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"Mommy, I'm scared…"
"Don't be afraid. Mommy's here."
Isabella sat in the defendant's seat, wearing a white dress.
That pitiful act made me sick to my stomach.
"Your Honor, I really didn't know those men would hurt Lily so badly…"
She cried, gasping for breath. "I just wanted to scare her a little, to make her stop bullying me."
Hearing this, Lily trembled all over.
I stroked her hair. "Lily, tell the judge what really happened."
"She…" Lily's voice was faint, "She told them to hammer hard, said she wanted me to remember what pain felt like."
Isabella jumped up. "You're lying! I never said that!"
"You also had them record it, said you wanted to show Daddy…" Lily's voice grew quieter, tears streaming down.
My heart was breaking.
When the judge read the verdict, Isabella completely broke down.
"Impossible! This can't be! I've been framed!"
She screamed hysterically. "Daddy! Daddy, save me!"
But Alexander never appeared in court.
He had been taken away for investigation on the Pierce group.
Walking out of the courthouse, I let out a long sigh of relief.
Lily held my hand and said softly, "Mommy, we finally won."
But I cried.
What did winning mean? My daughter had suffered so much, could never dance again. Was that winning?
Back home, Lily hid in her room and started drawing.
She drew a little girl nailed to a wall, a demon standing beside her.
At the sight of that painting, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe.
Liam gently patted my shoulder. "Don't cry. The worst is over."
"She's only eight, Liam. Only eight…"
"I know. I know."
Just then, the lawyer called. "Miss, something's happened with Alexander."
"What?"
"The shareholders of Pierce group are demanding he step down. Also, his commercial crimes have been uncovered."
I hung up, feeling complicated.
The once high-and-mighty Alexander Pierce now had his consequence.
But I felt no satisfaction.
I just wanted my daughter healthy and safe. What was the point of revenge?
Lily came out of her room and said timidly, "Mommy, I drew a knight."
I looked at her drawing. On the paper was a gentle knight protecting a little girl.
"Is this Liam?"
Lily nodded, a smile appearing on her face for the first time.
"He said he would protect me and Mommy."
I hugged her, tears falling again.
This time, they were tears of joy.
We could finally start over.
Alexander wanted to see us, but I refused outright.
He no longer had any right to appear before us.
With Liam's companionship, Lily began to learn to smile again.
Her drawings became brighter too, no longer those dark colors.
Watching her improve day by day, the weight in my heart finally lifted.
