An Arranged Marriage

003: DEADLY MANIPULATION

POLICE STATION•

The interrogation room would have been completely dark if there wasn't a dim light from the ceiling that casted a faint glow over its concrete walls, me and the detective sitting opposite me.

Till I left the hotel, I didn't catch a glimpse of Bella and I guess that's because the cops made me leave with them through the back door.

Detective Sam, as I'd heard him being called, leaned back in his chair, fixing his eyes intently on me without saying a single word.

I wasn't staring at him but could see his moves from the corner of my eyes. Also, my eyes had no tears in them, I'd stopped crying since I walked into the interrogation room.

What was the need for my tears anyway?.. the deed had been done!

All it could contribute to the situation was a throbbing headache and a high temperature.

During the drive in the cops car, I'd realized that I was the one who was never careful right from the beginning. I wasn't smart and I allowed the manipulation of the devil's advocates without being suspicious…

“Being the first to get a proposal ring doesn't mean you'll be the first to have a wedding. Who knows, you may never even get to have one till you age and die” Bella had said to me after catching a glimpse of the ring on my fingers, the very day Alex proposed to me.

If I'm right, that should be a month ago.

Maybe because I was too overwhelmed with joy – joy that was backed up by the hopes to finally leave the hell where I reside through marriage, I didn't bother paying her words much attention. I ignored it like I was used to ignoring her hurlings and hateful words.

If I'd known her plans before now, I would have found a way to tell Alex about it and prevent the situation but now, my carelessness has done its worst to me.

Everything became very clear to me now, no wonder Gina and her daughter agreed to attend my wedding, they had plans!

However, a particular question didn't stop haunting me .

‘What then was going to happen to my wedding which Alex's parents planned with millions?!..’

I couldn't give an answer to the question because I knew not what to say nor think.

“Can you give accounts for your whereabouts on the 24th of march, 2021” the detective broke the silence.

I slowly turned to him.

“Three days ago?.” I found myself asking to be sure.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Remember, if you confess, you'll be helping yourself to get out of here,” he added.

I knew that was a big, fat lie. Well, it might be true to others as it is said to be a popular saying of the cops, but in my own stead, he was definitely lying..

Not when Gina is the master planner here.

Her anthem ‘Nothing I plan ever goes wrong’ isn't a joke.

“I was at my workplace and didn't leave till around 8pm, that night” I said in sincerity and he smirked before scribbling some words in the notepad he came with.

“And where's this workplace of yours?” he asked .

“Wine and dine restaurant” I responded.

“Are you aware that this was where chief Larsson came to eat that night before his death news was announced the following morning?” he asked.

I shot him a suspicious look, wondering what he was driving at.

“I don't think so,” I replied slowly.

Isn't Chief Larsson a rich man? What the hell would he be doing in such a restaurant?

“Can you remember having an argument with a man that night? Evidence clarified that it was pretty heated” he asked and instantly, i remembered my encounter with a middle-aged man who requested for a nightstand while I was serving him..

I could remember bluntly refusing and shoving my wedding invitation card into his hands.

I scrunched up my brows.

“Yes, but what has it got to do with the matter on ground?” I asked and he smirked.

“That was chief Larsson” he said and my gaze instantly expanded.

“What?!” I gasped, trying to remember the man's face.

I instantly felt like I was being manipulated and made to doubt all that came into my head as the truth.

The man at the restaurant is definitely not the chief Larsson Bella brought home one particular night.!

“No, that's not him” I responded, staring irritatingly at the detective who seemed like he had definitely been bribed by Gina to manipulate things.

“Oh really?,” he smirked.

“Yes, besides, my argument with the man wasn't pretty heated like you claimed. Just a simple refusal and some scoldings” I said and he smiled cunningly.

“Listen to this" he said and with that he pressed a button on a device.

“I am Drake, the manager of Wine and dine restaurant where the suspect works. Chief Larsson indeed came over to our restaurant to eat after having a long day and the suspect here was assigned to serve him. They had an argument after he scolded her for being rude and unprofessional and then, he left angrily. The suspect, Annabelle Finn also left exactly five minutes later without saying anything to any of us and that's the last time we saw them both”

The voice recorder stopped immediately but even before it did, my mouth and eyes were already widely opened.

Yes, Indeed the voice was that of the manager and everything he said was—

“I'm listening” the detective smirked

“I… I have no idea the man is chief Larsson, he looked so different besides, that wasn't the cause of our argument. I wasn't rude until he came up with the nightstand talk and then, I left because I was called to help my step mother receive a parcel at Royal hotels and —” i instantly stopped remembering the reporter's words.

“Chief Simeon Larsson was found dead at Royal hotels in the pool of his own blood”

I gasped on remembering those broadcasted words.

Why the hell was everything being manipulated!!!!

#Vote#