The long drive from the airport down to the courthouse felt like the journey of a lifeti for Senator Gregory.
All through the flight back to the city, he had been thinking of his brothers and how to convince Alia to go easy on them. He had earlier spoken to his mother and was forced to lie to her about the condition back at ho.
Senator Gregory didn't mind if Lin and all her criminal-minded subordinates were given a lifeti imprisonnt for their cri. But the thought of sending his brother to prison for anything more than three to six months was unimaginable. If Matt could survive staying for six months, Desmond wouldn't last for a month in prison.
"Dad..." Alia nudge her father in the arm, her gentle smile easing the tension on his face. "Everything is going to be alright."
"So you keep saying." Senator Gregory said in a soft tone while admiring Alia's vibrant look. She was cladded in a well-fitted grey pantsuit, with hair neatly styled into a ponytail and butterfly reading glasses that gave her the distinctive look of a no-nonsense attorney.
"That's because I ant everything," Alia replied patting his interlocked hands.
"You said they all confessed."
"Yes."
"Including your stepmother?"
"Yes."
A hint of disgust flashed across Alia's eyes but was gone before her father could notice it.
"Did they show any sign of remorse for their wrong?"
"None that I know of. They were more focused on making deals to lessen their punishnt rather than showing remorse for their actual cri."
"I'm sure deep down they are truly sorry."
"You're not in their mind, Dad. So stop thinking for them." Alia replied patiently trying her best not to get angry with her father.
So far, she had updated him with everything she had done and he seed very impressed with her work, especially on the part of organizing a new and proficient security team headed by a young man who introduced himself as Ron at the airport. She also updated him on the changes she had made at the mansion and at his office, which left him almost speechless and highly impressed.
The only thing that seed to be troubling the senator was the court judgnt and how it would impact the life of his brothers. He seed eager to let go of the past and build a better future with them. The only hindrance in his way was his aggrieved daughter and her unforgiving husband.
"Amy, I know this may sound annoying to you." The Senator said in a gentle tone, taking note of a shift in his daughter's facial expression. "But please hear out before you get angry."
Alia pinched her forehead in frustration. She thought her father would be more practical and rational after three days of rest. But it seed nothing had changed. He was still biased and sentintal.
"Dad, if it's about pardoning them, just know that my answer remains no. They need to learn from their mistake otherwise they will do the sa thing again, maybe worse."
"Just hear out first before you co to any conclusion." The Senator pleaded.
"I'm listening." Alia looked sideways, her angry gaze focused on the tinted window as moving cars and buildings passed by in a blur.
"I'm not saying you should completely forgive them. They need to suffer a little for their cri."
"A little?" Alia tilted her head to look at her dad.
"They are still part of our families. We do not discard family mbers when they err. We correct them with love. To err is human and to forgive is divine."
Alia bit down on her lower lips to stop herself from grinding her teeth in rage as she asked her father an important question.
"If they had succeeded that night, would you still show them rcy? If you had found out that I was raped and murdered in cold blood, would you forgive them so easily?"
"Alia..."
"Just answer the question." Alia cut her father off.
The senator lowered his head, fighting with his inner conscience as he ransacked his brain for an answer.
"Wow! You're seriously thinking about it." Alia said in a betrayed voice, anger rising in her tone.
"Ma'am we have arrived at the courthouse." The newly employed driver of the Senator announced.
"Give us a few minutes," Alia said, without peeling her gaze from her father.
"Alia, please, don't make look like the bad person here. I condemn everything my brothers and the others did to you. But don't make choose between lives. You and them are all I have in this world. If I condemn them to death today, I could never live with my conscience."
Alia released a slightly depressed sigh. "You can be rest assured that I am not condemning anyone to death. Rather I am giving them a chance at liberation from their evil ways. They don't seem to understand the full weight of what they have done. But after spending so years alone behind bars, I can assure you they will co out as changed individuals."
"Years!" The senator exclaid. "But..."
A ringing phone interrupted the father and daughter conversation.
Alia ignored her father's alard expression as she unzipped her handbag and brought out her mobile phone, only to see it was a call from her husband. She excused herself as she received the call.
"Babe, where are you? The judge is done with his close eting section and the court proceedings are about to begin."
"We just arrived. We are coming in now." Alia ended the call and turned to look at her father. "It's ti, Dad. Like I said earlier no one is being condemned to death. Just look on the bright side."
The senator nodded his head, releasing a sigh. He stepped out of the car as the new driver held the door open. He waited briefly for Alia to join him before they both strolled into the court, holding hands.
Inside the courtroom, Senator Gregory was surprised to see two of his extended family mbers, including Judith and her husband. They were all seated on one side of the courtroom.
On the other side was Alia's husband, seated in a relaxed position with legs and arms crossed, like a presidential executioner. He seed quite comfortable seated alone and only acknowledged his wife as she stepped into the courtroom without sparing the senator a glance.
"Alia, you will be sitting with , right?" The senator pleaded. He couldn't bear the thought of Alia sitting beside her dangerous-looking husband who could be the reason behind her hardened heart.
"But Dad...."
"Please."
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