Miriam’s eyes remained glued to the man standing before her. He wore a tuxedo suit, fitting his body perfectly. In his elegance was a projected authoritative figure conveying a dark hunger that made Miriam believe her fate was sealed forever.

Her heart sped.

Who is he? A family to Lawson?

Some time ago, while discussing with her husband, now ex-husband, friend, Lawson. He mentioned having siblings. Could he be the one?

The man had his attention fixed on one of the police officers. They were discussing discreetly; the kind that left Miriam convinced about her doom. She feared even the man’s presence.

With her heart pounding fast, Miriam elongated her neck, trying to have a clearer view of the man and wondering how he knew her name. She felt certain he was a relative of the late Lawson Harold.

“Miss Miriam!” A male voice snapped fiercely, distracting her.

She turned her face from the strange man, and her eyes met the frightening gaze of the officer.

“Follow me,” she commanded, and I followed her to a room. I sat on the chair and watched her leave.

I glanced around and, while taking in my surroundings, a man came in.

“You're the ex-wife of Dante Martinez, right?” He edged up an unnoticeable smile.

“Y–Yes, I am,” she acknowledged in confusion.

He nodded smoothly. “I am Detective James Jackson, and I'm here to question you. I'm sure you know Lawson Harold well.”

He pulled the seat opposite Miriam backward and sat, his expression cold and brutal.

“Detective, I'm innocent. Believe me,” she said, with a low, pitiful voice, but the detective brushed off the sympathy by opening the file in front of him.

He pinched his hawkish nose slightly in a way that showed doubt about Miriam’s confessions.

“You were the last person who was seen with Mr Lawson Harold before his death. Why did you murder him?” His cold voice struck unapologetically.

“I didn't murder her.” A tear almost fell from Miriam’s eyes, but she briskly looked from the detective to the direction of the strange man who had called her name earlier,r but he was nowhere to be found.

“Listen, Miss Miriam, saying you're innocent won't justify your actions. Do you have an attorney?” Detective James asked, his eyes watching the expressions and displaying on her face.

“I don't have any,” she replied, her thoughts muddled from the devastating situation.

Detective James adjusted his suit and stood, signaling the end of his questioning of Miriam.

“I'll advise you to get a competent lawyer for this case, Miss Miriam,” He blurted out and moved closer to Miriam. “ I'm afraid, but Mr Lawson's family ain't going to take things slow. You might end up in jail if you don't act fast. My time is up!”

“Detective!” Miriam’s right hand reflexively grabbed his suit, and a tear fell from her eyes. “Please help me out. I swear, I didn't do it. I'm innocent.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Miriam, but I can't help you out,” Detective James replied dismissively and turned to leave.

The detective briefly exited the interrogation room; then, an officer entered, approaching Miriam with a malicious gleam in his eyes.

“Follow me!” he ordered, and Miriam stood up obediently.

The officer opened up the cell gates and gestured to Miriam to walk in. With cold feet, Miriam slumped in, her demeanor vulnerable and defeated.

Four angry-looking ladies leaned by the wall, ready to devour Miriam.

Life in the cell was hell. That day, Miriam almost collapsed because of the offensive and stench smell oozing from the prison room.

Leaning by the wall, her thoughts traveled back to how she had met Dante and his family. She regrets everything, especially now that she is carrying his child.

She never believed this misery would befall her in what should become the best moments of her life. Everything happened fast and was planned.

At about 11 pm, Miriam began to feel uncomfortable from a sharp pain around her lower abdomen. Other cellmates were already sleeping and snorting loudly, yet she stood there, weary and grieved.

She groaned silently as the pain continued and grew worse. When it became unbearable, she screamed for help, and that was all she could recall.

The following morning, Miriam woke up and found herself lying in a hospital bed with two unfamiliar faces standing by her side. She tried to move her neck but was held down by a young nurse.

“ Where is this place?” She asked, narrowing her eyes around the gloomy ward.

“You’re safe and in the hospital,” the doctor explained, but moved his eyes away from her to the cannula tube as if he was hiding something from her.

Then, the thought of what happened last night in the cell suddenly rumbled through Miriam's mind.

“ Is everything alright with my child? Please tell me!” She pleaded with a cracked voice.

With a pale expression, the doctor decided to break the sad news to her. She would be taken back to police custody in two days. So, it was pointless keeping the secret away from her.

“ I'm sorry, Miss. I want you to be strong. It is the most important thing for now—”

“ Hold on!” Miriam shushed the doctor with a wave of the hand and raised her face.” How did I lose my child?”

“ It happened as a result of shock and stress,” The doctor explained, swallowing hard his tired spittle.

Silence, accompanied by a somber air, blew through the window, brushing Miriam's skin until it grew goosebumps.

Hot tears dropped from her eyes. She tried hard to hold back the pain of losing her child, but it crushed her whole of her.

“ I'm sorry, Miss Miriam. But you have to be strong and get back on your feet. The police will be here in two days. Do excuse me,” That was the doctor's last words before he left the ward.

As the morning brightened, Miriam lay speechless on the bed when two uniformed males and a female walked into the ward.

It's been two days already, and Miriam was expecting nothing but agony and doom.

“ Good morning, Miss Wellington. You have to come with us to the police station for further questioning,” one said. Everyone believes Miriam was a murderer, and until proven innocent, she remains guilty.

The female officer walked up to Miriam and put handcuffs around her hands.

“ Let's go!” She commanded, her hands placed across Miriam's waist for support.

A few moments later, they led Miriam out of the hospital, which was in the same place as the police station. In a short while, they arrived in police custody, and Miriam was made to sit in the interrogation room while awaiting questioning.

She sat with a buried face, which was motionless throughout and rarely blinked an eye.

A dark silhouette of an unfamiliar figure hovered over her as she sat. Lifting her buried eyes, she beheld an unfamiliar figure standing before her.

“ Don't say a word to anyone. I am here to help you, Miriam Wellington,” A man with glasses said as he barged into the room.

"I'm your lawyer. I will be representing you from now on."