“Because to her, you’re nothing but a means to an end—a vessel, and that’s all.”
“I have proof.” Melanie took a shaky breath, her eyes rimmed red as she looked at Serena. “I have proof that I was the one who pushed Alicia down the stairs.”
Serena’s face twisted with shock. “What did you say?”
“Mom, you always believed Alicia could only be happy if she lost her baby, didn’t you? You said I owed you, that I had to pay it back. Well… I did what you asked. Doesn’t that mean I’m free now? I don’t owe you anything anymore, do I?”
Melanie took a step back, her voice wavering as she spoke again. “I won’t have to live under your judgment anymore, right?”
Was this it—her chance to finally break free from this prison?
Serena was silent, too sure of herself, too convinced that Tyrone only wanted Alicia for the baby she carried, that he just needed someone to give him a child.
She believed that if Alicia lost the baby, Tyrone would leave her for good.
“Excuse me, we received a call about an intentional assault resulting in miscarriage?” The police had arrived and stood at the doorway.
Melanie had called them herself. “Yes… it was me. I called. I pushed her down the stairs. She lost the baby because of me, and I want to confess…”
Her voice broke as she pointed at Alicia, lying pale and stunned in the hospital bed.
Alicia was in shock, unable to process what she was hearing.
Melanie—she’d gone to the police herself?
Was she out of her mind? She was still in school, and now she was headed for prison.
Would she rather go to jail than keep living under her mother’s thumb?
How unbearably sad.
“Melanie, have you lost your mind?” Serena shouted, her voice shrill as she tried to explain to the officers. “I’m so sorry, she’s just a child. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying. There are cameras in the house…” Melanie’s voice trembled as she choked back tears.
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