15.Behind the bars And Saviour bros
The room was cold, grey, and painfully quiet. Ria sat on the bench inside the small holding cell, arms crossed tightly across her chest. Her makeup had smudged, her eyes red from tears-but her expression was stone cold.
She wasn't going to break down. Not yet.
She replayed Lara's smug face over and over again.
"You copied."
As if she would ever.
The clank of the door jolted her thoughts.
Officer: "Miss Ria Walter-someone's here for you."
She looked up just as Eva rushed in, cheeks flushed, hair slightly disheveled, eyes wild.
Eva: "Ria!"
Ria stood. "Eva..." Her voice broke for the first time.
Eva hurried over to the bars, gripping them.
Eva: "Are you okay? What the hell happened?!"
Ria (half-laughing, half-crying): "They said I plagiarised my designs... that I copied from Lara. She set me up, Eva. I swear, she-she did something."
Eva nodded sharply, already in damage-control mode.
Eva: "Don't worry. We'll fight this. You're not alone, okay?"
Said caressing Ria's hair from the bars.
Ria: "Everything's in my iPad and cloud account. I can prove it."
The officer raised a brow.
Officer: "Then we'll need access to it. If it checks out, she walks."
Eva (quietly to Ria): "We're getting you out of here, I promise."
Ria's fingers curled around Eva's through the bar, knuckles white.
Ria (muttering): "She wanted to ruin me."
Eva (soft but fierce): "Then we'll ruin her plans instead."
The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows over the pavement. Eva sat slumped on the cold bench just outside the station, her white coat loosely hanging off her shoulders. Her phone lay beside her, screen dark-calls unanswered, messages left on read.
Her hands were trembling.
She had begged. Pleaded. From the contacts she knew, lawyers she'd trusted, even random connections she'd saved for emergencies.
But no one wanted to go against Labels.
Not when the fashion giant had already spun the story in the media's ear.
"They're influential,"
"It's risky,"
"Sorry, I can't get involved."
"What's wrong with these people it's not even a crime she didn't kill anyone or rob a bank,she is arrested for something she never did."
Eva's frustration grew over the sky.
Each rejection felt like a slap.
Behind her, the faint buzz of city life continued: a car honking, the traffic sounds,a dog barking at his owner, the world not caring that her baby sister was locked up for a crime she didn't commit.
Eva blinked up at the sky, swallowing the lump in her throat.
She felt defeated. Helpless. Powerless.
Then-
A sleek black car pulled into the front of the precinct.
Low, tinted windows. Engine purring like a warning.
The driver stepped out first, polished and composed, quickly moving to open the back door.
And out stepped Dr. Neil Morris.
In a sharp black coat over his scrubs, looked slightly tired from his post-OR , he looked like he cared.
Eva's breath caught.
What the hell was he doing here?
Neil didn't say a word as he walked toward her, his dark eyes unreadable, his gait confident.
Eva (standing quickly, confused): "Dr. Morris...?"
He stopped in front of her.
Neil (calmly): "Where's the officer handling her case?"
Eva: "Wait-why are you-"
Before Eva could process it, he was already walking toward the station entrance.
She blinked at his back. The man she barely knows... had just shown up when no one was willing, in the middle of the night, for her?
Neil stood across from the officer in charge, hands in his coat pockets, posture calm but sharp-eyed and commanding. His presence alone had shifted the energy in the room. The officer, though not intimidated, was clearly aware that this wasn't just any visitor.
Neil (firmly): "This arrest was too quick for an investigation that thin. You're holding her based on a complaint from a rival designer without confirming her files, software, or original sketches."
Officer: "Dr. Morris, I understand your concern. But this is a high-profile brand involved-"
Neil (interrupts): "And you're risking a lawsuit for wrongful arrest if you don't play this by the book. Let me be clear-she's not alone in this."
Just outside the glass window, Eva was already hurrying down the corridor.
Eva's heart was pounding as she spotted the small cell where her sister sat behind the bars, knees pulled to her chest. When Ria looked up and saw her-she quickly stood.
