Fleeing the Nightmarish Father novel Chapter 6

He just couldn't admit he'd messed up.

"I don't trust you guys because of how you've treated Elsie all these years."

"How could I trust you after everything you've done to her?" Dad shot back.

Before I could respond, my sister suddenly lost it.

"How could you think we're the ones who bullied her?"

"When she moved in, I had just turned 18, and Saafia hadn't even started high school."

"We were kids. How could we possibly bully an adult?"

Dad froze, his eyes wide.

That's when my stepmom grabbed his arm, her voice breaking as she said, "Jeb, stop it."

"Let the past stay in the past. Just blame it on me, okay?"

Dad squeezed her hand tightly.

"No, I'm not letting this go. I'm going to get justice for you today."

Before he could even say how, there was a knock on the door.

Two cops walked in, and one of them asked, "Who's Elsie Carter?"

My stepmom's face twisted the second she saw them.

She backed up, trying to hide behind Dad.

I noticed her reaction instantly and without thinking, I pointed at her and shouted, "She's Elsie Carter."

The cops moved forward, taking out handcuffs.

Dad stepped in front of her.

"Officers, I'm Elsie Carter's husband. What's going on?"

The cop said, "We suspect she's involved in a scam. We need to take her in."

Dad looked confused.

"My wife was scammed, sure. But she's a victim! You can't just slap handcuffs on her like this!"

The officer remained calm, explaining, "Elsie Carter isn't a victim."

"She's a suspect in the case."

The room went completely still for a few seconds.

The officer then laid out the truth.

Earlier this year, stepmom had started an online romance with a scammer.

No amount of lying could save her now.

Dad went with her to the police station to give a statement, still in a daze. His face was blank, filled with disbelief and—honestly—betrayal.

The truth came out, and for the first time, I felt a wave of satisfaction.

Dad stayed at the police station late into the night, and when he finally came back, he went straight to my sister's hospital room.

He had our favorite snacks in hand and tried to sweet-talk her, asking if her wounds were still hurting.

My sister, completely heartbroken from earlier, just lay down, muttering, "I'm tired."

She didn't even look at him.

Dad's face was full of embarrassment, but he came over to me, trying again.

"How's your face? Is it still swollen?"

"Everyone knows I hit you—now all my old colleagues know what kind of man I am."

" Saafia , when I was at the police station, I found out a lot of things."

"I realized how much you two have suffered because of Elsie Carter."

"Don't worry. For your sake, I'm not forgiving her, and I won't accept any mediation."

His face showed genuine regret.