Chapter 2

I ate and slept fine in detention, even helped the woman in the next cell with her divorce case. Life was weirdly comfortable.

A little over twelve hours later, the female guard said someone was there to see me and told me to get ready.

I did the math—Tiffany must’ve pushed Mom by now.

I straightened my jail uniform, cuffed, and was led to the visiting room.

Before I could even sit down, Richard and Tiffany burst in with a lawyer, reporters, and crying relatives.

The second Richard saw me, he tried to lunge through the glass to attack me.

“You monster! You killed your mother! And now you’re hiding here like nothing happened!”

Tiffany sobbed, “Chloe, just confess! Mom’s gone, but if you admit what you did, Dad and your brother might forgive you!”

An influencer in the crowd was live-streaming: “Folks, the mom-killer’s been found! Hiding right here at the station! This monster deserves the death penalty!”

I was shocked. I’d hidden in the station, and they were still trying to frame me.

I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Richard’s lawyer pulled out a document.

The lawyer declared self-righteously, “Chloe, for the heinous murder of your adoptive mother, Richard is filing to strip you of inheritance rights and demands maximum punishment!”

Cops tried to keep order, but the family had brought cameras and mics—total chaos.

I tried to explain, but no one would listen.

Cameras flashed nonstop, everyone screaming for my blood, demanding I pay for Mom’s death.

A hysterical relative threw a water bottle that hit my forehead, leaving a red mark.

The station lobby was a circus—other inmates pressed against the bars, watching the show.

Soon, the Captain emerged with a larger group of officers.

“What’s going on here? This isn’t your living room! Quiet!”

Richard pointed furiously, jaw tight. “We’re pressing charges! This animal killed someone at home last night and hid here!”

I immediately spotted Officer Davis, the one who’d taken my statement, standing behind the Captain.

“Officer Davis! My dad’s nuts—they’re saying I killed someone! You have to help me!”

Officer Davis frowned and stepped up. “Sir, the suspect Chloe has been in custody since last night. How could she have gone home to commit murder?”

Richard’s face turned red with rage. He shoved his phone at Officer Davis. “I’ve seen plenty like her—ungrateful brats doing evil and faking alibis!”

“I have security footage! The cameras clearly show it was her!”

The live stream comments exploded:

[Alibi won’t matter—video evidence is solid!]

[Lock her up for life!]

[She deserves the death penalty!]

I was livid and confused. I’d turned myself in—how could they still pin this on me?

“I don’t get it! How could security footage show me?”

Richard yelled, “You pushed your mother down the stairs! You’re the best actor I’ve ever seen!”

Unlike last time, I stayed calm.

“I pushed Mom? When? I have no clue what you’re talking about!”

Tiffany tried to grab my hand, but a correctional officer blocked her.

Tiffany sobbed harder, “Chloe, don’t lie! I saw you last night in your pajamas, pushing Mom!”

The captain’s expression turned grim.

“Ma’am, you need evidence. Our entire station was on duty. Are you saying we couldn’t keep one prisoner from escaping, murdering someone, and returning?”