Chapter 68
to feel exactly what I feel.”
Her blush deepened, and she covered her face with her hands. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re adorable,” I countered, pulling into the parking lot of the police station.
The sight of the building brought my mood crashing back to reality. Whatever tender moment we were sharing was overshadowed by the mess waiting inside. I parked the car and took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever chaos Arie had stirred up this time.
“Let’s get this over with,” I muttered, stepping out of the car. Veronica followed, her earlier laughter replaced with concern.
As we entered the station, the atmosphere was tense. Officers moved around briskly, their expressions stern. I approached the front desk, and an officer with a clipboard looked up at me.
“Name?” he asked.
“Orthon Grayson. I’m here to bail out Arie Mensah,” I said, already irritated by the situation. Then the confusion on his face made me realize he didn’t know who I was talking about. “I mean… Arie Grayson.”
God dammit!
The officer gave me a knowing look, but didn’t comment on it. “Follow me,” he said, leading us through a maze of desks and filing cabinets.
We reached a holding area where Arie sat on a bench, her arms crossed and a bored look plastered on her face. Despite the situation, she looked completely unbothered, as if being arrested was just another
inconvenience in her day.
“Well, if it isn’t my knight in shining armor,” she drawled, standing up as
soon as she saw me. A smirk played on her lips.
“What the hell, Arie?” I snapped. “What did you do this time?”
She shrugged, her expression unapologetic. “They provoked me so I smashed a vase on the asshole’s head.”
Okay, what the fuck?!
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my frustration in check. “Provoked you? That’s your excuse for assault?”
“They called me a bad mother and a whore,” she said, her voice lowering but her eyes still blazing with anger. “And then they said something about my son, whom they have never even met. They called him a freaking bastard! What was I supposed to do? Take a photograph with them?”
For a moment, her words softened my anger. I knew how much she cared for her kid, even if her methods were questionable. But this wasn’t the way to handle things.
“Arie, you can’t just…”
“I don’t need a lecture, Orthon,” she cut me off. “Just get me out of here.”
I sighed heavily, turning to the officer. “What’s the bail?”
He named a figure, and I handed over my card without hesitation. As they processed her release, Veronica stayed quiet, her gaze darting between me
and Arie.
Once Arie was free, she sauntered over to us like she hadn’t just spent hours in a holding cell. “Thanks for the save,” she said casually. “I knew I could count on you.
“Don’t thank me yet,” I said. “We’re having a serious talk about this later.”
“Looking forward to it,” she said with a smirk before turning her attention to Veronica. “Awwnnnn, our little doll came along. Did this nerd bore. you with all his scolding sermons and complaints about me, sweetheart?”
I didn’t find it funny but Veronica laughed.
“You’re better prepare apology essay in the car,” she whispered to Arie.
I rolled my eyes and got into the car. For a few minutes, there was pure silence as I drove back.
“You think they would take me more seriously if I moved in with them? I mean, I’m his mistress after all,” Arie said and I jammed the brakes suddenly, propelling us forward briefly.
“What the fucking thing, Arie! No! For fuck’s sake, no!” I snapped, slamming my fists on the steering without even realizing it.
“Geez, calm down, okay? I was just kidding! Just kidding!” Arie sighed.
“Good.”
Just as I was about to drive the car, I froze as something hit me.
“Where is Keon, Arie?” I asked.
Her eyes grew wide almost immediately as a panicked expression crossed her face. Oh God, don’t tell me…!
“I… uhm…”
“Arie?”
“I thought I’d be gone for just a few hours and…”
“Arie, where the fuck is the baby?!” I snapped.
“At… home?”
Oooh my Goodness!