Chapter 282
Chapter 282
When Kelly got back to the Newtons‘, she barely had a chance to catch her breath before she saw the crowd swarming the front gate. People were everywhere, blocking the entrance.
The driver kept his head down and took her around to the back. As soon as she stepped inside, her mother–in–law hurried over, grabbed her hand, and led her into the house. “You’ve suffered enough,” she said, her voice breaking. She tried to keep herself together, but the sadness was written all over her face.
A woman her age, having to go through all this–it was enough to make anyone shake their head in pity.
Kelly glanced over at Howard. He didn’t say a word. That silence stung more than she cared to admit.
She looked away, then turned to her mother–in–law. “Mom, I’m going upstairs to freshen up.”
Howard had always been obsessive about cleanliness. He demanded it from Kelly, too–clean, loyal, spotless. The only reason he’d ever agreed to marry her was because she was beautiful, had a lovely voice, and, most importantly, she’d never dated anyone before. Thirty years of marriage had mostly gone by in peace.
But today, Kelly felt the cracks in their life together for the first time.
After her shower, she changed into clean loungewear. Her eyes landed on the blood–stained pants she’d left behind. For a second, something strange and cold ran through her.
She remembered the pain in her stomach, the blood on the sheets. But after she’d killed Greg, everything just… stopped. Was it a miscarriage? Somehow, it didn’t feel like that. But if it wasn’t, then what was it?
She was still standing there, lost in thought, when a knock came at the door.
Theo was in the hallway, looking tense and serious. The air between them felt heavy and awkward. “I told Dad about what happened three years ago,” he said quietly.
“I left out the real heart of it. If we’re not on the same side, someone’s going to use that against us.”
Kelly closed her eyes for a second, gripping the doorframe. “If the truth comes out, I’ll take the blame for everything. No matter what, I won’t let you get hurt. You’re my son–my only son.”
“Mom…” Theo’s voice caught in his throat.
She lifted a hand, stopping him before he could say more.
When she went back to the living room, the tension was thick enough to snap. Her mother–in–law let out a long sigh, just about to say something, when the doorbell rang.
Judy answered. Brandon was standing outside, badge in hand. “Sorry, but we need to take Ms. Phipps with us.”
“I thought she was out on bail?” Theo stepped out, trying to reason with him.
Brandon looked him over. His tone was polite, but there was no give in it. “We have new evidence. Ms. Phipps needs to come with us.”
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Chapter 282
Theo’s jaw clenched as he watched his mom being led away.
At the station, Brandon slid his phone across the table to Kelly. “Ms. Phipps, you said you didn’t know this man. Then how do you explain this photo?”
Kelly glanced down. She stared at the photo, searching her memory. “I’m sorry. I don’t know.”
Brandon swiped to the next one. “What about this? And this?” He kept flipping through seven or eight photos, never looking away, watching her every move.
“And one more thing. You said Greg assaulted you and you miscarried. But according to your medical report, you weren’t pregnant.”
Kelly’s heart stopped for a second.
She stared at Brandon, disbelief written all over her face.
He slid the report closer. The words were clear as day.
Kelly just stared at the paper, and for the first time, a crushing sense of defeat washed over her. Everything she’d done–every decision–was built on the belief that she’d been pregnant. And now, it all felt like it was slipping away.
