“It Was The Stepmother Who Did It” The Millionaire’s Daughter Said. He Saw The Marks And Called 911…
the millionaire heard his daughter cry out in sheer distress it hurts
my stepmother made me do this which sent him into a panic prompting a call to 9 1 1
however when he returned home later and searched through some documents he uncovered even more horrifying schemes
his fiancee had been carrying out against his daughter the click clack of Italian leather heels
echoed down the glass corridor of the Sterling Tower a rapid icy cadence perfectly matching its owner
Ethan Sterling strode quickly his gaze fixed on his tablet screen where red and green digits were dancing madly
signalling the imminent closing of a billion dollar merger meeting with the Tokyo partners
in three minutes Ethan dictated without looking up his thumb scrolling swiftly across the touchscreen
and canceled dinner with the senator tell him I’m busy earning the money he needs to spend on his committees
his three assistants scrambled behind him their fingers flying across their smartphones to keep up with his commands
but Sarah his chief assistant a young woman with dark circles behind thick rimmed glasses suddenly surged ahead
blocking his line of sight Mister Sterling Sir her voice trembled slightly
but maintained a professional edge she extended a cream colored envelope sealed with a deep red wax stamp
Saint Jude’s Academy has called three times this morning Lily’s art teacher insists
you need to see this immediately she stressed the word immediately Ethan frowned
a flash of annoyance crossing his perfectly clean shaven face he snatched the envelope
ripping it open without breaking stride inside was a crumpled piece of standard sized drawing paper
it was a primitive crayon sketch in the center a tiny blond girl was shown weeping
surrounding her instead of flowers or butterflies were bizarre dark purple blobs
bristling with sharp points that seemed to cling to her arms and legs in the farthest corner of the drawing
a tall man in a black business suit stood with his back turned the strangest detail was that the man had no ears
kids in their overactive imaginations Ethan scoffed shoving the drawing into the hands of the woman
sitting with her legs crossed on a velvet sofa in his corner office look what your daughter has concocted Isabella
too many cartoons I suppose Isabella Ethan’s fiance placed her champagne flute on the glass table
she accepted the drawing with two perfectly manicured fingers as if afraid it might soil her silk dress
a faint smirk played on her lips when she saw the image of the Earl’s man
well at least the child has a sense of color coordination Isabella said airily with a hint of mockery
but darling I think we should enroll Lily in some advanced classes this sort of macabre artwork
is not befitting a Sterling heiress I’ll take care of it you just focus on that merger
you handle it Ethan agreed turning toward his desk as his phone rang loudly hello
tell them the price is locked in no haggling while Ethan was bellowing into his phone
Isabella rose and strolled casually toward the corner of the office she glanced at the drawing one last time
her sharp gaze lingering on the purple splotches on the girl’s figure without a flicker of hesitation
she dropped the sheet into the mouth of the document shredder the whirring sound of the blades consuming the paper
was drowned out by Ethan’s final commanding statements closing the million dollar deal
the paper scraps fluttered into the wastebasket carrying the silent plea of a child
30 miles away in a quiet New Jersey suburb the weak afternoon sun did little to warm Martha’s old
wooden house she leaned against a porch post with peeling paint squinting toward the end of the cracked asphalt road
the autumn wind rustled dry leaves at her feet like the earth’s weary sigh the yellow school bus screeched to a jarring halt
the door hissed open but no small figure skipped down the steps as usual it took a long moment before Lily appeared
she descended the bus steps with visible difficulty clutching the cold iron railing Martha’s brow furrowed
and she hobbled quickly to the gate Lily wasn’t running toward her she walked with her head bowed
dragging her oversized backpack along the ground each step halting and heavy as though she were shouldering the weight of the world
Lily my little pumpkin Martha called out her voice filled with concern she bent down to take the backpack
don’t Grandma Lily whimpered wincing as Martha’s hand inadvertently brushed her calf through the white uniform socks
it it hurts so much Martha gasped and knelt immediately on the cold pavement
her frail hands trembled as she gently lifted the hem of her granddaughter’s skirt what met her eyes was
not the smooth skin of a six year old but terrifying patches of purplish black discoloration
the bruises stretched from her knees up to her thighs deep dark and swollen
oh goodness gracious Lily Martha choked out covering her mouth to stifle a sob
who did this were you pushed around by other children Lily shook her head violently
tears streaming onto the shiny black leather shoes Ethan had sent home just last week
not friends the little girl whispered her voice shaking with fear
it was my step my stepmom said these were the corrections the teachers gave me
because I couldn’t sit still Martha’s heart seemed to stop
corrections Isabella and the teachers involved did they inflict this level of discomfort on the child
she immediately pulled the old flip phone from her cardigan pocket her aged hand shaking as she speed dialed No. 1
back in Manhattan the Sterling Capital conference room was hushed awaiting Ethan’s final nod
his phone vibrated urgently on the glossy mahogany table Ethan glanced at the caller ID mom
he intended to silence it but a gut feeling told him something was terribly wrong
he picked up holding the phone to his ear without taking his eyes off the contract Ethan
Ethan please Martha’s fractured voice mixed with the sound of a child’s broken sobs broke the silence through the speaker
you have to come home now Lily she’s hurt she says the teacher and your fiance gave her a correction
her legs oh Lord they’re black and blue the expensive fountain pen in Ethan’s hand froze
a long streak of black ink bleeding onto the million dollar contract Lily’s crying through the phone line
was like a drill bit boring straight into his chest awakening the protective beast
slumbering beneath his sophisticated exterior get the car ready right now
