Chapter 12 Clearing Cosmo’s Name
With that, Evelyn headed for the door.
Watching her daughter’s back, Penny suddenly felt a wave of reassurance.
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In the past, whenever trouble struck their family, there had been no one capable of taking charge. Everything had always fallen to Victor and Charlotte to discuss and decide.
As for her, she was just a housewife with no ideas to contribute. But seeing Evelyn’s calm and steady demeanor just now, Penny felt for the first time that their family had a backbone again.
At the police station, Evelyn learned the details of the case before being allowed to see Cosmo.
“Evie, you came to see me! Don’t worry, I’m fine. I knocked those guys flat on their backs!” Cosmo said with his usual good–natured grin, even chuckling as if proud of himself.
“I’m glad you’re alright, Cosmo. Now tell me exactly what happened.”
“It was Callum Lindholm. He accused me of stealing from the site, but I didn’t! They ganged up on me, so I fought back.” After blurting it out, Cosmo lowered his head like a guilty child. “I’m sorry, Evie. I screwed up again, haven’t I…”
Evelyn patted his shoulder. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Cosmo. I’ll take care of this, and you’ll be out soon.”
Leaving the station, she asked Chuck to take her to the construction site where Cosmo had been working.
“Evelyn, your brother was framed. He would never steal,” Chuck insisted.
“I believe him. With his brains, he couldn’t pull something like this off.”
Chuck blinked, then thought to himself, True enough. Cosmo is simple–minded and straightforward. He probably doesn’t even realize those parts can be sold for money. People at the site often pick on him, though never openly, because face–to–face, none of them can beat him.
“Take me to his quarters,” Evelyn said.
Though Cosmo often went home, there were temporary dorms at the site for workers who had to stay late. Evelyn checked beneath his bed and found a box with random odds and ends, but the so–called stolen goods had already been taken away.
Parts from the site–some copper, some iron–were easy to smuggle out and sell. It was
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Chapter 12 Clearing Cosmo’s Name
common for workers to pocket scraps to make extra cash.
Scanning the room, Evelyn asked, “Aren’t there security cameras around here?”
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Finished
“There were,” Chuck said. “But the manager claimed they were broken. Nothing’s been recorded, so no one can prove your brother’s innocent.”
“I see. Let the manager know I’ll meet him this afternoon,” Evelyn replied calmly.
“Alright.”
She wandered around the site, pulled out her phone, and hacked directly into the surveillance system. It was clear someone had sabotaged the feed, but for her, restoring it was child’s play. A few quick commands, and the words “Repair Complete” flashed across her screen.
Before she could review the footage, her phone buzzed with a call from the hospital: Stellan had woken up.
Since there was still time before her meeting. Evelyn headed straight there.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
Stellan gave her a faint smile. “Much better than before.”
Compared to the misery he had endured, the present felt almost like relief. His body was clean, free of the stench he had grown used to, and for once, he felt fresh.
“By the way,” Evelyn added, “they had to shave your head for the
surgery.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Stellan had long stopped caring about appearances.
Back when Ingrid had been in charge of him, his hair had grown filthy with lice because she never bothered to cut it. Since Evelyn had taken him away, he ate well, dressed cleanly, and no longer suffered their bites. Life with her care was infinitely better.
“Actually, you look kind of cute bald,” Evelyn teased lightly. “You’re just too thin. Once the surgery heals, there’ll be a full rehabilitation program. As long as you follow my instructions, you’ll be able to stand again.”
Stellan studied the girl before him. Her face was pure and earnest, her kindness shining through. She had washed his body without a hint of disgust, treating him with a care no one else had shown. She really was different.
Evelyn picked up the report beside the bed, the results from his earlier tests.
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Chapter 12 Clearing Cosmo’s Name
“There’s one more thing you need to know. Your kidneys aren’t in good shape,” she said seriously, leaving Stellan at a loss for words.
Finished
“I also found heavy traces of sedatives in your bloodwork. You’ve been taking sleeping pills? And for a long time, too.”
“I didn’t,” Stellan said after a pause. “But during that year with that woman taking care of me, I was always groggy, always sleeping too much.”
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed in understanding. “I see. That caretaker must have been slipping the sedatives into your food.”
Realization hit Stellan like a punch, and a surge of hatred burned hotter in his chest.
Send Gifts
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