Chapter 4: The Lies They Tried To Sell
"Why are you making such a scene?" Melissa snapped, crossing her arms. "She fell off her bike in the driveway. That’s all."
"Fell off a bike and got three cracked ribs?" Chris stepped between us, voice sharp as a knife. "Bike falls don’t leave grip marks on both wrists. Bike falls don’t make a kid hide in the cold for five hours instead of knocking on the door."
Roger stepped out from behind them, jaw set hard. "She’s clumsy. Always has been. And you—stirring up trouble like this? You’re embarrassing the whole family."
"She’s my daughter!" I yelled. "And you left her alone to bleed on the concrete!"
Norma rolled her eyes. "She’s dramatic. Makes up stories for attention. You work too much—you have no idea what she’s like at home."
Sarah whimpered and pulled the blanket over her head.
Then Melissa’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, and her whole face went white. She stuffed it back in her pocket so fast she almost dropped it.
"Who was that?" I asked.
"Nobody," she said too fast. "We’re leaving. And we’re taking Sarah home right now."
The doctor walked in, holding a clipboard tight to her chest. "I’m sorry—no one is taking this child anywhere until we finish our full evaluation. And until Child Protective Services signs off."
Roger stepped closer, voice low and threatening. "You know who I am. You know what happens when you get in my way."
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