THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 270: KARMA-JUSTICE-FREEDOM

Chapter 270: KARMA-JUSTICE-FREEDOM

One month later

Fay watched through the screens as Celine Atticus was led into the courtroom.

Just a week ago, Reign Kings had been sentenced to fifteen years in jail.

Her father unfortunately escaped the law by dying.

It was Celine’s turn now, and Fay couldn’t bring herself to go into the courtroom.

However, she was grateful that the sentencing was being televised.

The camera panned to Ace, and her heart broke a little for him.

He had gone through so much, but was hopefully going to get justice soon.

The proceedings began with an opening remark from the judge.

Fay’s phone rang that instant, and she answered.

"Hello Fay," she heard a voice that sounded extremely familiar.

"What do you want?" She asked, stepping away for some privacy.

"To turn myself in."

"You’ve been on the run for weeks. Why are you now ready to turn yourself in?" She asked, unable to hide the irritation in her voice.

"Fay—" she heard the strain in her aunt’s voice, and her heart squeezed just a little. "I thought I could do you one good before I leave this world," she said.

Fay scoffed. "There’s no good you can do for me. You’re too evil to do anything good. Keep running, but rest assured, I’ll catch you."

"Wait, please Fay!" She pleaded, just as Fay was about to end the call.

"What?!" Fay raised her voice in frustration, because she was already missing the conviction.

"I killed him, Fay," she confessed.

"What? You killed who?" Her heart thumped.

"The scumbag I married. For hurting you. For pushing me to hurt your parents. I killed him. He’s dead. And I recovered some important things he stole. A lot he gambled away, but I was able to recover much more. I’ve left it in the care of my daughters, with strict instruction to return them to you. I’m sorry I never fought for you as hard as I should have. Greed wouldn’t let me. Goodbye Fay."

That goodbye had sounded rather ominous. But before Fay could ask her to hold on, the line went dead.

She turned her head to the screen, and saw that very soon, Celine’s sentence would be ready.

Stepping further away, she walked to her car, and went in.

She drove out, and headed straight for the address that was supposed to be her aunts.

It took her half an hour to get there. And another thirty minutes to locate the house.

As soon as she stopped the car, she ran straight to the apartment she was directed to.

She knocked on the door, and the second time, a girl opened the door.

"Where’s Aunty—"

"She’s dead," the girl said with dead eyes.

On closer inspection, Fay realized it was her Aunt’s first daughter, Laura.

"Laura?" She called in disbelief at how horrible she looked.

A tear dropped down the girl’s eyes, and she moved closer to hug Fay.

Fay had no choice than to hug her back. Whatever differences they had, it was always fuelled by her mother.

But her mother was dead. Dead? She still couldn’t believe it.

"How’s she dead when she just called me saying she wants to turn herself in?" She asked as they pulled out of each other’s embrace.

"Don’t you know mum is a coward? She would have never turned herself to the police, so she chose death instead. Come see for yourself."

Fay walked into the shabby apartment, maneuvering her way through the empty bottles that were scattered across the floor.

They entered into one of the tiny rooms, and Fay saw Maya, her aunt’s second daughter, crying beside her lifeless body.

"Oh God!" Fay turned around, and held her tummy tightly so she wouldn’t throw up.

"She poisoned herself. It was swift, and without room for help."

Wondering why her sister was talking, Maya looked up and saw Fay.

She jumped to her feet, and stormed towards her in rage.

"It’s all your fault, you redheaded demon! Mum should have never taken you in. Matter of fact, she should have never had a sister like your mother!" She screamed, jumping on her.

But Laura intervened before she could cause any real damage.

Fay, with her back still turned against them, knew she had to get out of this place.

It reeked of overty. And not just the physical manifestation of poverty. But the mental aspect too.

She just couldn’t do it. It was sucking her back into a dark place she had long escaped from..

"Your mother said you have something for me. Send it across when you’re done mourning," she said, and began to walk away.

"Just send it your way, huh? Do you even have a heart? Your aunt is dead! Dead! What about us? How are we going to survive?" Maya screamed after her.

"Stop it Maya!" Laura begged.

"The same way I survived many years ago," Fay said, stopping by the door. "I started working at age twelve, whilst you two got to have an actual childhood. If I could fend for myself even at that age, then damn right you can as well. Especially as an adult."

She walked out in haste, and went straight to her car.

Without so much as a glance back, she hopped in, and drove away.

When she arrived at the courtrooms building, she couldn’t find a path to go through.

