The Incomplete Love
Dingy

“Buna, I'm neat yet?”

“Udah, really. Liam has met Mommy.”

The boy nodded firmly. Devan embraces Liam's shoulder. After all, Stella is Liam's real mother. If Liam asks to meet, as much as possible Devan will fulfill of course after the discussion and agree with Qiara.

Qiara equated her height with Liam. Gently gazing at the handsome petite face of the fusion of Devan and Stella.

“Honey, Buna pray all smoothly. Be strong, okay kiddo?”

“Strong as Thor!” Liam is funny to hide his nervousness.

“Thank you for your understanding, yes, Qia. Me and Liam go first.” Devan kissed Qiara's forehead before holding his son to the car.

Meeting Stella made him nervous. Not because he was still in love, but he was worried about Liam's reaction.

On the way, they both kept quiet. Devan glanced at Liam.

“How are you?”

“Nervous, angry, sappointed, afraid, sad, embarrassed.”

Devan was stunned to hear his son's answer. At the age of eight, Liam had to feel pain so deep and all because of his mother.

Reflexes, Devan embraces Liam to protect. Want to replace all those bad feelings with the happiness and excitement that should color the child's days.

“If Daddy, what do you feel?”

“More or less the same, it's just, Daddy is more mature so in shaa Allah can overcome all these negative feelings. You ... you are young, should have fun, play ..”

“Buna says, life keeps rolling. Just for Liam the rounds are faster. We must choose how to behave in every event in life.”

Devan kissed the head of his son. Grateful he had a wise and steadfast but affectionate wife like Qiara.

“We both can definitely deal with this. Daddy's wrong, we can all get through this. Liam always had Daddy and Buna for the story, yeah.”

“Kala?” Liam laughed considering his younger brother who was getting more and more hilarious and sotoy. Because he was a child, Kala did not understand what happened to his family.

“Also Kala ..” Devan joined in smiling imagining Kala's face. He loved Kala as a real child.

“Dad, that's the place?”

Devan nodded. The Child Welfare Service did not allow Liam to meet Stella in prison. That afternoon they met in a prepared office.

Stella will not wear a prisoner's shirt but there are guards nearby. Liam had to be accompanied by his father and a psychologist appointed by the authorities.

Devan held his son's hand towards the room. Before entering Liam stopped his steps. There were a lot of bad things that happened on that fateful day.

His father sat down to equalize high then looked at Netra Liam.

“We can cancel if you are not ready. It’s okay.”

Liam remembered Bunanya's advice to always calm down and think before acting. He closed his eyes to prepare.

“I’m good Dad. Let’s do this.”

The father and son walked into the room where Stella was waiting.

“Liam, come to Mommy.” The one-headed woman was about to rush to Liam but a female officer sternly prevented her.

“No physical touch between prisoner and visitor,” the order is firm.

Liam's stunned. Despite knowing the woman in front of him is Stella, but her face that has been operated on makes Liam have to adapt.

“Mom ..”

“Yes, Liam, my boy ..” Tears flow from the corner of his net.

The guards invited everyone to sit in their designated places. Devan continues to embrace his son.

“Hi, Dev,” greet Stella relaxed as if nothing happened. The woman secretly dressed up more neatly as she was about to meet Devan. Although different but the face of the description remains beautiful.

Devan did not react and immediately sat down where the officer was directed.

“Liam, Mommy is sorry. But Liam knows that Mommy can't possibly hurt you?”

Devan was angry.

“How could you say that? Your behavior is endangering Liam. You did not hurt physically but psychically injured!”

Devan was about to open his mouth but the officer gave the code to remain silent. They didn't want any quarrels that made the situation even less conducive to Liam's mentality.

There was no response from Liam. His eyes were sluggish.

“Hey, Mommy’s here. Everything is gonna be alright. We'll be together again. Liam's gonna help Mommy, right tell them that Mommy didn't hurt Liam?”

“But Mommy hurt Jack and Buna. Jack is dead, Mom. Jack is my friend. He always makes me hot coco with marshmallows before bed. Jack likes to read the stories of pirates and shrewd traders with hilarious. I lost a friend, Mom.”

“Mommy is sorry, Darling. But there was never any intention to hurt Jack.”

Liam's eyes were back in tears. He did not see his mother shoot but he remembered his mother did not help Jack and instead took him away.

“We left him to die, Mom! We didn’t help him at all.”

Stella stunned. It was unbearable that Liam bore the guilt.

