The following day.

When Zaria arrived at Preston and Fort Group, she exited her car and walked towards the company building. She suddenly started and dropped the key, then bumped into someone as she bent down to pick it.

"It's so unlike you to be this clumsy." Commented Liam whom she had bumped into. He handed the red key over to her with a smile.

"Thank you." She took it and brushed past him to head for the elevator.

"You are still ignoring me." Liam spoke up behind her.

She glanced at him over her shoulder and wanted to say something but decided that it was not worth it.

"I'm still speaking to you." The man sounded annoyed, and she turned to face him.

"For the last time, Mr. Preston, I do not like to be pestered by people who have nothing of importance to say to me."

Liam didn't seem to have anything important to say as he took her words as a cue to leave, much to her relief.

Since she was accompanying Desmond to inspect one of the hotels owned by Preston and Fort Group, she quickly did a double check on his schedule which she had previously rearranged to save more time and printed the documents needed for the other meetings. She was done just as he walked in through her door.

"Good morning." She greeted without straightening up since she already knew who had walked in.

The man watched her pick up the paper from the printer and smiled at the drool worthy view. She was wearing yet another dress of his favorite color on her—cream. He should certainly replace all her clothes with those of this color. On second thought, he shook his head. That would take away the thrill of waking up every day, hoping she would wear a cream-colored dress.

Because she was slightly bending over, the dress had slid up to reveal a little more skin on her thighs and he had to avert his gaze while hoping she did not notice his tightened pants.

"Did you dream of me?" He asked jokingly.

She straightened up to compile all the documents and spared him a glance. "You bug me all day, and in the evenings, you won't let me off either. Now you want to haunt my dreams as well?"

"I'm no ghost." He laughed, observing her movements. "But if you want me to haunt you in your bed at night, I can consider it."

She shot him a glare before showing him the door. "We have to get going."

"After you." He spun on his heel as he watched her leave the office in her signature saunter that always drove him crazy. How he wished he could shut the eyes of all the men in the world, so he was the only one to enjoy such a view.

They sat side by side in his car, and this time, she did not keep her distance and read random documents to avoid him. However, she didn't seem that happy either.

"Did something happen?" He asked.

"I'm being followed." She confessed. She had noticed it earlier when she left the house but believed that she was overthinking, until she realized that she had been followed all the way to the company.

A frown formed on his face. "Could it be Liam? You mentioned that he was investigating you.

"It's Jaime." She said certainly. "He is the only lunatic I have spoken to lately. I didn't think he was going to start following me this soon."

Desmond's frown deepened. He had initially decided to handle Jiame with as little bloodshed as possible since they were biological brothers. However, the man had overstepped the boundaries.

"Leave him to me. I will teach him a lesson." She placed a hand on his. It wasn't hard to know what he was thinking, but she did not want to use violence. At least not until she really had to.

"Will you be okay? Tell me if you need anyone's head snapped out of their neck." He offered seriously, making her wonder whether he was joking. Why did it sound so much like something he was capable of doing? She nodded nonetheless.

"That doesn't only apply to Jaime." He added.

She looked up at him when she understood the implication of his words. He would get rid of his best friend as long as she said that his existence bothered her? He wasn't being serious, right?

…

Jaime was thrilled after taking several pictures and even a video of Zaria. At first, he only wanted to do it to get evidence of Zaria being in a relationship with Desmond. However, he later realized that she was too beautiful and couldn't help tailing her for more photos.

He assessed his collection in his car for a while with a grin on his face. "My beauty, did you miss me? It's been a whole night and I miss you so much."

"It's such a bummer that I have to go and pay a visit to that bitch Alyssa." He frowned as he started the car. "Luckily, I have your beautiful pictures to cleanse my eyesight once I leave that place."

He drove to the place he didn't think he would set foot in if it wasn't part of his plan. He had wanted Samantha to go and utter words of consolation to the woman and pass his heartfelt greetings while at it. However, the little brat had adamantly refused to go. He would teach her a lesson later.

…

It didn't take long before the woman was brought into the visitation room with her hands still cuffed. Her eyes watered as soon as she saw her son.

"How have you been?" He asked, even though he already knew the kind of condition she must be in considering how she looked. He didn't even want to hug her.

Alyssa didn't want to make her son worried, so she smiled her emotional tears away. "I'm fine, Jaime. How are you doing? Are you alright? Are Sam and Desmond well?"

"They are." Obviously, he added mentally. Samantha was having so much fun that she was starting to think that she had the right to make her own decisions. On the other hand, Desmond had a beauty to bed, the same beauty who was responsible for Alyssa's predicament. He wondered how entertaining it would be if Alyssa found out that her most beloved son was fooling around with Zaria.

'Instead of thinking about it, why not watch the actual live version?' He thought through a laugh, and his smile disappeared as soon as his gaze landed on the handcuffed woman.

He shifted in his seat. "I'm worried about Desmond."

"What about him?" As expected, Alyssa was on alert once she heard that her most beloved son was a cause of concern.

"He's been doing his all to get you out of here. He even resorted to cringe-worthy means…" He let the words sink in before cunningly adding, "He even decided to befriend and get into a relationship with Zaria Williams."

As for who Zaria Willaims was, Alyssa knew better than anyone.

"That's not possible." She shook her head in denial, and Jaime's lips twitched.

Stupid humans, always doubting the truth even when it was right in front of them. It wasn't that he was unhappy about it–it was the main reason why he was able to manipulate them at the palm of his hands after all—he was willing to play with them to their hearts' content.

On the outside, he kept a nonchalant expression. "I saw it myself. Or perhaps, he has been brainwashed. That woman sounded pretty sure of what she reported after all."

"Do you think so too?" Alyssa asked. "That I'm guilty?"

It didn't matter what outsiders thought. It didn't even matter what the court thought, but the only thing that mattered was what her sons and daughter thought of her.

Jaime shook his head. "I know that you did not kill our father. You couldn't have done it." Stated Jaime and his words brought a smile to her face.

"Thank you for trusting me, son." She brought her cuffed hands up to hold his hand.

He had to suck in a breath to stop himself from slapping the brainless woman's hands away. She didn't even realize that he had left the second accusation vague. How could he say that he was certain of her not being a promiscuous woman who cheated on her husband? He knew everything about her plans.

As for the murder. He knew the truth. She was obviously innocent because he knew who the real murderer was—and he knew that it was someone she would never expect. How thrilling it would be if she finds out.

With a smirk, he wondered whether he should change the plan and keep her alive. He could have someone keep her stay in prison memorable and then wait until she had only a few days left to stay in prison before telling her the truth. Now, that would be fun.