My Dad's Ashes and Her Darn Dog

The leading police officer frowned and spoke in a stern voice. “What is going on here?”

Vanessa forced herself to stand despite her pain. She pointed at Layla, her voice shaking. “Officer, I am Vanessa Summer from the Summer family of Capital City. This woman stabbed my friend with a knife and tried to set us on fire with a lighter. The evidence is clear. My dad is already on his way.”

My tense body relaxed slightly.

I believed everything was finally coming to an end. The two police officers exchanged glances after seeing Layla, and their expressions changed. When they looked at Vanessa and me again, their eyes were filled with anger.

“You two beat someone in broad daylight. Do you know what kind of crime that is?”

The other officer walked toward Layla with a respectful smile. “Mrs. Stanford, are you alright? Tell us how you want us to handle them. We will give you a result that satisfies you.”

“A result that satisfies you?” Vanessa’s eyes widened. She pulled open her sleeve, revealing deep cuts and bruises. “Look at this. She attacked us first. We are the victims. You have to be fair…”

A loud thud cut her off.

They allowed Layla to swing an iron stick and strike Vanessa’s forearm.

Vanessa cried out and stumbled back.

“Be quiet,” the leading officer snapped, his tone full of flattery. “Mrs. Stanford’s husband is a well-known philanthropist in this city, and Mrs. Stanford herself is extremely wealthy. If you touch her, you go against us. The Summer family? No one will believe that. We will enforce the law today even if it really is the Summer family.”

“Who told you she is Mrs. Stanford?” Vanessa forced herself upright and pointed at me. “My friend Nora is the real Mrs. Stanford. Your superior attended their wedding. If you do not believe me, call him here for a confrontation.”

The officers paused and glanced at Layla. They burst into laughter.

“If you are Mrs. Stanford, then I am the richest person in the world.”

One officer turned to Layla. “Mrs. Stanford, what do you want us to do?”

Layla smoothed her messy hair and smiled coldly. “She killed my two‑million‑dollar pedigree dog. I only wanted to use her father’s urn. She refused, beat me, and pretended to be me to scam me.”

It was complete slander.

I never claimed to be Mrs. Stanford. We never killed her dog. She was the one who tried to take my father’s urn.

“Take these two troublemakers away immediately,” the officers shouted, cutting off my thoughts.

“This is abuse of power. You want to hand over the urn for Mrs. Stanford’s dog?”

I stood up. “Do you know who is in that urn? It is my dad. My dad is a national hero. If you touch him, the entire Capital City will be shaken today.”

I had no choice but to reveal my father’s identity. I hoped it would make them hesitate until the Summer family arrived. One officer pulled out a stun gun and drove it into my waist.

The electric current shot through me. My mind went blank. My limbs felt hollow as I collapsed. I held the urn tightly and forced myself not to cry out.

Vanessa rushed forward and was shocked the same way.

The officer laughed. “Keep making things up. Pretending to be related to a high‑ranking official is an even bigger crime. Keep talking. We will still get credit even if we beat you to death today.”

He turned to Layla with a fawning smile. “Right, Mrs. Stanford? Your problem is our problem.”

Layla looked down at us, her smile relaxed and cruel. “Officers, you saw it. They are lunatics. Send them to a mental hospital so they do not cause trouble again.”

The officers grabbed Vanessa and me and dragged us toward the car.

A screech of brakes echoed through the air.

A black sedan stopped in front of us, and Ethan stepped out. His gaze swept across the scene before landing on Layla.

He rushed toward her, his voice shaking with panic. “Layla, are you alright?”