Chapter 16
Mia stood before her mirror, her heart fluttering with anticipation as she prepared for her second date with Alex.
The thought of going somewhere with him again brought a rare smile to her face. Her stomach was filled with things. dancing in it. She had butterflies in her stomach
As she carefully applied a touch of lipstick, unfamiliar noises drifted through the thin walls of their modest home. These weren’t the usual sounds of her siblings’ fighting or arguing, they were harsher, more urgent.
She paused, straining to hear the muffled voices, but the words remained unclear.
Suddenly, her bedroom door burst open with a force that rattled the frame. Mia’s breath jumped in her throat as two men, dressed in dark uniforms and holding guns, stood in the doorway.
The metallic glint of their badges identified them as police officers.
Mia’s lipstick drops from her hands
“Hands up!” one barked, his voice leaving no room for hesitation.
Heart pounding, Mia raised her hands, her mind racing to comprehend the situation. The officers gestured for her to exit the room, and she complied, her legs trembling beneath her.
In the living room, the scene was one of fear.
Her mother stood to the side telling the officers to stop destroying her home, Lily was sitting on the couch, her expression barely concealing her anxiety.
Ann stood close to the kitchen, eyes wide with confusion. Uniformed officers moved through their home, overturning cushions, emptying drawers, and scattering through personal belongings with ruthless efficiency.
A man in plain clothes, evidently in charge, stood at the center of the chaos, his face flushed with anger. “Search everywhere!” he commanded, his voice slicing through the tension.
Mia’s voice trembled as she found the courage to speak. “What’s going on?”
The man turned to her, his eyes narrowing. “Your sister stole a painting worth a million dollars from me. That’s what’s going
on.”
Lily’s eyes widened in shock. “I didn’t steal anything!” she protested, her voice rising.
Mia’s mother stepped forward, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “This is not legal, you’re violating our rights.”
The man sneered. “We’re in Willowcrest, lady. Things work differently here.”
Mia’s gaze shifted to Lily, searching for any sign of deceit. Before she could process her thoughts, an officer emerged from the hallway, holding a framed painting. “I found it!” he announced triumphantly.
Their mother’s face paled as she turned to Lily. “Really?” she whispered, betrayal and disappointment etched into her features.
Lily’s hard facade crumbled, and she looked away, unable to meet their mother’s gaze.
Mia’s anger flared, a hot surge of emotion that burned in her chest. “You want to add ‘thieves’ to our name in Willowcrest?” she demanded, her voice shaking with a mix of rage and despair.
The man in charge waved a dismissive hand. “Arrest all of them.”
1/2
Chapter 16
Mia’s head snapped up, disbelief flooding her senses.
“Why would you do that? I had nothing to do with this. Moreover, you’ve found your painting, what more do you Ann voices, her voice filled with panic.
want?”
“You can’t just arrest all of us-” Mia began, but her plea was cut short as officers moved in, their grips firm and strong.
The room erupted into chaos. Her mother and sisters resisted, voices raised in protest, but the officers were relentless. Mia felt a cold numbness settle over her as she was pushed toward the door, the reality of their situation sinking in.
Outside, the harsh glare of police lights illuminated the night, casting shadows on their pavement.
Neighbors peeked from behind curtains, their faces masks of curiosity and judgment. The officers led them to waiting police cars.
As they were ushered into the back seats, Mia’s mind raced. The date with Alex, the little moments of happiness she had dared to embrace just crumbled in front of her.
The weight of her family’s actions makes her want to scream till her throat hurts.
The car doors slammed shut, enclosing them in a cage of silence. Mia glanced at her mother, whose eyes glistened with unshed tears, and at her sisters, whose faces mirrored fear, shame, and anger.
As the convoy of police vehicles pulled away from their home, Mia closed her eyes, a single thought echoing in her mind.
What did she do in her past life to deserve this kind of family….
