Chapter 51
After the notebook was taken away for further investigation , the office was once again left with only Elysia and the middle â aged officer .
Elysia was still slightly out of breath , her gaze fixed outside the window .
The midday sun beamed brightly .
She knew the exam was already halfway through .
Sweat trickled down from her forehead , Blowing into the comer of her eyes before dropping off her face
From afar , it almost looked like she was crying .
The dense dark spots on her face became slightly smudged and blended , while her bangs , pushed back from her forehead during her intense writing earlier , revealed more of her features .
At first , the officer thought she was crying , unsure of how to comfort her .
But when he stepped closer , he was momentarily startled by her face .
The girlâs features were delicate and beautiful , yet her than frame and the blemishes on her skin hinted at years of neglect .
â What on earth had the Drayton family been feeding her ? How could they let a child grow up like this ? the police thought .
â Child , let me take you home ,â the officer offered , his tone firm but warm .
â Iâll personally testify about Rowena forcing you to take her exam .
make sure your father hears about her threats today , too â
Elysia froze .
A faint smile appeared on her lips as she shook her head .
â Thank you , sir , but thereâs no need .
Besides .
â
Her voice dropped as she added softly , almost to herself .
They wouldnât believe me anyway .
â
Seconds later , her whispered voice came again , barely audible .
They never believe me ⦠â When Mom left , I lost my home a long time ago â
These words were so quiet , so fragile , that it seemed d as if she was
was speaking only to herself .
Yet , the livestream caught every syllable .
[ Elysia , donât cry ! Iâm going to make a voodoo doll for Rowena right now !
[ Elysia suffered physical abuse for the first ten years , and when she returned home , she faced not only more physical harm but also relentless pychological attacks .
Honestly , I can understand why sheâd want Rowena dead .
If I were in her shoes , I wouldnât stop at Rowena .
Rupert , Althea , Torin , Fenwick Carllan â theyâd all be on my list ]
Torin clenched his fists tightly as the guilt clawed at his heart .
For the first time , he genuinely wanted to disappear , to end
d his own life .
But the thought of dying without earning Elysiaâs forgiveness , without protecting her even once , without seeing justice served to those who wronged her â no , he couldnât give up yet .
Unless ⦠unless Elysia herself demanded his life in retum .
That would be a price heâd gladly pay .
Back on screen , the burly officer , accustomed to loud and rough exchanges , struggled to understand Elysiaâs faint whispers .
Yet her pained , dejected demeanor was clear enough .
He hesitated before speaking , deciding to press on with a different question .
About your motherâs grave ⦠â
But before he could finish , Elysia interrupted him .
But before he could finish , Flydia interrupted him
Forcing herself to smile , she tilted her head slightly , her large , round eyes narrowing in an attempt to appear cheerful .
I trust Dad will take good care of Mom .
Since he thinks Iâm unclean and unworthy of being seen by her , well ⦠then so be it .
Maybe Mom hates me too .
Her voice trembled , and as she continued , she seemed to choke back her emotions .
To steady herself , she clung tightly to the officerâs arm , her grip a desperate anchor .
Still smiling , she added , â Besides , how could I let my selfish desires get in the way of helping the children who are still alive ?
â After all , my mom is already gone .
She died eleven years ago when I was kidnapped .
She was hit by a car because of me .
I canât keep clinging to the past , relying on someone whoâs no longer here .
â
The officerâs brow furrowed deeply as he listened .
When she finished , his eyes widened , and he roured in disbelief , â Unclean ? What do you mean , unclean ! And⦠hit by a car ? Is that what Mr.
Drayton told you ? That Mrs.
Drayton was hit by a cart ! â
The officer thought , Could a father truly say such cruel things about his own daughter ?