I Turned Myself Over To The Police

Sophie, who had been pointing at my nose and ranting moments ago, froze. She stared at the settlement agreement in her hands in disbelief.

The nearby police officer was also stunned. He remained silent as I transferred 50,000 dollars into Sophie’s account without hesitation.

The crowd’s perception of me shifted instantly. I went from being seen as a deadbeat to a reasonable person in the blink of an eye. Everyone was left speechless.

They could not understand why I seemed like a completely different person after just one phone call. It was as though I had been anticipating that call the entire time.

I ignored the bewildered stares around. I got into my car and drove away.

As I checked my phone, I noticed countless missed calls and messages from my mother. I decided to listen to a few of her voice messages.

“Why are you doing this? Chloe was such a sweet girl. She loved you so much. Why would you hurt her?”

“Even if you’re my daughter, I can’t protect you anymore. This time, I’ll ensure you’re sent to prison!”

I sneered. In my previous cycle, when Emily said that after Chloe went missing, I felt heartbroken. I did not question it at the time.

Emily had always favored the boys and often neglected Chloe. At the slightest provocation, she would either hit or scold her.

It made me wonder how she pretended to be so devastated by Chloe’s disappearance.

I stepped hard on the accelerator and sped home. I could not wait to expose her fake concern.

Countless people could provide an alibi for me. I was curious to see what tricks she and my other family members would use to try to force me into submission.

This time, the tables might turn. I would be the one sending them to the police station.

In my past cycle, when I rushed home in a panic, dozens of relatives were already blocking my door.

Emily was in the middle of the crowd. She threw a tantrum and demanded an explanation from me.

“Grace, I never thought you could be so cruel. You’re her aunt! Chloe loved you so much. How could you do this to her?

“Tell me, where did you hide her? Or did you already kill her?!”

I did not even know where to begin in the face of her wild accusations.

I had no idea Chloe had visited me. I had not seen her at all.

But my hesitation made everyone believe Emily.

They were convinced that I held a grudge and had taken it all out on barely five-year-old Chloe.

“I know I haven’t treated you well, but if something is wrong, just talk to me. If it’s really that serious, you can talk to David. Chloe hasn’t done anything wrong.

“It was wrong of me to ask you to give your house to David as a wedding gift, and it was wrong for me to ask you to pay for David and Margaret’s wedding. But don’t take it out on Chloe!”

She sobbed and sniffled. Without any shame, she listed all the wrongs I had suffered over the years.

But the sacrifices that I had made willingly out of selflessness were being used against me as reasons for hurting Chloe.

Emily, who had always been rude and unreasonable, portrayed herself as a poor old woman who had lost her granddaughter.

I stumbled over my words as I tried to say, “I didn’t even know Chloe was coming to see me. How could I have hurt her?”

Suddenly, David appeared out of nowhere. He slapped me across the face in front of everyone.

“Even with the noose around your neck, you won’t admit it! How much do you really hate me?!”