Life after Death: The Afterlife of Hezekiah Chamblee

Chapter Forty-Three: Mariah and Andrew's Defection

Mercer Boutique Hotel, Downtown Boston...

"I can't believe this," Mariah breathed to herself for what felt like the umpteenth time as she and Andrew were currently under police protection after witnessing her Alex and Leigh-Anne shoot down the former's twin brother after being stunned with the truth behind Hezekiah's death and the reason he was hated by Jeffrey and Adelle. After watching her parents, Alex, and Leigh-Anne being led away in handcuffs and Cameron being taken away in an ambulance to Boston General Hospital; it became clear that everything that her family believed in was distorted in dark secrets and lies as two people paid the heavy price with their lives.

Regarding Hezekiah, she knew that his birth was not his fault with him being the son of disgraced and murdered chauffer scorned by their mother. And yet, she participated in the hatred against him. As for Cameron, she knew that he was right for defecting against the family. If she was under Minnie Jean's care with the boys, she would've made sure to do right by Hezekiah in the first place.

But it was too late to turn back time.

"Mariah?"

Said woman snapped out of her thoughts to face her betrothed, the senator's son still reeling from what he witnessed. "Yeah?"

"Still shaken from earlier?"

Mariah nodded. "Everything that I was taught by Mom and Dad about how Hezekiah was the product of rape and how he wasn't meant for their family- all lies," she replied. "And now, Cameron's in the fight of his life while this family is now disgraced."

Andrew sighed. "You never knew anything about what your parents were planning regarding Cameron?"

She shook her head. "I assumed that Cameron was heading back to England after the ceremony, firmly deciding to cut ties with everyone after today. Couldn't blame him regarding the circumstances."

"Can't argue with that. What do you think's going to happen after today?"

Mariah sighed. "All I know is that I can't stick around after today, not after what I know about Hezekiah," she replied. "Andy, I actually helped in tearing down one of the two siblings who had common sense and was more practical than I'd thought I was. If it wasn't for his death, he might've gone places and enjoyed life far from Mom and Dad's clutches. I'll never forgive myself for not being a good sister to him."

"It's going to be okay, Mariah," Andrew assured his fiance.

"How, Andy? I may not have ended his life, but I might as well have allowed Mom and Dad execute the order to have the bodyguards kill him," she replied, tears running down her face with her mascara being ruined. "I'm the worst sister in the world. If Cameron dies in the same way that Hezekiah did, I'll have innocent blood on my hands."

There was a knock at the door. "Come in," Andrew said.

A stout, middle-aged officer came into the room. "Miss Chamblee and Mr. Coleman? I just heard from Captain Slater regarding Cameron," he said gruffly. "Thankfully, there wasn't too much internal damage and the young man's going to be okay."

"Thank God," Mariah sobbed, crossing herself and sinking out of her chair onto her knees. "Can I please see him?"

"Unfortunately, you can't," the officer replied. "Given the circumstances, he's being under police guard as you and your fiance are. There's been some recent developments regarding your family's estate."

"What circumstances?" Andrew asked.

"All will be explained at the station where you two are to take statements and answer questions," a female officer replied as she came into the hotel room.