this was not something they normally did. They were only doing things this way because Lily wanted it done this way, to honor the families of the deceased.

They left the court after waiting for Arina to be taken away.

Arina gave no facial expression as she was taken away,so they could not tell what was going through her head.

But Alexander made sure that her every move would be monitored in prison.

Reporters surrounded them the moment they stepped out of the court.

They kept throwing questions, but the bodyguards blocked the reporters to allow their bosses to pass through.

The cars drove to the front of the court, and they gotin.

Alexander and Lily drove out after getting in, while Caleb and his son drove away too in their separate cars.

"Now that justice has been served, can I go ahead with my plan from the onset?" Alexander asked her.

Lily shook her head. "No."

"Why?" He frowned.

"Because she has to serve some time in jail first before anything else."

Alexander sighed in frustration.

Lily smiled before shifting to his side and placing her hand on top of his."Alexandder, you said you have a surprise for me once the caseis over,so where's my surprise?"

Alexander smiled. "I know, which is why we are heading to the airport."

"The airport!" Lily's eyes went wide as she asked.

"Yes,baby."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"Wait, what about Viola?"

"She's already waiting for us at the airport."

"Really? So I was the only one who did not know about this?"

"Yes. baby, because it's a surprise for you."

Lily smiled, and she couldn't wait because the past few months had been emotionally stressful and depressing. She anticipated what the surprise would be.