Claudia POV
The officer escorted me to his car, and I didn't fight back as I was still in shock from everything, from my husband and abusive half-sister scheming to frame me for murder, to my daughter whose life was in danger.
However, my eyes lingered on Aurora and Lara as they were carried by the paramedics. They were placed on the same stretcher since they were still very small. I felt relieved that they were being treated quickly, and the ambulance would reach the hospital sooner than a regular car.
But when I saw Clarissa entering the ambulance as their guardian, my body moved on its own, and I tried to break free from my restraints.
"No! Don't let that witch near the girls!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I struggled. "She's the one who pushed them!"
Clarissa turned toward me, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.
"Sister, how could you accuse me after you pushed them like that?"
Miles glared at me with terrifying rage and said to the police, "Did you see that? She's accusing everyone else but herself. She accused me of cheating with her own sister, and accused our daughter of taking Clarissa's side. That's why she pushed my poor little angel down the stairs!"
"LIES! HE'S LYING! NO—LET ME GO!"
Unfortunately, no matter how hard I struggled, I was no match for a trained police officer.
He shoved me into the patrol car and locked the door.
I could only scream and bang on the car window as Clarissa entered the ambulance with my daughter inside.
**
The night felt like a long nightmare that I couldn't escape from. I was detained in the police station and questioned relentlessly for five consecutive hours. I tried my best to answer the questions during the interrogation, but I was delirious with thirst, hunger, and fear. My mind kept drifting back to my daughter.
Was she alright, or was she in critical condition?
When I asked if I could go to the hospital to check on her, the interrogator scoffed dismissively.
"Mrs. Hoffman, I've already told you that your husband has filed a report against you for child endangerment and domestic abuse. As of now, the two girls are still unconscious thanks to you. I won't let you see your daughter unless you've gotten the go-ahead from a certified psychiatrist. You're a risk to children otherwise."
My breath hitched again. I knew the gashing wounds on their heads were dangerous, but the thought that their lives were in jeopardy because of it sent a chill down my spine.
Then I registered the second half of his statement. "A psychiatrist? I don't need a goddamned psychiatrist! I'm not crazy! I didn't push them!"
I didn't want to see a psychiatrist. They might medicate me, and then I would lose all sense of self!
The interrogation officer looked at me like I was less than human and sneered, "You can say that in front of the psychiatrist. Don't worry, he is a professional."
"No, I'm sane, I'm telling you!" I yelled and resisted the officers out of desperation from a woman who had been wrongfully accused.
The interrogation officer clicked his tongue and commanded the officer behind him, "Put her back in her cell until it's time for her to visit the psychiatrist."
And once again, I was dragged back to a tiny cell, and all I could do was scream into nothingness as everyone turned deaf ears against my explanation.
I slumped to the floor, weeping as all the negative thoughts began flooding my brain. I kept thinking about my daughter's life, and the dark future in front of me.
What would happen if I was actually incarcerated? Who'd protect my daughter from Clarissa if Miles was actually in cahoots with her?
And speaking about Miles…
I want to hear his goddamned explanation! Everything seemed to be fine before this. It was true that Miles had gone busy after his business took off, and he barely went home after that, but he was never the cheating type until now!
I spent two hours trying to cleanse all the bad thoughts welling inside my head. However, the officer came to me with news, "Your husband wants to talk with you. You have an hour with him."
I didn't know if I even wanted to see him after what he had done, but I needed to ask him about Aurora. I was prepared to scream at him if necessary. The officer escorted me through the jail cells, and then put me in a room with a clear glass partition separating Miles from me.
But when I stared into his cold eyes, words failed me. He had never looked at me like that. My heart was aching terribly as memories of our ten year marriage flashed in my mind. I choked on my sobs as I recalled all the sweet moments we spent together as a family, as well as all the sacrifices that I made just to support him. Was my entire marriage a lie? Were all my sacrifices in vain?
I didn't want him to see me cry, so I lowered my head and asked croaked out, "Why are you doing this to our family, Miles?"
"… It's all your fault Claudia," he replied, and that answer agitated me instantly. I glared at him, my eyes wet with tears.
"How is it my fault that you wanted to harm our daughter and send me to jail?! Miles Hoffman, are you crazy? I am your wife, and Aurora is your daughter!"
"And so is Lara," he replied coldly, but he kept clenching his fist, which was Miles' tell-tale sign of nervousness and fear. He was scared, but he plowed on. "I think it's obvious that Lara is my daughter, right? I actually like her better than Aurora, because she has my eyes, my hair, and my smile, unlike Aurora, who's just a mini version of you."
"You don't mean that," I said, nonplussed. "You've always said that Aurora was enough for you!"
Miles' lips twisted into a sneer. "Actually, you're right. Both Lara and Aurora are not worthy of my love. What I want is a boy who can inherit my bloodline."