Ashley Kimberly- HE is the Woman

chapter 13 : The trial

Ashley ran through the wide corridor. Tears rolled down her cheeks when she noticed "Morgue" written on a door, at the end of the corridor, from a distance.

No he can't leave me. He can't die. I didn't get to tell him how much I love him.

"Ashley! where are you going he's in this room!", called out Richard from Ashley's back.

Ashley ran to the room Richard pointed.

Ashley started to bawl like a child as she saw, Uncle laying on the bed, from the door. Richard wrapped his arm around her shoulder from her back.
"shh he is out of danger don't worry", whispered Richard.

Everyone left the room to uncle and Ashley.

"3 ribs broken. Fractured legs. Yet I am alive son. I will live for you and Ann".

Ashley hugged Uncle gently as she rested her head on his chest.

"I thought calling you Dad will be a disrespect to you. But I love you..Dad. "Dad" cannot be a term I would want to avoid if it's you. Thank you for not giving up. You have  to watch me and Ann grow old".

Uncle's eyes glistened with tears . He tightly hugged his son, now daughter.

At 3 in the morning the hospital became quiet. Abbie, Ann, Rosa,Richard and Ashley sat in the corridor while 5 muscular gunned bodyguards guarded Uncle's room . 3 bodyguards stood few feet behind Ashley, Ann , Abbie,Rosa and Richard.

"Why do you need security?", asked Richard.

"Well this wasn't an accident. Uncle took my car for his meeting and attackers assumed it was me in the car so a truck intentionally ran onto my car.We have the CCTV footage. We all know who wants to harm us. GREY telecom has plenty wealth to offer but the ones who doesn't agree to their terms has to die", replied Abbie.

"A lawyer has to be prepared mentally for all these threats. This time they involved my father now no one can stop us from ruining them", said Ashley as she gritted her teeth.

Ann, Abbie and Rosa fell asleep. Richard had to go back for Rachel. Ashley walked back and forth in the corridor. From a distance Ashley noticed a familiar body approaching her. As the figure came closer Ashley instantly recognised him. Dan.

"Long time no see Ashley", said Dan with a smile, "I don't recognise you anymore..you are so different to what you use to be. You have turned into a kind human or woman I suppose".

"I have no time to listen to all these right now. My father is hospitalised and I have a case to think about after 4months".

"I am glad you chose to atone for your mistakes. Well I am here to tell you have passed another stage of being a woman. You have experienced the feeling of terror a daughter goes through at the thought of losing her father. You love your father like a daughter loves her father.Congratulations".

"You are here to tell me this! do you think I really care about how many stages I have crossed,right now? don't show up out of blue to remind me my purpose , I am tired of all the trial your God is putting me through ", exclaimed Ashley , trying her best to hold back her tears. Her nose started running and tears fighting to come out of her eyes.

Dan sighed. Then gently patted Ashley's head.

"You have no idea how beautiful you look when you express your emotions. You have no idea how much it suits you when you are kind , respect women and  every single soul around you."

"Shut up. Concentrate on consoling me. You praise me and at the next second taunt me. Unreliable Angel", said Ashley trying her best to sound sarcastic.

      The trial began. Rosa, Ashley and Ann sat together. Abbie felt nauseous. No one dared to re-open Ashley kimberly's case and here she is on Ashley's insistence.

Abbie, Calm down. Ashley thinks you can do it so you can do it. Think about Rosa. She went through hell in these 4months.

Defendant's lawyer took a very long time to summarise the case from the beginning and used same statements like Ashley did to prove the criminal innocent, tarnishing Rosa's character. Mr.Grey stared at Ashley suspiciously while his son stood in the witness box with confidence. Abbie took a long breath before starting.

"Your honour I will take only 10min to prove this criminal guilty. Firstly, I will present the CCTV camera that went missing on the day after Rosa was raped. It shows when Rosa entered the cabin and how she was dragged out by this filthy criminal. Took me a very long time to find these footages. Secondly, if this man wasn't guilty why would his father try to assassinate me?. According to the street CCTV  footage the truck, which ran over my car, was bought with Mr. Grey's credit card. Thirdly, the original medical report of Rosa clearly states that Mr. Grey's son's semen was found in her genital.Her report was swapped in the hospital. Fourthly, Rosa is not a type of woman who would sleep with rich men for money. She dated her boyfriend for 13years before they finally ran away and  then one day he got into an accident".

Abbie represented all the evidences.

The verdict served justice to Rosa. Grey's son was arrested for rape and Mr. Grey was charged for attempt to murder and fraud.

Rosa finally got her justice. Her family came to meet her and sort out their difference. Ashley offered Rosa a position in the newspaper company.

Everything seemed to fall onto their right places till Ashley received yet another call. This time Ashley wanted to run away far from here but she had to face it someday so why not now.