“No, Liam. You didn’t do anything. I did it,” he said.

“He ruined our chance to be a whole family, Liam. Do you not understand? If there is no Qiara, Mommy and Daddy can remarry. You don't want that? You prefer Qiara over Mommy?

“Stella Prisoners! Keep your sentences!” The psychologist who saw Liam began to be depressed.

“Excuse Mommy, but I did it for us, Liam.”

“Mommy, I don't mind Mommy and Daddy not getting married. Many of my friends whose parents divorced. They're doing just fine. My friend can still meet his father or mother. No one should be killed.”

“I love you, Liam. I'm just doing what I think is good for us. One day you will be able to understand the actions of Mommy.”

“Which I know, because of Mommy's actions, I won't be able to meet you every time.” Liam sobbing.

“Liam can help Mommy. Say that Mommy didn't force you and this is all ..”

“Last warning Prisoner Stella! You must not influence the testimony.” Now an officer from your prosecution is warning Stella.

“Sorry ..”

Stella looked at her son's increasingly pale face.

“Liam, if you want to continue to be able to meet Mommy, can convey later to judge.”

“That’s it! Meeting finished.”

Liam stared at the nano as the officer told his mother to stand up and take him away.

The boy had heard his mother scream, “You can help Mommy, Liam. I love you!”

***

Julianne Lawrence, the judge who presided over Stella's trial stared at her conjured room becoming more cheerful.

That afternoon, he will listen to Liam's testimony in his room, not in the courtroom. Unlike usual, he wears semi-formal clothing so as not to create a scary atmosphere for Liam.

As a mother, she was actually infuriated by Stella's actions. But as a judge, he had to make the decision as fair as possible.

Consider various aspects including Liam's testimony. Based on the psychologist's reference, Stella will not be present because it is considered to intimidate Liam.

Stella will be present in a different room and watch through a glass screen live from the judge's room.

It was also for Liam's safety. As Qiara testified, Stella boarded the apoplexy and almost succeeded in attacking Qiara.

Stella's crime is clear, only the judge needs to decide whether Stella will be convicted in her country or in Africa.

At 10 am, Liam, his father, and the lawyer were present. Court devices were also present, all wearing semi-formal clothes to make Liam feel comfortable.

Cakes are served, as well as fresh lemonade. Julianne asked in a relaxed style so that Liam could answer calmly.

After asking many questions, Julianne gave a final question.

“Liam, do you want to meet Mommy every day?”

“Sure! I love Mommy.”

Julianne smiled hearing the little boy's innocent reply. In another room, Stella smiled, believing her son's statement could greatly ease her sentence.

“But ..”

Liam continued, “But I know whatever the reason is, Mommy shouldn't hurt anyone else. And I knew Mommy wasn't defending herself from Jack and Qiara. From friends I heard Mommy also hurt people in Africa.”

Stella jerks.

“Judge, if Mommy is in jail, I'll miss her a lot. But I understand Mommy has also made a lot of bad things.”

Liam's voice shook and grew louder. Psychologists coded Julianne for an end because Liam looked depressed.

“Wow, Liam! You're great for an eight-year-old. All questions can be answered well.”

Liam smiled embarrassedly and looked at his father.

“All right we're done. Liam, it's a tough thing but I hope you're stoic and tough,” Julianne said as she stood up and greeted Liam.

Julianne was indeed amazed by Liam's straightforward answer which was believed to be full of honesty. Before Liam came out of his room, Julianne asked, “Hey, Liam, what are your ideals?”

“Daddy said I fit in as a love advisor, a kind of Love Guru, right?” An innocent Liam replied with raised eyebrows staring at Devan.

“Gosh ..” Devan was wide open to hear his son's answer. The man murmured indistinctly towards Judge Julianne who was holding back the amused.

***

Stella stood up nervously as the judge told her to stand up to accept the verdict.

“Based on the evidence we received, Stella was found guilty of Jack's death, the kidnapping of Qiara Anjani, and the psychic violence against Liam Donavy. In addition to the forgery of personal data into Jasmine Porter, also guilty.”

Stella looked at the judge with a look of despair.

“Stella will be sentenced to fifteen years in prison. As for crimes committed abroad, the trial will be conducted in the jurisdiction of the crime scene. For that, the convict will immediately leave for Africa to undergo court there.”

Karel's smile expanded upon hearing the last sentence.

While Stella immediately fell unconscious because she did not expect to be flown back to Africa.

***