Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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don’t gree!” Valerie stood up abruptly, wiping her tear as she choked out her words. “You have no right to make decisions about my daughter
The turned to the officer, eyes wide, voice trembling with secusation “I think this woman is acting out of jealousy. She saw my daughter and took it out on her, hurt her, and then pinned the blame un mu
the patted her chest, whimpering i’m her mother. I risked everything to get her away from her abusive father Why would I ever harm her?”
“You’re right” Audrey said calmly. “Everything you suspect makes perfect sense
Valerie Trade That wasn’t the answer she expected. ‘She’s supposed to deny it. Why is she agreeing with me?
She looked at Clayton with renewed confidence. “You heard that, didn’t you? Audrey just admitted it! She hurt Luna because she’s jealous of me!”
Tow…” Clayton winced as he spoke, his split lip flaring with pain. He pressed a hand to his mouth and frowned. “Vally, I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“She admitted it, and you’re still defending her?” Valerie’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her hand shook as she pointed at Audrey and then at herself. “How can you say that? You’re breaking my heart!”
“Vally, listen to me-*
“No, you listen to me?” Audrey’s patience snapped. “Do any of you actually listen when people speak? Or are your ears just for decoration?
“I never said I hurt Luna. I said Valerie’s suspicion made sense, which is exactly why we’re bringing in a professional. That’s what people do when they
want the truth.”
She turned to Clayton, her tone sharp and steady. “You’re a lawyer, aren’t you? Shouldn’t you be the one insisting on evidence? Without it, all you’ve got is slander, baseless accusations, complete nonsense.”
Carson raised his hand and gave her a thumbs–up. “Audrey’s right. My friend’s on his way. We’ll let the evidence speak.”
Clayton’s face darkened. “What did you just call her?”
Carson looked back at him, unbothered. “You call your savior “Vally. I call mine ‘Audrey. Which one of us sounds more inappropriate?”
“You” Clayton took a step forward, his fists clenched, but Valerie yanked him back.
“This is not the time to argue about what anyone calls anyone. I need to stop that doctor from examining Luna.
“Clayton, please…” Valerie suddenly rolled her eyes and swayed on her feet, attempting to faint like she had before.
But she picked the wrong moment. This time, there was a real doctor present.
As she began her dramatic fall toward Clayton, Carson shouted, “She’s conscious. Heart rate’s steady, no syncope signs. She’s not passing out. She’s buying time.”
Valerie froze mid–collapse, realizing she’d been called out. Then, slowly, she slumped into Clayton’s arms, hand to her temple. “Clayton, my head… it’s spinning, Take me to the hospital, please. And… and take Luna too… just in case.”
Just get her out of here. Once we’re on the road, I’ll figure out a way to avoid the hospital. Leaving her here is too risky.”
Clayton looked at her pale, sweating face and hesitated. She really did look awful.
The officers exchanged glances. None of them wanted to take responsibility if something serious happened.
“I’ll come with you,” the female officer said, still holding Luna’s hand.
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Chapter 75
Just as they stepped out the front doors, an ambulance pulled up to the curb.
The doors swung open, and a clean–cut, soft–spoken man stepped out in a doctor’s coat.
“Quentin!” Carson immediately stepped forward. “This is the kid I told you about. That’s her mother. She says she’s not feeling well. Can you take a
look?”
He turned to Audrey and the officer. “Everyone, this is my friend, Dr. Quentin Hale.”
Quentin gave Audrey a polite nod.
Valerie’s knees buckled, and she practically collapsed into Clayton’s arms. “Clayton, I don’t want him examining Luna. I really don’t want him near her,” she muttered.
It didn’t matter how many times she repeated it.
Quentin nodded to one of the EMTs, who began examining Valerie. He himself crouched down in front of Luna. “You’ve got beautiful eyes,” he said gently. “I bet they’re even prettier when you smile.” His voice was soft, warm, comforting.
Luna slowly looked up at him. Her big eyes sparkled with curiosity and something like hope.
Quentin smiled and reached out to pat her head. As his hand lowered, a tiny silk flower appeared in his palm, almost like magic. “This is for you, angel.”
Luna’s eyes widened, stunned. Surprise, wonder, and joy flashed through them all at once. But instead of reaching for the flower, she glanced at Valerie and looked down again.
Quentin stood. “I can schedule a full psychological evaluation to assess her condition. But I can already rule out autism.”
“Autism?” Valerie blinked rapidly. “But… that other doctor said she was autistic. Are you saying I was lied to? I was misled!”
She forced a smile, trying to look relieved. But the fear behind her eyes didn’t escape the female officer, who had already begun to doubt everything.
‘This mother… something’s off.‘
“Then give us the name of that doctor. We’ll follow up,” the officer said.
“No–no need,” Valerie blurted, grabbing Clayton’s arm. “Clayton’s a lawyer. He’ll help me get justice. Right, Clayton?”
Clayton felt it in his gut. Something wasn’t right. She was lying.
But she looked at him with so much desperation that he couldn’t bring himself to call her out. “I’ll file a complaint against the doctor,” he said quietly.
“That’s your business,” the officer replied. “We’re opening an investigation to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.” She nodded at her colleague, who immediately stepped forward. “Which hospital? What’s the doctor’s name?”
Valerie couldn’t answer, for she had never taken Luna to any hospital.
After a long pause, she muttered something about a clinic in Haldenwick and gave a made–up name.
She thought that would be the end of it. But then the female officer asked Quentin to perform a physical exam on Luna.
“No! I don’t agree to that,” Valerie snapped. “He’s not even from here! Who knows if his credentials are real?”
“I can confirm Dr. Hale’s credentials,” the officer said. “He’s one of our certified forensic consultants. He’s here in Ironhaven on an official assignment.”
The words hit Valerie like a brick to the chest.
‘An expert?‘
That meant the injuries could be dated, fresh or old, accidental or intentional. A trained eye could even tell what kind of object caused them.
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And as Luna’s mother, Valerie would be required to be present for the exam.
Her fingernails dug into her palms. Cold sweat poured down her spine, soaking the back of her dress.
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When the officer gently removed Luna’s clothes, revealing small, circular bruises along her legs and back, Valerie could barely stay on her feet.
Quentin glanced down at her shoes.
She was wearing heels. The size and shape of the heel matched the bruises perfectly.
Then he examined the puncture marks… tiny, clustered red dots on Luna’s thighs and rear. They looked like they’d been made with something sharp repeatedly.
The female officer’s voice was steady. “Tell me, who did this to you?”
Luna didn’t respond. Her head stayed down.
The female officer pointed at Valerie. “Was it her? Was it your mother?”
