Chapter 6 - The East BedroomEmma heard the police before she saw them.
Sirens approached beyond the gates.
Daniel paced across the east bedroom, staring at the window.
“You called him.”
Emma sat beside the bed, pressing a towel against her injured hand. She had cut it when Daniel shattered a glass and ordered her to pick up the pieces.
She refused to look at him.
Daniel grabbed the trust documents.
“You’re signing these before they enter.”
“No.”
“You think your father can protect you forever?”
“No,” Emma said. “I think the truth can.”
He laughed.
“What truth? That you became emotional? That you broke a glass and threatened my mother?”
“You broke it.”
“Who will they believe?”
Emma finally looked at him.
“For the first time in your life, you’re afraid the answer won’t be you.”
Daniel’s face changed.
He stepped toward her.
The bedroom door opened.
Vivian entered carrying a small medical case.
“The police are at the gate,” she said. “We need to move quickly.”
Emma stared at the case.
“What is that?”
“Something to help you calm down.”
“I’m not taking anything.”
Vivian placed the case on the table.
“You’ve suffered a breakdown. Daniel tried to help you. You became violent and injured yourself.”
“You planned this.”
“We planned to protect the family.”
“By stealing my mother’s foundation?”
Vivian sighed.
“Your mother was sentimental. Your father was distracted by uniforms and medals. They built something valuable and handed it to a woman who has no understanding of influence.”
Emma rose slowly.
“My mother built that foundation for people trapped by families like yours.”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed.
“You will sign.”
“No.”
Daniel seized Emma’s arm.
She pulled away and ran toward the door.
He caught the back of her dress, tearing the sleeve. Emma struck the locked door with her shoulder and shouted.
“Help!”
Daniel dragged her backward.
Vivian opened the medical case.
Then the mansion alarm began to sound.
A voice echoed through the hallway.
“Police! Step away from the door!”
Daniel froze.
Vivian closed the case.
“Do not let them see her like this,” she whispered.
The door shook beneath a heavy impact.
Emma screamed again.
Daniel reached for the towel around her hand.
“Give me that.”
She backed away.
“Don’t touch me.”
The door burst open.
Officers entered with weapons raised but controlled.
Daniel released Emma immediately and lifted his hands.
“My wife is mentally ill,” he said. “She attacked us.”
Emma stared at him in disbelief.
Vivian pointed toward the broken glass.
“She injured herself during a violent episode.”
Captain Reed stepped inside.
His eyes moved from the glass to Emma’s hand, then to the unsigned documents on the bed and the open medical case on the table.
“What medication is that?” he asked.
Vivian answered smoothly.
“It was prescribed.”
“By whom?”
“Our family physician.”
“Where is the prescription label?”
Vivian said nothing.
Reed ordered an officer to secure the case.
Daniel stepped forward.
“You have no right to take that.”
The officers handcuffed him.
“This is a private family matter!” Daniel shouted.
Emma heard another voice from the hallway.
Her father’s voice.
“Emma!”
May you like
She ran.
For the first time in two years, no one stopped her.
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