Agreement Behind Her Marriage

A lot transpired in Carmela’s case, and it was quite chaotic. However, what Lily didn’t anticipate was Carmela, the woman who had filed the case, withdrawing her case against Kenneth’s group. This came as such a shock to Lily that it was emotionally painful. She felt the urge to cry out of frustration.

“I’m going to Faye’s office,” she told Drew. They had been resting at home for a couple of days, and she felt within herself that she was ready to confront whatever the problem was. She needed to face this before she could truly accept it.

“Babe… I’m not sure if going to Faye’s office would be good for you,” Drew muttered, expressing his concerns.

“Drew! I need to understand why nothing has developed in the case. How would you feel if you were in my shoes? Before I accepted Faye’s invitation, I had maintained silence and was on the verge of letting go of the past because I wanted peace of mind. They were the ones who pressured me into opening up, recalling the painful memories I was forced to forget. And now, after exposing my dark past to the public, Carmela suddenly backs off. I had so much faith in her!”

“Well, unfortunately, she had been deceiving us,” Drew responded with a heavy heart.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“What?” Lily was caught off guard and slumped onto the vibrant couch.

Drew sat beside her, gently putting his arm around her.

Did the woman lie? How could Carmela do this to her? She needs to know what happened!

Lily’s body quivered; her anger apparent.

“Take me to Faye’s law firm,” she demanded, her voice filled with frustration.

“Babe…”

“Please, Drew…” she said, with her body shaking.

Drew let out a sigh. “Is there anything I can do? I’ve always got your back, so I’ll go with you.”

Lily turned to Drew and embraced him, feeling his love and support. This was why she was gathering her courage, and it was clear that Drew was by her side as always, providing encouragement.

“I love you, Drew. I can’t bear to lose you.”

“I love you too, Lily, more than anything!”

***

Faye was occupied at her desk when Lily and Drew entered. She happened to leave the office upon their arrival, and upon seeing them, her shoulders slumped. All Faye could do was to face Lily.

“Lily, please take a seat,” she gestured toward the spacious couch.

Lily asked with curiosity, “What happened, Faye?”

“Unfortunately, Carmela was lying. We were deceived,” Faye said, her fist resting on the sturdy table, clenched. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Lily, even though she could feel her teeth grinding.

Lily inquired, “How could that be?” She still couldn’t believe it, gazing directly at the carpeted floor.

“Could you please share what happened?” Drew was the one who inquired.

Faye began to explain, “Well, on the day of Kenneth’s interrogation during the trial, their camp released a video before we even had a chance to start our questioning… Before the video, Carmela stated that Kenneth had invited her to their usual hangout. She admitted she went there of her own free will, and she claimed that when she arrived, Kenneth forcibly fed her his P-word without her consent.”

“The sperm DNA of Kenneth, Keith, and Jericho matched the specimen found in the undergarment fabric she used. Brian’s DNA was discovered on her top, which is the reason they were charged in this case. The evidence was clear.”

Lily’s throat felt parched as she listened to Faye, and her words stirred up Lily’s deep-seated fear of the past.

“Um, d-do you want me to continue?” the woman asked anxiously, sensing Lily’s silence.

“Yes,” Lily nodded firmly. She had come here to uncover the truth and confront the triggers from her past. Drew squeezed her hand, a reassuring reminder that he was right there with her.

Faye continued, “Carmela sent a message to Kenneth-more than one hundred and twenty-four text messages after that incident!”

Drew winced and asked, “Who in their right mind would text their assailant after such an incident?”

“Exactly! And she didn’t confide in me about that. Their group keeps insisting that Carmela was just seeking attention. She wanted Kenneth’s attention, and this case was just one way to get it. She wanted Kenneth to focus on her, and he did-along with all of us!”

“Carmela loves Kenneth,” Lily remarked. At least that was the truth she believed. “She wouldn’t have come to see me that night when Kenneth called for her help, the night he marked me if she didn’t have feelings for him.”

“That’s the argument from the other side-they claim that Carmela had held deep admiration for Kenneth for a long time and that what happened that night was consensual. However, from my perspective, it doesn’t necessarily prove Kenneth’s innocence. Loving someone and wanting to please them doesn’t preclude the possibility of being their victim. We can’t truly know what’s in someone’s mind. The r*pist is still a r*pist.”

Lily was silenced by this and compelled to confront Faye’s comments, a bitter truth rooted in her own experiences.

“So, fast forward to the day Carmela withdrew the case, their camp released a video, which revealed that she was the one who initiated contact with Kenneth that night.”

Lily’s fists clenched.

“I felt intense anger, especially when Carmela admitted to lying! Kenneth’s group had pressured her to the point where she had no choice but to withdraw from the case. She explained that she only wanted to gain Kenneth’s attention, hoping that he would reciprocate her feelings after what happened, which was far from reality. I was utterly lost and devastated.”

They heard a knock, which drew their attention, and the door was opened. A staff member peered in from the outside.

“I’m sorry for the trouble, Miss Burnham. Carmela is here,” the staff member announced. Carmela emerged from a concealed doorway, appearing visibly fatigued, with no signs of sleep or rest.

Lily gritted her teeth upon seeing Carmela, who couldn’t muster the courage to meet her gaze, instead keeping her eyes fixed on the carpeted floor.

“I’ve come here to… apologize,” Carmela began, her voice betraying her nervousness. “And to apologize to you too, Lily.”

Lily rose from her seat, anger seeping into her words. “Carmela, I can’t forgive you for what you did! Why did you do that? You put me in the hot seat just because you knew they had done something to me?”

The woman wept, stuttering through her words, “I-I’m sorry… I-I just want to-”

“Sorry? Do you know how many days I suffered and cried at home, reliving that painful past? I’m a victim, and you, of all people, know that! You used me! Do you understand the true pain of a victim?”

The woman continued to sob, pleading, “I’m so sorry, Lily!”

As the commotion drew the attention of other employees who had been eavesdropping outside Faye’s office, Drew decided it was time to leave and minimize the spectacle. He addressed Faye, “We’re leaving!”

The lawyer nodded, crossing her arms, determined to avoid looking at Carmela and instead focusing on the street outside her window.

Lily continued to sob as they left Faye’s office. The lawyers, too, were visibly upset, while Carmela couldn’t meet their gaze. Lily had believed in her, and that was the most agonizing truth of all, compounded by the fact that she knew Kenneth was a demon!

She had trusted Carmela, and that trust had caused her immense pain.