Chapter 9 - The Ultimatum
The world spun around me as Lily's words hung in the cold air.
"Mommy did," she repeated, her voice trembling.
The officers tightened their grip on my arms, hauling me to my feet.
"You have the right to remain silent," the taller officer began reading me my rights.
I stared at Lily in sheer disbelief.
Ryan stood behind the officers, offering me a slow, triumphant smile that only I could see.
He had won.
He had somehow gotten to her, even in those few moments before the police arrived.
"Lily, why are you saying that?" I cried desperately as they dragged me toward the cruiser.
Lily wouldn't look at me; she just stared at her shoes and sobbed.
Claire was leaning against her car, arguing frantically with another officer.
"Check his pockets!" Claire yelled, pointing at Ryan.
"He has a flash drive that proves he's a predator!"
The officer looked at Ryan skeptically.
Ryan sighed, adopting a look of exhausted patience.
"Officers, this woman has been harassing me for years," he said smoothly.
"She has severe mental health issues. Go ahead, check my pockets."
He raised his arms in a compliant gesture.
The officer patted him down, checking his coat and pants pockets.
"Nothing here, ma'am," the officer told Claire.
My stomach plummeted.
He had already hidden the drive.
They pushed me into the back of the police cruiser and slammed the door shut.
Through the reinforced glass, I watched Ryan kneel beside Lily, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
I hit my head against the plexiglass, a guttural scream of pure despair tearing from my throat.
I had lost everything.
Suddenly, a loud screech of tires echoed down the street.
A dark SUV aggressively jumped the curb and slammed into the side of Ryan's parked truck.
The police officers drew their weapons, shouting commands at the chaotic scene.
The driver's door of the SUV kicked open.
A man stepped out, his face illuminated by the police lights.
May you like
It was my first husband.
Lily's biological father, who had supposedly died in a work accident three years ago.
