Chapter 88 - Apologies

***
Christina's POV:

I couldn't believe what had just happened. Sheridan had been close to me all this while. He'd planned everything. He'd taken everything away from me. I felt great hatred.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as the two officers led me downstairs, sheriff Bates behind them, towards the company's exit. In the presence of all the employees. I kept my eyes on the floor. But once I raised them, I saw a group of journalists with cameras and mics. My life was over.

We stepped out of the building and we were surrounded by the crowd of journalists. Pictures where taken and everyone tried to put his or her mic in my face!

"Mrs welds, is it true you killed the real owner of this company?!"

"Mrs Welds, why did you murder your husband??"

"Christina, are you guilty?!"

All questions were thrown at my face. I sobbed continuously. This was it. The big end for me. Sheridan Wesley had had his revenge. No! I'd lost everything! Everything! I couldn't go to prison. I just couldn't.

The officers led me towards their car, telling the journalists to back off.
As we headed for the police car, I saw Rob already sitting in. He'd been arrested too. They made me sit close to him. We didn't talk to each other. We were both in great pain. I couldn't believe it!

***
Sheridan's POV:

The celebration that night was great. I'd invited all my friends. Even those from highschool. Heather had done same. We'd rented a whole club for this event. Christina was finally behind bars. I hoped her first night would be terrifying.

***

The next day, I didn't go to work because Heather and I were really tired. We'd partied the whole night.
We slept till about one PM in afternoon. When we got up, we went to shower and freshen up. In no time, we were both clean and ready for a good meal.

We sat at the table, facing each other.

"How are you doing, love?" I asked Heather.

"I'm quite fine."

"Had nausea lately?"

"Yeah. I woke up at six this morning to throw up."

"Really? I didn't hear you. I didn't even feel you get up."

"Of course. You were so drunk from last night," she mused.

"You have a point."

She smiled and put her hand on mine.

"You finally have everything back."

"Yeah. I can't wait for Christina to be judged and sent to jail."

"I'm quite sad she'd turned out to be a monster but somewhere in me, since my tender age, I knew it."

I looked at her and grabbed her hand, before kissing it.

"I'm sorry, baby."

"Don't be. She deserves it. And so now that everything's alright, what are your plans?"

"I'll reemploy all those who quit and I'll ask James to stop infecting the products. And lastly, I've regained my identity as Sheridan Wesley."

She smiled at me and I smiled back.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Just at that moment, the doorbell went. I stood up to go check who it was. When I opened the door– Sawyer.

Sawyer's POV:

Sheridan's or Ace's first reaction when he saw me was a frown. But after staring at my face, his expression softened a little. I guess he noticed the swells under my eyes. I'd cried so much that I looked helpless. I wasn't there to cause any trouble.

Sheridan's POV:

I would've slammed the door in her face under normal circumstances, but I didn't. Sawyer looked broken. Depressed even. I'd never seen her like that before.

She had red, swollen eyes and a red nose. She had no make up nor accessory  on and looked helpless. Her hair was tied up into a messy knot and she wore a pair of jeans along with a huge black sweater and simple sandals. True, I had never seen her like this. The truth behind her father's death, my father's death and her mother's involvement and greed, had traumatised her in a way.

"G–good afternoon,  Sh– Sheridan," she stuttered, sniffing.

I let out a sigh and turned.

"Heather??" I called.

Heather came over and was surprised at her sister's broken appearance.

"Hi, Heather."

"Hi. C– come in."

She motioned for her little sister to come in. I closed the door behind her.

"Well, I'm gonna leave both of you to talk," I said and then went to my room.

Heather's POV:

I made Sawyer sit down. She looked terrible. This issue had affected her more than I'd imagined. I sat opposite her. She opened her mouth to speak but tears rolled down her cheeks. I'd never seen Sawyer in such a vulnerable state.

"Sawyer, I know that what was revealed about mom, shocked you. And I'm sorry you had to hear about it that way."

"Heather it's– It's a nightmare," she sobbed, "Daddy– she poisoned him."

I couldn't help it but feel pity for her.

"Sawyer, please don't cry," I held her hand, "Dad nor uncle Paul would want you to put yourself in such a state."

I went to sit close her and then I hugged her. She cried and cried on my shoulder. After all Sawyer had done to me, I still had a soft spot for her. She was still my sister and I knew she loved me, though she could be a pest at times.

After some minutes, she calmed down and looked up at me with swollen eyes.

"H– Heather?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she cried, surprising me.

"Sawyer–"

"No, let me finish. I've been wrong with you. I've always been a bitch towards you and yet, you're always there for me. I– I'm so sorry. Please," I watched with shock as she got on her knees

"Sawyer, what are you doing?? No!"

I tried to make her stand but she refused.

"Heather, please! I'll change. I swear on the head of our dead father that we loved so much, that I'll change. Please, forgive me. You are my only true friend and family. Please. Please, forgive me," she cried and cried, begging at my feet. I was shocked.

Sawyer had never acted this way. She'd just sworn on our late father's grave. She was very serious. Sawyer had realised her mistakes at last. I felt happiness.

"Stand up," I told her in a low voice.

"Heather, please~" she cried continuously.

"Stand, please."

Sawyer's POV:

In tears, I stood up and sat close to her. I was broken and hopeless. I needed Heather to forgive me. If she didn't, I would die of sorrow. I was tired. I had been so stupid. So stupid to have treated her with so much disrespect!.
She could've been my guardian angel if I'd wanted. Heather was a gift.
I'd always been a stubborn and selfish bitch and now I was regretting bitterly. I needed my sister to forgive me. She was my only family now because to me, my mother was dead.
I was serious about changing. I was going to be a different person.

"Please, forgive me," I begged, sniffing.

My eyes were painfully red and swollen.

"Stop crying, lil sis," she said softly, taking her hankie and wiping away my tears, "I forgive you. No matter what you did, it's the past now. I forgive you."

Heather's POV:

I watched Sawyer's eyes grow wide and the next thing I felt were her arms around me. She hugged me tight, sobbing against my shoulder. I held her back, tears rolling down my cheeks. The last time we'd hugged like this was during our father's funeral, years ago.

"Thank you. Thank you so much," she sobbed.

"It's alright, Sawyer. Don't cry."

"I'm so happy. Heather, I love you and I've always done so."

The words from her mouth pleased me. She broke the hug and stared at me, smiling through her tears.

"I love you. I'm so sorry for my bad behaviour. For you I'll change," she held both my hands, "I love you, Heather."

I smiled back, tears rolling down my cheeks too.

"I love you too, Sawyer."

We hugged each other again. I was so happy she'd realised her mistakes.

Sheridan's POV:

I watched both sisters hug each other, happily. I'd stayed in the little hallway to listen to their conversation. I was glad Sawyer had realised her mistakes. I was happy she'd realised the dime her older sister was. It was about time.

I turned and went to my room.