Chapter 4 "Mom! You're finally back! They said... they said you don't want me anymore..." I held my daughter, Emily, tightly as tears streamed down my face, no longer able to hold them back. My Emily... how had she become so thin and frail after just a few months? She wore filthy, ragged clothes, her bare arms covered in a sickening patchwork of bruises. The neighbors were stunned, exchanging horrified glances. "Oh my God! Isn't that Mr. Sullivan's daughter? Why is she calling that woman 'Mom'?" "And she was locked in the basement? She's skin and bones...This is abuse! How horrifying!" Three of them froze, unsure what to do. Isabella reacted first, rushing forward to snatch Emily from my arms. "Emily, sweetie, you mustn't call her 'Mom. 'You're confused, aren't you? Come to Mommy now." Emily struggled desperately. "You're not my mom! You're a bad woman! You stole my daddy and you locked me away! And your son ripped up the teddy bear my grandpa made for me!" Seeing that Emily clung to me, ignoring her entirely, Isabella's face turned pale, then flushed with anger and humiliation. Yet, she still tried to maintain her "gentle and kind" image in front of everyone. As the situation teetered on the brink of chaos, Richard finally intervened, his voice firm. "Enough! Everyone, stop!" He drew a deep breath, his face a mix of sorrow and helplessness. "Everyone, what happens within a family should stay there, but circumstances force my hand. This child is is the orphan of a distant cousin of mine who fell in battle." "She witnessed domestic abuse as a child and suffered severe psychological trauma, developing delusions and violent tendencies." "When she relapses, she misidentifies people and sometimes harms herself or others. "His words sounded heartfelt, almost tearful. The neighbors' expressions softened immediately, replaced by understanding and sympathy. "Oh, that explains it! I knew it! Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Monroe are such good people. They would never abuse a child!" "Exactly! That crazy woman is causing trouble! She's really ungrateful!" Chapter 4 3.42% "Mr. Sullivan, you should call the police! These two should be taken to the proper place-keeping them here is too dangerous!" Seizing the moment, Isabella added fuel to the fire. She clung to Richard, her voice fragile and soft. "Yes, Richard, contact a psychiatric hospital immediately! Send that crazy woman to intensive care so she can't hurt anyone else!" Her son jumped in too, pointing at Emily in my arms, screaming, "And her too! Send her back to the orphanage! I never want to see her ever again!" Richard's eyes flashed with cold cruelty, and he nodded in agreement. I gritted my teeth so hard I thought they'd shatter. I had expected him to be unfaithful, but I never imagined he could be so vicious, so intent on destroying both of us completely. Emily, terrified, screamed in anguish. She wrenched free from my arms and clung to Richard's leg. "Daddy, what are you saying? It's me, Emily! I'm your daughter! Please don't send Mom and me away!" But the man who used to panic if our daughter scraped a knee now kicked her away with disdain. "Don't touch me! I've housed and fed you out of the goodness of my heart long enough!" He grabbed his walkie-talkie, his voice cold as ice as he barked orders to the head of the residence security team. "Get a team to my residence now! We have a deranged woman and a...problem child. Take them both to the psychiatric facility." Within moments, fully armed security personnel stormed in, encircling us completely. Chapter 4 3.42%