Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8
The Rejected Ring
Episode Eight
Evelyn was at home smiling to herself. She had not been this happy in months. The news of Benjamin’s arrest gave her peace. She danced alone in her room.
“Yes! He will go to jail. He will rot there,” she said to herself. “So long as I live, Benjamin will never marry Mary. If Benjamin will not marry me, then he will not marry anybody. He belongs to me, and me alone. Let Mary go and look for another man.”
She sat down and began to imagine Benjamin inside prison, wearing dirty clothes, begging police for food. She laughed loudly.
“That is where he belongs,” she said. “Let him suffer. Let his wedding scatter. Let his name be destroyed. And when he comes out, he will have nothing. Even his businesses will collapse. I will see how he will raise his head again.”
Evelyn also hoped that Benjamin’s staff would mismanage the restaurant and supermarket. “Yes, let them steal his money. Let them spend his profit. Let him become poor. Then he will know what it means to reject me,” she said.
But luck was on Benjamin’s side. His workers were loyal. They remembered how he treated them well. They remembered how he paid them on time and cared for them. Even while he was in prison, they continued to run the restaurant and the supermarket with dedication. They kept good records and deposited money into his account regularly.
Customers still came to eat. People still bought from his supermarket. His name was mentioned with pity in the estate. Some believed he was guilty. Others believed he was innocent. But business did not collapse the way Evelyn wanted.
One week later, trouble came again. Police officers stormed Benjamin’s restaurant. They told the staff to close it down immediately.
“This restaurant is under investigation. It will remain closed until the case is over,” one police officer said.
The staff begged. “Officer, we are innocent. We are only workers here. We did not sell Indian he.mp. Please allow us to continue.”
But the police refused. They locked the place and carried the key.
When Evelyn heard the news, she smiled again. “Good! Let everything scatter. No restaurant, no supermarket, no wedding. Mary will soon run away when she sees that her so-called husband-to-be is a prisoner.”
But Mary did not run. She stood by Benjamin. She went to the prison every week to visit him. She carried food, clothes, and money for him. She encouraged him with tears in her eyes.
“Benjamin, I believe in you,” Mary said one afternoon at the prison visiting room. “I know you are innocent. Don’t give up. God will fight for you.”
Benjamin looked at her with tired eyes. “Mary, why are you suffering yourself for me? This shame is too much. Maybe you should walk away,” he said with a shaky voice.
Mary held his hands firmly. “No, Benjamin. I will not walk away. You are my man. We will fight this together.”
Benjamin felt tears in his eyes. He nodded slowly. “Thank you, Mary. You are stronger than me. God bless you.”
Mary decided to hire a lawyer. She went to a law firm and explained everything. The lawyer, a young man named Barrister Chike, listened carefully.
“Madam, from what you have told me, this looks like a setup. But don’t worry. We will defend him in court. The truth will come out,” the lawyer said.
Mary paid him from her savings. She was determined to save Benjamin.
The day of the trial came. The court was full. People wanted to see what would happen. Some came out of pity, others came out of curiosity.
Benjamin was brought into the courtroom in handcuffs. His clothes were rough. He looked weak but his eyes were still bright. The police dragged him like a common criminal.
Mary’s eyes filled with tears when she saw him. She wanted to run and hold him, but she was stopped. She sat down quietly, her heart beating fast.
The judge entered. Everyone stood up. The case was called.
The police prosecutor stood and addressed the court. “My Lord, the accused person, Mr Benjamin, is guilty of selling Indian he.mp in his restaurant. Acting on a tip, the police stormed his restaurant and found a large bag of Indian he.mp. Here is the evidence.”
They brought the black nylon bag and placed it before the court. Murmurs filled the room. Some people looked at Benjamin with disappointment. Others shook their heads, whispering that it was a lie.
The judge looked at Benjamin. “Do you have anything to say?”
Barrister Chike stood up quickly. “My Lord, my client is innocent. He is a respected businessman. He owns a restaurant and a supermarket. He has never been involved in such criminal acts. This bag was planted in his restaurant by unknown persons. He has no link to it. We demand that the police provide proof that my client truly owns this Indian he.mp. Without proof, this accusation cannot stand.”
The judge nodded slowly. “That is a valid point. But for now, the evidence is here. Until further proof is brought, the accused must remain in prison.”
Mary shouted from the seat, “But my Lord, he is innocent! Please believe him!”
The judge banged the gavel. “Order in the court! Madam, sit down. This is not your time to speak.”
Mary sat down, trembling, tears rolling down her cheeks. She looked at Benjamin helplessly.
The judge turned to the police. “You are hereby ordered to produce more evidence linking this Indian he.mp directly to the accused. Without that, this case will not hold. Until then, the accused is remanded in prison custody.”
Benjamin shook his head. He raised his eyes to the ceiling. “God, why is this happening to me? What have I done to deserve this?” he whispered to himself.
Mary rushed to him as the police dragged him out. “Benjamin! Don’t lose hope! I will keep fighting for you!” she cried loudly.
Benjamin looked at her with pain in his eyes. “Mary, thank you. Please don’t give up. But I am ready for anything. Even prison,” he said with a shaky voice.
The police pushed him roughly and led him away.
That was how Benjamin was taken back to prison.
To be continued…
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