Drowning In His Lies

CHAPTER 17: The Statement

Yaba Police Station, 10 AM.

The whole of Lagos was there. Reporters, bloggers, policemen, TikTokers with ring lights. Everyone wanted to see if billionaire Jaden Cole would really confess.

Mimi arrived with Damien, wearing a black dress and dark shades. Her face was hidden, but everyone knew it was her.

Jaden was already inside, in a small interrogation room. No lawyer. Just him and a bottle of water.

The DPO started recording. "Mr. Jaden Cole, you are here voluntarily to give a statement concerning the assault and attempted murder of Miss Mimi Amara on August 14th, 2024. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Please, tell us in your own words what happened."

Jaden looked at the camera. Then he looked at Mimi standing behind the glass.

"August 14th. I came back from London early to surprise Mimi. It was our 3rd anniversary. I got to my house and... I found Tania there. She told me Mimi was cheating. She showed me a video of Mimi packing money from my safe. I believed her. I was angry. I was drunk. When Mimi came in, we fought. I... I told Tania's brothers to 'teach her a lesson and get my money back.' I didn't mean... I swear I didn't mean what they did."

The room was silent.

"I heard her screaming from outside. I heard them hitting her. I didn't stop them. I told myself she deserved it. Then they dragged her out. Tania said they would dump her at her village and scare her. I let them go. I watched them put her in the boot of my car."

Mimi's hands were shaking behind the glass. Damien held her.

"I found out 2 hours later that they didn't take her to the village. They took her to a boat. They beat her again, tore her dress, filmed her while she was crying and begging, and threw her into the Lagos lagoon. Tania sent me the video the next day and said 'It's done. She will never bother us again.' And I... I deleted the chat. I told myself she ran away."

Tears rolled down Jaden's face.

"I let the woman I loved drown because I was too proud to ask her 'is this true?' I am not a victim here. I am the villain. Tania is a criminal, but I am the one who gave her the power. So arrest me too. I deserve it."

The DPO stopped the recording.

Outside, reporters exploded.

JADEN COLE CONFESSES!

Mimi pushed the door open and ran inside.

"Why did you do that?" she cried, hitting his chest. "Why? Now you will go to jail! Are you stupid?"

Jaden smiled, even with tears in his eyes. "Better stupid in jail than smart and without you. At least now you know... I never stopped loving you. Even when I was being a monster, I loved you."

He was handcuffed.

As they led him out, he turned to Damien. "Take care of her. If I don't come out... take care of her."

Damien nodded, jaw tight. "I always have."

That night, Mimi couldn't sleep.

Jaden was in a cell.

Tania was in a cell.

And she was alone in a penthouse worth 2 billion naira, with two men who would go to jail for her.

She picked up her phone and posted on her i********: story for the first time in a year.

A black screen. White text:

"Tomorrow, I will tell my side. 8 PM. No filter. - Mimi"

And all of Nigeria waited.