Chapter 137 - Empty Space

They were startled when suddenly Stacey started screaming and crying. From the corridor, Victoria thought that someone was forcing Stacey. But when she burst into the door. Maverick was away from her and he was shocked while staring at her with those tears. Victoria quickly rushed as Stacey was lying and kept screaming like she couldn't move. 

"Stacey," Victoria called. "Stacey!" 

Stacey opened her eyes and pushed her. 

"No. Please… don't." She grabbed the sheets and covered her body. 

"Stacey. It's me. Victoria." Victoria said softly, hesitating on touching her. 

Stacey panted and stared at Victoria. She started sobbing hard and quickly rushed into her arms. 

"What happened?" Kenzo mumbled to Maverick.

"She was sleeping and started screaming," Maverick mumbled. "I can't bear seeing this." He whispered. 

"Man," Kenzo never saw him cry like this. 

Maverick could be called such a baby. But there's no such a baby if a man was crying over the pain that the woman he loved is bearing. Mave loved her so much and seeing her in pain was giving him massive heart pain. 

It takes minutes until Stacey is calm and Victoria assures her that it's a bad dream. 

"I'm here. I'm going to sleep with you." Victoria said softly. "Are you hungry?" She asked. Stacey shook her head. "How about warm soup?" Victoria glanced at Maverick while she's hugging Stacey. 

Maverick quickly left the room. 

"Ramen?" Victoria suggested. "Let's eat ramen like old times and let's watch cartoons all night?" 

"You won't leave?" She asked like a little lost girl.

"I won't leave. I'll stay with you." Victoria glanced at Kenzo who nodded his head. 

"Hi, Stacey," Kenzo called but Stacey didn't seem to hear anyone but Victoria. "Alright, I'll get your snacks. Stay here." Kenzo told Victoria who agreed with him. 

Then, she takes care of Stacey like a little girl. She wiped her nose and hugged her. Then, she turned on the television as they watched yellow minions. Then, Kenzo already went back and forth to check the mini-fridge in Stacey's room. Victoria kept glancing at the door and in a few minutes, the door opened as Kenzo entered with Maverick holding a tray with two big bowls on it. Kenzo set up the adjustable table and set it up at the edge of the bed. Stacey didn't even recognize Maverick and she wondered what happened to her. 

Maverick stayed in the dark corner quietly as Victoria brushed Stacey's hair and tied it up. 

"Let's eat." Victoria smiled and pushed the covers. 

"Smells famishing," Stacey mumbled. 

Victoria watched as Stacey used the chopstick with her right hand. Stacey's left-hand stays still over Victoria's dress to make sure that she won't leave. 

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Maverick doesn't even have any sleep. He stayed awake while he's sorting a few things with Kenzo. However, Kenzo already dozed off after finishing the reports that they compiled. Currently, the Kennedy's were suffering from loss of stocks and their family has been trashed. Lots of farmers even show up in their houses with cards that they are corrupted. 

The Great Greivania had policy benefits for the farmers and it seemed like their farmer's benefits had been decreasing as years passed that almost made them drained. The health benefits for example and they were few farmers also showed photos of two girls that seemed to have died. They are calling the Kennedy as cold-blooded murder. So, he called out a few police to take them away from the farm and meet him right in his castle. He has to leave Stacey for a while. 

"Aren't you leaving too early, Your Grace?" Butler Reinheart asked. 

"Yes. I'll be back soon as I can. Please take care of Stacey for me, Lord Reinheart." He told him and the Butler was about to correct him for addressing him as a Lord but Maverick didn't have time for any chit-chat. 

At the time that he reached his castle, lots of farmers were in the garden and the maids served them drinks. The inspector of Marduque approached the Duke and extended his hand. Maverick shook the Inspector's hand and squeezed it gently. 

"I don't think that we should go on with the interview. It seemed like the family of the victims already tried to call for the help of the authorities. The authority in the area was controlled by the Count and they couldn't do much as they started receiving threats." 

