The crowd surged forward, some swinging
canes. The cops held them back. I ducked
behind the officers. “Don’t you believe
them?”
They ignored me, kept coming.
“Heartless bitch! You’re a black widow! You
let your own son die, smiling!”
<
“Kill her! Avenge the baby! Send her to hell!”
“Kill her! Kill her!”
They were using me as an outlet for their
grief, their fear.
The cops struggled to contain them. The lead
officer said, “Attempted murder is serious. We
have a report. Come with us. Don’t disrupt the
hospital.”
He reached for my arm. I stepped back. “|
told you, I didn’t do anything.”
I ran to the resuscitation room, threw open
the doors. My moment of revenge had
arrived.
Inside, two beds. Two little boys. One covered
in injuries, hooked up to machines. The other,
peaceful, just an oxygen mask.
Even a blind man could see the difference.
The cane–wielding mob rushed to the first
boy, crying.
“This must be her son! Poor thing! So many
>
tubes! He must be in agony!”
“If I had a daughter like that, I’d kill her! Her
own son! How could she?”
“Officer, look! This is proof! Even if he lives,
he’ll be scarred for life! She’s an abuser!”
Jessica froze, sweat beading on her nose.
Mom clutched her shirt,
move.
The cops, sensing something was wrong,
approached me.
“Is this Ethan? The child in the abuse
report?”
I nodded, then shook my head. “He’s my son.
But his name is Leo. Not Ethan.”
I pointed to the other boy. “That’s Ethan.
He’s my sister’s son.”
The room went silent. Jaws dropped.
A few young mothers confronted Jessica.
“What’s going on? You said your sister was
abusing him! You asked us to come!”
“Yeah, why is she saving Ethan’s your son?
く
Isn’t Leo your son?”
“Jessica, are you hiding something? Don’t use
us!”
Jessica and Mom scrambled to recover.
“No! Don’t listen to her! Ethan’s her son! You
saw the video! She’s heartless!”
“Yes! My older daughter had Ethan. My
younger daughter had Leo. I’d know my own
grandsons!”
I laughed. “Still lying?” Did they think they could fool me again?
I turned to the doctors. “Please, remove
Ethan’s oxygen. I’m refusing treatment. Leo
gets the best care, no matter the cost.”
Jessica shrieked. “No! You can’t!”
Mom collapsed, eyes vacant.
The doctors hesitated, looked at my
determined face, then gave the order.
“Stop the oxygen. Bed 2.”
The nurse removed Ethan’s mask. Jessica
く
lunged forward, frantic.
“No! Save him! Please! Don’t give up on him!
I’m begging you!”
The room understood.
I grabbed her, tossed her aside. “Relax. He’s
fine. I gave him special medicine. He’s just
sleeping.”
I’d given Ethan the medicine before Jessica
even arrived. That’s why he’d been so quiet,
almost lifeless.
I’d spent David’s life insurance, worked
myself to death, to buy that medicine. And
Ethan had unplugged me.
I’d wanted to let him die. But I couldn’t. So I’d
given him the medicine, severing our bond.
Jessica slammed against the wall, winded.
“Ashley! You tricked me! You’re a snake!”
I laughed. She had no idea what real cruelty
was.
“Officer,” I said, ignoring Jessica, “I want to
<
Duny
I hadn’t saved him, Leo would be dead.”
Mom helped Jessica up, glared at me. “How
dare you accuse your sister! You have no
proof!”
I calmly produced DNA results, police
surveillance footage.
“This proves Leo is mine, and Ethan is
Jessica’s. Want to see the other results,
Mom? You know the truth.’
“”
“This shows Jessica dumping Leo in a…
dumpster. Barely alive.”
“Still think I’m lying? No proof?”
Mom trembled, her grip on Jessica loosening.
They both fell to the floor.
“How… how did you… when did you…?”
The cop took the evidence, frowned. “This is
getting complicated. Assault, abandonment…
We’re opening an investigation. Take her
away.”
Mom clung to Jessica wailing “No! Don’t
<
away.”
Mom clung to Jessica, wailing. “No! Don’t
take my daughter!”
Jessica shook, terrified. “No! Mom! Help me!”
