"What happened? How did you end up in prison? When did all this occur?" I could hear the stress in his voice. "Calm down, VD. I will be out of here soon," I said.
"I can ask the team to break you out," VD said, determination filling his voice.
"You're crazy, I want you to do me a favor. Did we get the deal?"
"Yes, we did," VD replied, a hint of excitement and relief in his voice.
"I will ask Isla to sell the land. The funds will cover my bail and get me out of prison," I said.
"What? You want to sell the land? What of our plan." VD's voice echoed through the phone, I could almost hear the pain and accusation underlying his words. His parents home was on the land. I had sworn to protect the tenants, and now VD probably felt I had betrayed that promise.
"That is where the plan comes in," I replied. "This way, no one will suspect a thing. We will use my desperate need for bail money to sale the land without raising any suspicions on who is the buyer."
There was silence on the other end, before he spoke up, a mix of surprise and admiration in his voice. "Wow, you are right. I am sorry, Boss. I shouldn't have doubted you."
"I have little time left. Come visit me, I want to progress our plan while I'm still in here. Ironically, prison is the best place to move things forward without arousing suspicion. Submit the request to bid on the land tomorrow. Make sure our offer is the highest. We need to secure that land, no matter what."
"Yes, boss," VD replied, his voice firm and resolute.
"I won't call again, It's not safe. You know what do. Take care of everything," I powered off the phone and handed it back to the policeman, who had a very confused expression.
The policeman led me away, the heavy clang of the cell door echoing through the corridor as I was locked in. Two weeks. That is how long I would have to wait for my court hearing. As I sat in the cold cell, my thoughts drifted to Isla. Everyone had warned me against her, but I hope they were all wrong.
The following morning I received a number of visitors, Harper was on the verge of murdering me. Somehow she and Ivy had discovered I had ended up in prison to protect Isla.
Harper insisted Isla had told them, and I found myself wondering if it was truly possible. Ivy's eyes, brimming with tears, met mine as she spoke for the first time, her voice trembling with emotion.
"I can still get you out of here, with a clean record," she said, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. "But I guess it's pointless now. This is my closure, my chance to finally face the truth. You chose her, Damen. You will always choose her. You went to prison to protect her. I could never measure up to her in your heart, can I?"
She looked at me, and for a moment, our eyes locked. I felt the shift in her gaze, she was done waiting.
"You are a wise man, Damen," she said, her eyes brimming with tears. "You will find your way out of here soon. When you do, I wish you and her a happy marriage." With those parting words, she turned to my sister and gently led her out of the police station.
As they exited the police station, they crossed paths with Isla. They simply looked at her then, with a quiet dismissal then turned and walked away, leaving Isla standing alone.
"What is going on with your sister?" Isla asked as she reached the bench, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "For the first time, she didn't shout at me or hit me. Has she finally accepted us?"
"She is exhausted, Isla, seeing me behind bars was the last thing she probably imagined would happen." I replied mentally drained too.
"I still can't wrap my head around it, too" she said, her voice cracking as tears began to fall. "What are we going to do, Damen? I have been thinking, I am not like you, I don't have your skills or resources. No one needs me on the outside. Maybe we should just tell them the truth. I will serve the sentence, and you can take care of us and the baby, and plan something for the future." She said timidly as if afraid of my reaction to her suggestion.
"What a crazy suggestion." I replied, my voice was low and fierce. "You and our child are not setting foot behind these bars. Not now, not ever. Don't even think about it, Isla. Do you understand me?"
Tears streamed down her face, her body shaking with sobs. "Yes, I do," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Stop crying, Isla. Everything will be okay. I will get out of here. At least Harry didn't press charges. They said my options are either paying bail and doing community service or serving ten years."
"Ten years? No, Damen, I won't let that happen," she said, determination on her face. "I have to find the bail money. I have some savings, it might be enough."
I couldn't help but chuckle at her determined expression. She was adorable, and I couldn't understand why others hated such a sweet soul. "Your savings won't be enough, Isla," I said gently. "I need your help with something else. I want you to help me sell the land."
"What? Damen, you can't be serious! You promised the tenants, you promised them the land wouldn't be sold."
"I know I promised, but this is the only way. If I am stuck in prison, who is going to pay the high tax? In three years, the land will be seized and end up in the hands of the Lange family. What then will the tenants do? I promised to protect them, and that's exactly what I will do."
Isla's tears flowed uncontrollably. "Am so sorry, Damen. This is all my fault. I will talk to them, make them understand. I grew up in the Lange household, and although my mother was just a maid, Mr. Lange was kind to me. He might listen to me. I will go see him, beg if I have to."