"These girls, do we have enough proof about their death?" 

"Yes," The inspector bowed his head and moved closer. "Their fingernails were ripped off after they were molested and raped. One of the farmers has a son that's studying medicine and he happened to take samples from each female's genital and to find DNA. They have lots of evidence." 

"How about these girls? When did they die?" 

"The other one was a year ago and the new girl died recently." 

Maverick looked at the poor farmers who were working hard to make a living and to give proper education to their children. He needed to revise a few more laws in Marduque until they received the right benefits for them. 

"I'll speak to the parents of the victims and the student. In my office." 

"Yes, your grace." 

The farmers called Maverick many times when he was about to leave. But then, he faced them. 

"I'll speak with you soon. Please enjoy the snacks." He told them and they sighed in relief. 

He went directly to his office and Butler Paul served him tea instead of coffee. 

"How about coffee?" He asked. 

"You'll collapse in this instant, my lord. You don't have enough sleep for two nights now." 

He sighed and took it. Then, after a few moments, the parents of the girls came with the student doctor. They bowed to him and he gestured to the seats. He took out his pen. Suddenly his vision started becoming blurry. He cleared his throat, stood, and approached them. He shook each of their hands. 

"Thank you for coming." 

"Your grace, you look pale." The young man said. 

"I'm completely fine. I need to hear what happened." 

He worked for hours with them and promised to give them the good news. After hearing from the Student Doctor that his girlfriend was being liked by Lord Paul, eldest son of Count Roman Kennedy. Lord Paul was married and the girlfriend was eighteen years old. They were planning to marry and it was said that they were about to meet that night but she never showed up. He kept looking for her like crazy and after five days, they found her body from the other town. Naked, with lashes and bruises. The student claimed that she was a virgin and they are saving it for marriage. But upon checking her when the authorities said that they didn't find anything, he took her body away and took her somewhere to have an autopsy and even preserved her body in the morgue for months. 

Just like that student doctor said would fight until justice is served. And for Maverick, he would fight and collect debts until justice is served. But he would make sure that they'll rot in jail and won't be able to get parole. 

"You need to sleep, sir." Butler Paul said while he's driving the car back to the Aqua castle. At the time that he reached the castle, he went directly to where Stacey was. Stacey was in the garden who looked gloomy staring at the Empty Space. Currently, Victoria went inside to break something. But Maverick didn't want to wait for long and he approached her, stood in front of her, knelt, and reached her hands. 

"Baby," He called out but she didn't respond. "Stacey," He called again and kissed both of her hands. He stared at her, and his heart instantly broke seeing her tears. 

"Why are you here?" Her hands started shaking. "They will kill me if you~~" 

"They won't." Maverick was partially relieved that she could talk to him. "Baby, I'll marry you. In that way, no one would ever hurt you and our future baby." 

She started sobbing and pulled her hands. 

"Baby," Maverick felt hot tears, rolling down his cheeks. "Stacey, I won't leave you again." 

"No. Just leave… just leave…" She hugged herself as she shuddered and looked even more scared. 

"Please, Stacey…" Maverick reached her right hand and placed it on his cheek. "Please take me back. I don't want to lose you…" 

"You said that I will be in danger if I stay with you. I am already letting you go." 

Maverick indeed said it and it hurt like a bitch. He shoved his face to her lap. He didn't want to show regret but he did regret it. He should have taken her with him and protected her. He should have never let her out of his sight. He lifted his head and sniffled. 

"I'm sorry. But, I don't know if I could live again without you." 

Stacey kept weeping while gently shaking her head. 

"No… Mave." 

"Stacey," he reached her face. "I love you. I never said those words that night. But I already had decided to have you until we grow old. I had decided to make it up to you…" 

She lifted her left hand and covered her mouth as she continued sobbing. 

"I always love. Even that time that we had that body contact. You are compassionate, kind and I love you for who you are." He exhaled slowly as tears kept rolling down his cheeks.  "And I will make sure to torture people who hurt you.." He wiped her tears.