Chapter3
The moment Lillian hit play, Bella’s voice burst through the phone speakers.
“Mommy, I want Mommy…
The crowd couldn’t see, but the screen was pointed directly at me–and I saw it.
Slap after slap, Lillian’s hand struck Bella’s tiny face.
Her cries were loud, too loud, drowning out the sound of each blow..
“Sweetie, Mommy’s just busy,” Lillian cooed. “I made you mango puree, it’s so sweet. Let’s eat it together, okay?”
Bella went quiet.
My fingers clenched. Lillian knew. She knew Bella was allergic to mango.
The silence wasn’t comfort–it was because her throat had swollen shut. My daughter didn’t stop crying. She couldn’t.
Lillian smugly pocketed her phone, and postproumingcrate clueless about the video, erupted
Auto added to the Library in accusations.
“What a heartless mother! Even too busy to spend time with her daughter.”
“She’s accusing this poor girl of murder? I bet she’s the one who left her daughter in the car herself
probably didn’t want her getting in the way of her career!”
“Lillian’s not even related and she’s doing everything for the kids‘ funeral. Meanwhile, this woman shows up just to scream and hit people. She shouldn’t be allowed to have kids!”
They were grieving their own losses, looking for an outlet–and I became the target.
Hands slapped my face. Someone spit on me.
Rotten eggs splattered against my clothes.
Sharp nails clawed down my cheek, leaving bloodied lines.
I turned, seeking help from Nathan.
He hesitated.
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Lillian pouted pitifully. “Nathan, you promised to protect me. If you step in now, it’s like admitting I’m guilty. If word gets out at school, my life will be over. You wouldn’t go back on your word, right?”
Nathan’s voice was cold. “Ava, you falsely accused Lillian. Since you won’t apologize, consider this
a lesson.”
Eventually, the crowd dispersed, exhausted.
I staggered to my feet. Nathan tried to help me up.
“Let me take you to clean up
I slapped him across the face.
“I’m divorcing you, leaving Whitmore Enterprises, and from now on–we’re done.”
His eyes darkened. “You’re threatening me? You started this. I just wanted justice for Lillian.”
I ignored him.
I walked to Bella, gently wiping the mess from her little face.
Then I carried her toward the crematorium.
Nathan followed. I turned and screamed, “Get out!”
He stopped, stunned by the look in my eyes.
I didn’t look back. I walked away.
All night, I sat outside the cremation room, listening to the fire consume my baby.
“Bella… I’m sorry, sweetheart. Mommy didn’t protect you…
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The next morning, I placed her ashes in the memorial chapel for safekeeping.
Nathan was no longer someone I could trust. I needed to take my mother and Bella, and leave
Riverton for good.
When I came outside, they were gone. My phone had been thrown to the ground, screen flashing-
36 missed calls.
All from Riverstone Wellness Center.
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I called Nurse Margaret. She answered immediately, frantic.
“Ms. Sinclair! Thank God! Your mother… she–she took her own life! Her head…”
I didn’t wait to hear more. I hailed a cab and raced there.
The nurse was pale, retching by the door.
“Wait a moment… the scene is horrific.”
Inside, blood was everywhere. My mother’s body knelt in front of the exploded microwave, her head unrecognizable.
“Why… why would she do this?!”
“We don’t know. A few men came last night–said they were friends of Miss Cross. Told us to wait outside. We didn’t dare say no, not after Mr. Whitmore said his word was law.”
“They stayed in the room a long time. When I came to change your mother’s bandages this morning… I thought she was looking for something in the microwave. Then it exploded.”
I remembered. The spy cam.
Before I left yesterday, I’d asked Nurse Margaret to hide a camera in my mother’s room.
She’d done it.
I pulled out my phone and reviewed the footage.
And I saw it all.
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