Ria (confused, wide-eyed): "Eva?! W-What's going on?"
Eva (relieved but still in shock): "Ria, don't worry. Just hold on a bit. Dr. Morris... he-he came. He's talking to the officer right now."
Ria (almost whispering): "Dr. Morris? Your boss?"
She blinked, like she hadn't heard right.
Ria: "Why would he-?"
Before Eva could answer, the station doors swung open again with another pair of footsteps echoing in the corridor.
Ryle Morris walked in, sharp in a navy-blue shirt and tan coat, holding a briefcase and some papers. His normally playful energy was nowhere to be seen. His jaw was tight, and his brows furrowed.
As he passed the cells, he caught a glimpse of Ria.
His eyes locked with hers-guilt, sadness, and unspoken words flickered in them-but he didn't pause.
He kept walking.
Straight toward Neil and the officer.
Ryle (calm but confident): "I'm her legal representative. I've reviewed the complaint and charges. We're filing for temporary bail under Section 468, countering with lack of concrete evidence and questionable arrest procedures."
He placed the documents firmly on the desk.
The officer read through, frowning, but finally sighed.
Officer: "Temporary bail granted. But she needs to appear in court tomorrow morning by 10. Sharp."
"Sure" Ryle answered with the confidence he was wearing.
The bars creaked open. Eva immediately hugged Ria tightly.
Ria still couldn't process it.
Ria (whispers): "I thought no one would come..."
Eva (softly): "He came."
She turned slightly-just in time to see Neil and Ryle standing quietly near the exit, speaking in hushed tones.
Ria stared at them. Two brothers who barely show up at family events... and tonight, both were here-for walter sisters.
"Saviour brothers"
Late Night - Neil's Car:
The soft hum of the engine was the only sound.
Ria sat in the back seat, curled up against the window, her cheeks damp with silent tears. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped her sketchbook-the only thing the officers hadn't confiscated.
Eva sat next to ria, her heart aching seeing her little sister in this state.
Neil kept his eyes on the road, his jaw clenched, hands steady on the wheel. He hadn't said a word since they left the station. But glancing at the rearview mirror every now and then checking on the sisters.
Ria (softly, breaking the silence): "I didn't do it... I swear... I designed every stitch. Every line... it was mine..."
Her voice cracked halfway, and she pressed her forehead against the window glass.
Eva (gently, turning back): "I know, Ria. I know you didn't. We'll prove it. Okay? We will."
Ria (through shaky breaths): "It was my dream internship, Eva... and they called the police on me like I was some criminal. I was in there for barely four days like... like I actually stole something."
She choked out a sob and covered her face.
Neil didn't say anything, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened. His knuckles turned white.
Neil (quietly): "You won't be going back in there again."
His tone was low, but there was something dangerous and cold in it. Protective.
Eva (softly): "Ryle's working on the case. He won't let them win."
Ria: "Why did he come...? Why are you helping me, Dr. Morris?"
Neil didn't answer immediately.
He simply turned the car smoothly into Eva and Ria's street.
Neil (firmly): "Because the people who are innocent don't sit in jail for something they didn't do."
The car came to a stop.
Ria stared at him in shock. Eva's heart skipped.
He got out, walked around, and opened the door like it was nothing unusual.
Neil: "Get some sleep. You've got court tomorrow. And this time, the system is on your side."
"Everything will be fine"he nodded.
Eva (softly): "Thank you... for today."
A door creaked softly as Ria peeked out from the hallway.
Ria (softly): "Eva?"
Eva (quickly, reassuring): "Yeah, Ria, everything's fine. Coming."
Neil stepped back.
Neil (to Ria): "Get some rest. Big day tomorrow."
Ria (small nod): "Thank you... really."
Neil smiled it was her first time to see his dimples when he simeled.And he headed toward the car.
Just before leaving-
Neil (without turning around): "Don't overthink this, Eva. Just focus on your sister."
And then he was gone.
The clamor of the courtroom still echoed faintly as the Walter sisters stepped out-Ria clutching the official clearance papers, her eyes brimming with disbelief.
