Chapter 6
I stared at the phone.
My mother's name flashed on the screen.
I didn't want to answer.
But I knew I had to.
If I didn't, she would just keep calling.
Or show up.
I answered.
"What do you want?"
My voice was cold.
"How dare you?" my mother screamed. "How dare you hit your sister and then run off like a coward?"
I closed my eyes.
I took a breath.
"She hurt Rosie," I said.
"She disciplined her!" my mother shouted. "And you hit her! You hit your own sister! The police are here! They're asking questions! You've humiliated this family!"
"The police should be asking questions," I said. "Because Bethany abused my daughter."
"Abused?" my mother laughed. A harsh, bitter sound. "You're being dramatic. As usual. You always were too sensitive. Just like your father says."
"Don't," I said. My voice was dangerous now. "Don't you dare bring him into this. He threw a glass at us. At a four-year-old girl."
"You provoked him!" she said. "You insulted this family! You walked in here like you owned the place and attacked your sister!"
"I'm not going to argue with you," I said. "The police have the photos. They have Rosie's statement. They know what happened."
"Photos?" My mother's voice changed. "What photos?"
"Sarah took photos of Rosie's bruises," I said. "The finger marks on her arms. The purple bruise on her cheek. They're evidence."
My mother was quiet for a moment.
Then her voice dropped.
Became cold.
Calculating.
"You're making a mistake, Mark," she said. "A big mistake. Family doesn't do this to family."
"She's not my family," I said. "Not anymore. And neither are you."
I hung up.
I threw the phone on the bed.
Sarah was looking at me.
Her face was pale.
"They know about the photos," I said.
Sarah nodded.
"They'll try to discredit us," she said. "They'll try to say we made it up. That we coached Rosie."
"Let them," I said. "The bruises are real. The doctor's report is real. The truth is real."
Sarah reached for my hand.
"It's not going to be easy," she said.
"I know," I said. "But I'd rather fight a thousand battles than let them hurt her again."
Sarah squeezed my hand.
"Then we fight together," she said.
That afternoon, Officer Chen called.
She told me they had spoken to my family.
As expected, they had lied.
Bethany claimed Rosie had fallen.
That she had tried to help her.
That I had attacked her unprovoked.
My mother and father had backed her up.
The other relatives had either stayed quiet or repeated the same lie.
"They're sticking to their story," Officer Chen said. "But the evidence doesn't match. A fall wouldn't leave finger marks on both arms. And your daughter's statement is very detailed. Very consistent."
"What happens now?" I asked.
"We're forwarding everything to the district attorney," she said. "They'll decide whether to press charges. Given the evidence, I think they will."
I nodded.
Even though she couldn't see me.
"Thank you," I said.
"Just be careful," Officer Chen said. "Your family is angry. They might try to contact you. Or show up. If they do, call us immediately."
"I will," I said.
I hung up.
I looked at Sarah.
"They're going to press charges," I said.
Sarah let out a breath she had been holding.
"Good," she said.
But I knew this was just the beginning.
May you like
My family wouldn't go down without a fight.
And they fought dirty.
