The cops didn’t look like they really cared about anyone’s statements.
“Mr. Vohra, you are under arrest for sexual assault and harassment. Please follow us outside. If you resist arrest, you will be handcuffed…”
The police officer spoke in French, letting her stepfather know of his rights before dragging him away.
Samantha was stunned.
Ved looked at her mother. “You will be arrested next along with your husband if don’t get your act together.”
He took out his cell phone and pressed something which played a recorded conversation. It was from a few minutes ago when her mother was drunkenly confessing about deliberately trapping Ved’s father and accusing him of false molestation charges.
Samantha’s mother looked shaken.
“I-I promise, I will behave. Don’t get me arrested. Please, I beg you!”
Ved didn’t say anything. He turned to Samantha. “Do you want to bring your stepbrother along? I have a big family. He can stay at my grandparents’ place.”
Samantha slowly shook her head. “No,” she said. “He likes it here and is used to this house and his toys. Maria takes good care of him as well.”
Ved nodded.
Samantha’s mother hurriedly gave her input. “I-I will take good care of Sohan too! I promise!”
Samantha knew her mother was quite shaken up. Even though her mother’s mean nature would never change, her mother was smart enough to know she was in a lot of trouble.
“Let’s go, Sam,” he said. “We have to head back.”
Samantha knew they had to head back to the university before classes and exams began.
She nodded. She went into the nursery again and kissed her stepbrother’s cheek gently before returning to Ved.
Her mother still looked frozen and pale seated in the living room.
Ignoring her, Samantha looked at Ved. “Let’s head back,” she said softly.
They stepped out of the house, and she saw there was a car waiting outside. She got in, and he sat next to her.
“How did the police get here?” she asked, still dazed by the speed with which things happened in the last twenty-four hours.
“I called them from the university while I was heading here. When I visited Paris the last time, I had already hired an investigation company to dig up sexual misconducts by your stepfather. It didn’t take long for the investigators to find enough evidence that he is a sexual predator and offender. He was going to be arrested in a few weeks, but I asked my father a while ago to put in a word to speed up the arrest.”
Samantha was shocked and touched that not only had Ved done so much, he even had his father’s support.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
He smiled. “Anything for my secret girlfriend.”
She laughed, her heart melting. Another thought struck her. “How did you come here so fast?” she asked, still shocked that he had arrived at her mother’s house barely an hour after her.
There was a familiar smirk on his handsome face. “Private jet. It’s faster than commercial.”
Her heart melted again that he followed her, knowing she could be in trouble.
“I love you, Ved Simha,” she said. She let out a trembling smile. “I was supposed to make it a grand occasion and give you a special gift at the beach house before I declared my love.
His eyes flashed as he cupped her cheek. “I don’t care how or when you say it, Sam. I love you too.”
They kissed. It was a heart-pounding, passionate kiss that spoke about their long journey of friendship and love.