Across the corridor, Ryle was surrounded by a couple of his law school friends, patting him on the back, his signature smug grin in place. But he kept glancing over at Ria as if to check she was really okay.
Eva and Neil walked side by side through the long marble corridor toward the parking lot, their steps slow.
Eva (smiling, still emotional): "I don't even know how to thank you... You-Ryle-you both just saved her."
Neil (dryly): "Don't thank me. Thank Ryle. He was annoyingly impressive."
Eva (teasingly): "And who pulled the Morris strings to bring that annoyingly impressive lawyer in?"
Neil gave the faintest smile, the kind that lasted barely a second-but for Eva, it was enough. A win.
Eva (more seriously): "I'll make sure to return your favor someday... Dr. Morris."
She was half-joking, her tone light-but Neil stopped walking.
She paused too, puzzled.
He turned to her. There was something different in his eyes-not cold, not harsh... but focused. Intent.
Neil (firmly): "You can. Right now."
Eva (startled): "What?"
Neil: "I need your help, Eva."
She blinked, confused. The same man who never asked for help. Who barked orders in the hospital and rarely looked her in the eye outside of it.
Eva: "Help with what?"
Neil took a breath-he looked like he was about to tell her everything. Something serious. Something real.
But then-
Ria's voice (calling from behind): "Dr. Machine... and Eva-wait for me!"
Neil turned to see her jogging toward them, heels clicking on the marble. The nickname slipped out of her in nervousness. Ria immediately froze.
Ria (blushing): "Sorry-Dr. Morris."
Ryle (walking up from behind her): "Dr. Machine... now that sounds like my brother. So true."
Neil groaned and gave Ryle a shove around the neck, pulling him into a side hug like a headlock.
Neil: "Shut up."
Ryle (laughing): "Admit it-you liked the title."
Neil: "I like silence more."
They shared a rare moment-two tall, intimidating Morris brothers, both in perfectly fitted suits, looking like they belonged on magazine covers and courtrooms alike.
Eva (watching with a smile): "You were amazing today, Ryle."
She reached out her hand to him, and he took it with a little exaggerated bow.
Ryle (dramatically): "Why thank you, Ms. Walter. For my first official case, I'd say I nailed it."
RIA: "If you keep winning like that, people might forget you were a spoiled brat five minutes ago."
Ryle (mock offended): "Excuse you-I am a reformed brat."
Eva: "Ria!."
She nudged Ria with her elbow, signaling her to say something. But Ria didn't move. She stood awkwardly beside Eva, eyes flickering away every time Ryle glanced her way.
Eva (low voice to Ria): "Hey... thank him."
Ria (whispering back): "I... I will. Just... not now."
Ryle didn't miss the hesitation but didn't say anything either. His smile dimmed just slightly.
Neil (watching it all quietly, then suddenly speaking): "Ryle, take the car and go home."
Ryle: "Huh? Why?"
Neil: "I'll drop them. And you need to prep for court follow-up."
Ryle (narrowing eyes suspiciously): "You're not just trying to get rid of me to have a moment with your favorite resident, are you?"
Neil: "Leave."
Ryle: "Okay, okay, sheesh."
He walked off with a whistle and a smug look, tossing the keys in the air. Ria watched him go-expression unreadable.
Now it was just Neil, Eva, and Ria again. Neil opened the car door for them and stepped into the driver's seat.
Just before starting the engine, he glanced at Eva in the rearview mirror. His eyes softened for a beat.
He was going to say it. That thing he meant earlier. The favor. The marriage.
His mouth opened-
Ria (sniffing): "Neil... thank you. For everything. I mean it."
He turned slightly to look at her, surprised. She rarely called him by name.
Neil (gently): "You're welcome, Ria."
And just like that, the moment passed.
He didn't say it.
Not yet.
Not while Ria was watching. Not while Eva was still processing everything.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, focused on the road.
But Eva saw it-that flicker of hesitation. The unfinished words. The weight of something serious still hanging between them.
And it would come. Soon.