Chapter 9
The news of Elena's arrest spread through the extended family like wildfire, tearing open old wounds and forcing long-avoided confrontations. By noon, Sarah's phone was buzzing incessantly with frantic calls from aunts, cousins, and mutual acquaintances demanding to know if the news reports were true. Sarah ignored every single call, keeping her phone on silent while she focused entirely on nursing Leo back to health.
However, one visitor could not be ignored. Marcus, Elena and Sarah’s older cousin who lived across town, walked into the hospital room just as a nurse was finishing up Leo's morning checkup. Marcus looked exhausted, his hair uncombed and his jacket rumpled, carrying the heavy burden of a family patriarch forced to witness its own destruction.
"Sarah," Marcus said softly, stopping near the foot of Leo's bed and glancing at the sleeping boy before looking back at her. "I just came from the precinct. I tried to talk to her, but she refused my visit. What on earth possessed her to do something this insane?"
Sarah stood up, her face tight with cold fury. She motioned for Marcus to step out into the hallway so they wouldn't disturb Leo or Lily, who was busy coloring in a notebook in the corner. Once the heavy door clicked shut behind them, Sarah let loose the anger she had been suppressing for twenty-four hours.
"She tried to murder my son, Marcus!" Sarah hissed, her voice trembling with restrained rage. "Don't come here asking me to understand her mindset. She lured him in with lies, gave him prescription sedatives for a social media stunt, and left him to die on the grass while she scrolled on her phone."
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Marcus rubbed his temples, looking visibly aged by the stress. "I know, I know it's unforgivable. None of us are defending her actions. The family council is completely shattered. Half of our relatives are in absolute denial, saying it must be a terrible misunderstanding, while the rest of us realize she needs professional help behind bars."
"There is no misunderstanding," Sarah replied coldly, crossing her arms. "I gave Detective Miller every text message, every threat, and every piece of evidence showing her obsession with controlling our lives. She’s going to trial, Marcus. And I am going to make sure she faces the maximum penalty allowed by the law."
