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Chapter 22

The next day, Alice woke up with a headache. She checked her phone and had no calls or messages. Why hadn't Mike called? Was Patrice right? No, she couldn't be. She walked out of her room and saw her father leaving the guest room. "I'm surprised after yesterday she even let you stay under the same roof."

"Honey, please, not you too."

"What do you expect, dad? I won't forgive you for this." She walked away from Carl and headed for her mom's room. She opened the door and walked to the bed. There was her mother laying still wearing the same clothes as yesterday and her make up smudged. Alice walked to the bathroom and got her two aspirins and a glass of water and walked to her side. "Mom, here. Take this." She said as Julia stirred.

Julia sat up and took the glass and pills. "Sorry you have to see me like this."

"It's okay, mom. You're going through something hard. But we're strong women and we'll get through it, together. We don't need him." Alice said, sitting next to her and rubbing her shoulders.

"I'm not leaving him, Alice. I can't. He's my husband and I have to stand by him. For better or worse."

Alice stood up and looked at her mother. "Are you serious? After what he did? There's no forgiving that."

"That's what you do in a marriage. You forgive. And you better forget about this too and get yourself ready. There's a press conference in an hour and we are going to be standing by your father in support."

"I will not! This has to be a nightmare and I need to wake up."

Julia walked to Alice and slapped her and pulled her by her hair. "Young lady, you are going to do as you're told. Now, go get ready. You still have some presentable dresses in your closet."

Alice rubbed her cheek and looked at her mother in disbelief. Her mother had been rough with her, but never physical. She ran to her room and locked herself in. An hour later her father was knocking on the door. "Honey, are you ready?" Alice opened the door and walked out. "Thank you for doing this."

"I don't want to do this. It's sick. You know that mom slapped me?"

"I'm sorry, she's not herself right now. But I promise things are going to change. We'll be the perfect family again."

"We were never perfect, dad." Alice said as Julia walked out of the room all fixed up. She walked to Alice and fixed her hair.

"Now, we are going to go out there and look like the perfect family we are. Right, Alice?"

Alice nodded and walked behind them. They opened the front door and the reporters started taking pictures and asking questions. "Judge Fletcher  has a statement." Lewis told the crowd. Alice and Julia stood at each side of Carl.

"Hi, good afternoon. I'm here to discuss the events that occurred yesterday. There were some pictures circulating of me with different women in compromising positions. I am confirming the allegations. That is me in the pictures. I apologize to my family, and the people. It was wrong of me to stray from my family who is my rock and will always stand by me. For this reason, I am announcing that I am resigning from my position as judge effective immediately." He said as people gasped and started with the pictures and questions again. "Now, out of respect in these difficult times I asked that you let us be. I won't be answering any questions at the moment. Thank you." He said as he hugged Julia and tried to hug Alice but she walked inside quickly.

"Alice! Why didn't you hug your father?" Julia asked furious.

"Because I'm not part of this act. I did what I was told. I stood by you. Now let me be. I need to head back to school." Alice went to her room and grabbed her purse and checked her phone. She noticed a missed call from Mike.