She stopped by a tiny corner, wondering why both media and citizens were huddled together, and in a rush.

A tiny space cleared up, and she was suddenly able to see better.

Celine Atticus, with her held head high even to the end, was being led away, and everyone wanted a click.

Her eyes went to the big screen, and as she saw the verdict, she couldn’t help but smile.

Fay started her car again, and drove away. This time, she went straight to the beach.

She spent the rest of the day just walking around the beach, and gathering her thoughts.

Night came, and it was finally time to return home.

As she entered into her car for the umpteenth time that day, her eyes went to her phone she had decided not to take with her.

She scrolled through, and saw she had gotten lots of calls.

Two from her grandfather. Four from Gabrielle. Five from the matriarch. Six from Leighton. But Ace had not called her yet.

She took a deep breath, and started the car.

As she drove away, she got a text. Her eyes went to the screen.

The text was from Leighton. "Party at the Atticus mansion. Be there. Dream misses you."

Fay inhaled sharply, as her hand gripped the steering tightly.

Nothing felt real to her yet. She still felt like she was floating in the air.

"What is wrong with you, Fay?" She questioned herself, as she took the turn that led to the Atticus mansion.

The gates opened for her when she arrived, and she drove in.

"Fay is here!" She heard Sophie scream as she stepped out.

But it was her daughter that ran first to hug her.

"Mummy, I missed you! Where were you all day?" Dreamy asked.

"Out baby," Fay replied, and kissed her forehead.

"Good evening, mummy Fay," she heard another tiny voice say, and looked down to see Crystal.

"Sweetheart," she bent, and kissed her forehead. "I didn’t think you’d be here too," she said, pinching her cheeks playfully.

"My mummy, and sister brought me," she replied.

"Fay!" Sophie screamed excitedly, announcing her presence.

She hugged her, and then her best friend, Laila, who was Crystal’s older sister, hugged her too.

"It seems everyone is here," she said, as the children escorted her into the house.

"Ugh, you’re finally here," Leighton approached her as she walked through the door. "The matriarch—"

"Where’s Ace?" She interrupted her.

"Daddy is at the back with the uncle’s," Dream said on hearing her father being mentioned.

"Are you okay?" Leighton asked.

"I’m fine," she smiled weakly, as she turned, and headed towards the back.

The closer she drew, the louder the men’s voices were.

She wondered what was so funny that had them cracking up.

Ace was about to open what would be his third beer so far, when he saw Fay walk into their midst.

Their laughter died down, as they all turned to her.

"Wow, she’s even more gorgeous in person!" Martin said, breaking the silence.

Fay looked the man’s way. She had never seen him before, but she appreciated his compliments.

"Shut up, Martin," Landon said.

"Can I talk to you, Ace?" Fay asked, when Ace didn’t acknowledge her presence.

"Sure," he replied.

"It was nice meeting you all," she said, and turned around.

Ace followed behind her, but started to get worried when she turned towards the path of the garden.

"Fay, stop," he called.

She didn’t answer him, neither did she stop.

It wasn’t until she was fully in the garden, she stopped walking, and turned to face him.

"Are you still mad at me because that night you returned to the mansion, I told you it was best we gave each other a little space?" She asked directly.

His head doubled back at her accusation. "What? I’m not mad at you, Fay. I thought you wanted to explore things with Jason, and didn’t want to interfere with that," he replied.

"Are you for real?" She snickered. "One month has passed. All you do is pick up your daughter, and drop her home without talking to me. Celine was sentenced to life, and I wasn’t the first person you thought to celebrate with? My aunt is dead! She killed herself, after killing my uncle. You didn’t know, right? Because you don’t—-"

"Fay!" He interrupted her rant.

"What?!" She screamed in frustration.

"That night, you told me we were better off co-parenting Dream, so you could take out some time to really heal. I understood you, because you had just gone through a near death experience by fire, and Celine’s gun threat. Then you went out on dates with Jason, and I thought you surely had moved on from me."

"You didn’t even fight! And dates with Jason?" She scoffed. "I was trying to turn him down without hurting him. Again, you would know if you had asked!" She cried out.

"I’m sorry I didn’t ask, Fay. I’m sorry I thought I was doing the right thing by giving you the space you asked for. But I think you’re not being fair. We’ve been through so much shit together, and apart. We’re not freaking kids anymore. I love you enough to give you space, as I told you I would. If you love me enough to want me back, you have to tell me too."

The garden breeze carried the question in Ace’s statement into Fay’s ears, and as she stood facing him, her heart already whispered the answer even before her mouth could speak.