Chapter 4
His voice was icy, and he looked down at me with a superior air.
He said, "You dared to pick a fight after everything you've done wrong? I've been far too lenient with you. Apologize to Elsa right now. Admit your mistake before it's too late."
I sneered. "In your dreams!"
I slumped to the floor, a mocking smile playing on my lips.
My father was killed because of them.
Even the last thing he left me was snatched away right in front of my eyes.
What else did Murray have to threaten me with?
But I still underestimated just how vile he could be.
"A once-heroic firefighter, now a potential convict. Makes for a great headline, don't you think?" Murray gave me a sideways glance, his smile full of cold mockery.
My blood chilled. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.
"Don't you dare, Murray!" I yelled.
With my eyes blazing red, I screamed at him, "You bastard! My dad must've been out of his mind to save you!"
My dad was never one for words. He lived an honest life, always did the right thing, and never once did anything bad.
Whenever there was an emergency, he was always the first on the scene, risking his own life over and over just to save someone else.
He lived a life of integrity, and now they wanted to smear him like this?
I whispered, "It was my mistake…"
I was such a fool. I really believed Murray was the one I'd spend forever with. If I hadn't married him, Dad would still be here. It was all my fault.
Tears streamed down my face, guilt and despair threatening to tear me apart.
"That's more like it, Alice. As long as you and your dad own up, I won't have to be so ruthless," Murray said coldly.
Elsa stood off to the side, grinning smugly. "Someone's still missing."
She sneered. "Alice, your dad has to apologize to me now. Otherwise, I'll never forgive him!"
I glared coldly at that disgusting pair.
"He's not coming, so don't even think about it," I spat, my voice icy.
Immediately, Murray snapped. He barked, "Alice, you're leaving me no choice!"
He snatched my phone right out of my hand.
He started digging through my contacts, intending to check call logs to track down my father.
He was caught off guard when my phone rang first. It was an unknown number.
Murray sneered. "So, he's even using fake numbers now?"
He looked sure of himself as he pressed the answer button.
The next second, a serious voice from the police officer came through the line.
"Miss Jayton, we've caught the suspect who ran over your father last week. Please come down to the station to give your statement."
The room went dead silent.
Murray just stood there, completely stunned.
He didn't even notice when the call ended.
Murray glared at me, his voice icy. "Alice, is this another one of your schemes?"
But Elsa was the first to snap out of it. Her voice shook, then she burst into loud, dramatic sobs. "You're absolutely shameless! You'd used your own dad just to set me up? You're such a vile woman!"
She kept sobbing and gasping for air, clutching her chest like she was about to suffocate. Then she stumbled and collapsed right into Murray's arms.
Seeing Elsa collapse, Murray's expression turned frantic. "Elsa, what's wrong?"
He swept her up in a princess carry and rushed out.
Before leaving, he threw me a vicious look and spat out a threat. "Alice, if anything happens to Elsa, you and your dad are dead meat!"
Perfect. Murray, I wouldn't spare you either.
*****
It was way past midnight.
I had to wait forever before I finally managed to flag down a cab.
The second I walked into the police station, someone came over to greet me.
It was the old captain from the station. "Alice, I heard about what happened to your dad. I'm really sorry for your loss," he said.
He looked genuinely heartbroken. He and my dad had been friends since they were kids.
I held back my tears and asked him where they were keeping the suspect.
That piece of trash killed my dad. I would never let him off!
"Alice, I know you're in a lot of pain right now, but you need to keep it together. It's the only way you'll be able to fight for your dad," the old captain said.
After a lot of comforting from him, my nerves finally settled down a bit.
But the moment I saw that arrogant young punk in the interrogation room, flashing his designer brands like he owned the place, rage surged up in my chest.
"Man, it was so dark. I didn't even see him. It just… happened," the guy said, trying to sound all innocent.
He added, "Yeah, I was drunk, but I made sure to take a deserted road. Nobody ever goes there."