Darling, Don’t Run Away! - Chapter 290

New York Supreme Court,

Raymond took a deep breath before he walked in with one of his lawyers that he hired to defend his sister’s case. The inside of the hall seems a bit full with so many people which he believe is reporter and journalist from a various international magazine.

While he walks to the seat, he saw Ramona, who look gloomy and thinner than the last time he saw her. Even though he might hate her for what she’s done, he still feels sympathy toward her. She’s still too young to go through this punishment.

If only she didn’t start doing the wrong things at all since the beginning, she would not be having to facing this situation right now. Raymond also feels sympathy for his sister when Nick never shows up to give her a little support. ‘What an asshole!’

“Sir, are you sure you only want to present the evidence that we had?” The lawyer Raymond hired whisper to him, making Raymond look at his little sister for a moment.

Sighing, he nods his head. “Yeah. Just present the one that I told you before.” Raymond assures the man. Just like what he already decide before, he wants Ramona to take the punishment of what she’s done.

Just before the trial start, James walks into the court with a smile on his face. Seeing how his father acts make Raymond clench both of his fists. His daughter was about to be sentenced to death, and yet, he still smiling?

He didn’t even try to help her at all! He didn’t care about his sister and his mother. What kind of monster is he? And how dare he still want to show up here? He hates when one of them ruining the image of their family, and yet, he’s the one who destroys everything!

James casually sits beside Raymond while fixing his bow tie. ‘Wearing such a bright suit? Seriously??’

Raymond tries to calm himself and lean his head a little to the old man. “Where’s mom?” he asked. Even though he knew his mother might not come with the man, but at least he doesn’t want to make his father suspicious of anything.

Seeing at his son from the side, James only answered him with a smile on his face before he said. “She’s in a ‘good place’ now.”

“What do you mean in a ‘good place’?”

“Shh..they’re about to start. Exciting, isn’t it?” James giggles while trying to cover her broad smiles. From what Raymond could see, every reporter and journalist’s eyes have been fixing on them from the start.

‘Looks like they got a good story to write, huh?’ Raymond focus back to the front and ready to evaluate how good his lawyer is.

After the long hours, they’re inside the hall. Finally, the judge makes the final decision. Ramona is convicted with life imprisonment for the charge of drug trafficking crimes.

When Ramona hears it, she falls on her knees to the floor, staring her brother blankly and crying silently. Seeing how she look right now make Raymond felt a little sad for her. At least that’s the best way to help her rather than get the death sentence for her massive crime.

While his sister is still crying, his father was full of joy by giggling and laughing loudly while pointing his finger on Ramona, saying, “That’s it? She only got life imprisonment? Hahahaha…why though? She’s sick and twisted. She should have..”

Angry with how rude his father’s word is, Raymond, grab James’ collar and almost punch that old bastard face. “Shut the f.u.c.k up, dad! This is not your home!” he said while gritting his teeth.

Release the collar. Raymond fixed his sleeve and went to see Ramona for the last time before returning to Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. This time, she probably would be put under a high-security level there.

“Brother…I-” Her tears stream down when she saw her brother walk to her.

“It’s okay, Mona, ” Raymond wipes the tears from Ramona’s cheek. “Just be good, and stay there. I’ll visit you often. Thirty years will pass in a blink.” he smiles and hopes that this time, she will learn the meaning of life.

Nod her head, Ramona keeps glancing at the rest of the people inside the court. She hasn’t seen her mother ever since the day she talks with Barbara at the mansion. She knew her mother will never abandon her, but why she hasn’t shown up yet?

“Mom…where’s mom?” She asked while looking for an answer from her brother’s eyes.

Seeing Raymond did not say anything, she asked again, “Did something happen to her?” she sounded a bit worried, and her eyes lock with her father.

The smile on her father’s face makes her shudder. “Brother…why…why did father…look at me like that?” Tremblingly, Ramona seeks the answer from her brother again.

“Don’t worry about him. Just..” Raymond’s ruffling her hair while the police officer who’s standing behind Ramona glancing at him. “Be good. Don’t cause any more trouble.” Raymond said his final goodbye and nod to the police officer to take his sister away.

When he walked back to his lawyer, he saw that his father already leave the hall without any word about his mother. It is so irritating.

“Do you want to head back home, sir?” the lawyer asked, and Raymond glance at his wristwatch. He sighs a little when he saw it at nearly 5 pm.

“Yeah. I’m a bit tired.” He replies, and when he steps out from the hall, Rose immediately runs to him while holding a phone with her. She looks pale and a little bit uneasy.

“What is it, Rose?” He asked. Worried that something happens while he was in the court today.

“It’s…” she doesn’t know how to put it into a word. She’s been waiting outside since the afternoon just after she got the information from Dania. But she’s not allowed to enter the hall while the proceeding is still on process. So, she waits outside the whole time.

Raymond is still waiting for her answer. After some consideration, Rose signal Raymond to follow her to the place where there are no people around. It’s better if he watched it in a place where he could be alone.

Following Rose from behind, he told his lawyer to go a separate way. He uses the safe route while his lawyer will dealing with reporters who are already waiting outside of the court. “Is it regarding Luna?” he asked as he cannot wait anymore. What if Luna encounters a danger while he’s gone?

“No, Madam Luna is pretty much safe now,” Rose said to assure him it’s not about Luna. Luna is currently guarded with heavy security from the best man she can find in Lawrence’s squad.

Raymond sigh in relief. At least it’s not about his wife. “Then?”

Rose open the car door for Raymond to get in before she took out the phone from her pocket and handed it to him. ” I hope you, sir…” Rose pressed her lips together before she said again. “I will close this car door, and you can call me back after watching it.”

She didn’t have the heart to say it. It’s better for her if Raymond watches it himself in a place where he can contain his anger. The car keys are in Rose’s hand, and she closes the car door after she said that.

Raymond did not understand at all, but he still took the phone from Rose’s hand, and once Rose close the door, he opens the file from the phone.

Watch the video that Dania sent this morning, Raymond was trembling with anger, hatred, and sadness. It has been…long hours passed right now, it’s already too late. His mother is already dead.

Only single tears fall from Raymond’s cold eyes. He doesn’t know what kind of parents he had right now. Everyone, …one by one, turns into a monster and destructs themselves.

This craziness can’t continue anymore. As per Raymond’s mother’s request, he already helps Ramona from a death sentence and now…the only thing left is..to ‘kill’ his crazy father.

He tries to hold his emotions, and a second later, his phone vibrates on his left pocket. Took it out, he took a deep breath before he answers it.

“Raymond?” Luna’s voice makes him close his eyes and lean his head on the cushion.

“Yes, darling.”

“I was just..watch the news. You’ve done great, honey. Congratulations.”

Gulping, Raymond rubs his eyes with his finger, which feels a bit watery. “You think so?” he tries to not let her hear his hoarse voice, but she could guess it just from the faint voice of him.

“Hey…listen… you’ve done what you can..I’m proud of you, and it’s okay if you are not coming home tonight. I understand, but please..take care of yourself, okay?” Luna said, and Raymond pressed his lips together.

“Okay. You too.” He ended the call and took some time before he could calm down and call Rose to hand him the car keys.

Rose was hesitant at first, but after seeing Raymond look just fine, she gives it to him and takes a cab to return home.