Chapter 3: The Woman Who Thought She Had Won
Chapter 3: The Woman Who Thought She Had Won
"You can't be serious."
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"This is all a misunderstanding."
Richard stood up slowly, still carrying Lily in his arms.
"No."
His voice was colder than winter.
"This is child abuse."
Vanessa's confidence began to crumble.
"You have no proof."
Richard reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
"I installed security cameras throughout this house six months ago."
Her face froze.
"I never told you because I wanted to protect my family."
He opened the security app.
Video after video appeared on the screen.
Vanessa screaming.
Vanessa throwing Lily's dinner into the trash.
Vanessa locking the frightened little girl inside the storage room.
Vanessa forcing her to scrub the marble floor on her knees.
The room went silent.
Even Vanessa could no longer deny what everyone was watching.
"I..."
She stepped backward.
"It wasn't supposed to look like that."
The front door opened.
Two police officers entered with Richard's attorney.
One officer watched the recordings without saying a word.
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
"Ma'am, place your hands where I can see them."
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"You can't arrest me!"
The officer calmly replied,
"You are under arrest on suspicion of felony child abuse, neglect, unlawful imprisonment, and assault."
Handcuffs clicked around her wrists.
As she was escorted toward the front door, she desperately looked back at Richard.
"You'll regret this!"
Richard never answered.
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His attention never left Lily.
For the first time in years, she finally felt safe.
