Chapter 4 - I’m Not Fixing What You Broke
Alex pointed at the investigator.
“You’re twisting family finances into a crime.”
Dana’s expression did not change.
“Unauthorized withdrawals after revocation. Coercive control. Threats involving custody. Physical assault. Destruction or concealment of financial access. We can discuss terminology at the station.”
The male officer spoke calmly.
“Mr. Carter, come with us.”
Alex looked at Lily.
The old look returned.
The one that said: Fix this.
Apologize.
Make this go away.
For a second, her body almost obeyed.
Fear has memory.
Then Cheryl made a tiny sound from the nursery.
Not a cry.
Just a sleepy baby sigh.
Lily looked toward the door.
Then back at Alex.
“No.”
He blinked.
She had not realized she said it aloud until the hallway went still.
“No?” he repeated.
Lily stood straighter.
“No. I’m not fixing what you broke.”
Alex’s face twisted.
“You’ll regret this.”
Dana closed the folder.
“That was also recorded.”
The officers escorted him out without drama.
No handcuffs in the hallway.
No shouting near the nursery.
No scene for Alex to use later.
Just procedure.
That seemed to upset him more.
He wanted chaos.
He got documentation.
When the front door closed, Lily finally bent forward and pressed both hands to her knees.
Dana moved closer but did not touch her without permission.
“Breathe,” she said.
Lily tried.
The female officer checked the nursery doorway.
“She’s still asleep.”
Lily started crying then.
Not because of Alex.
Because Cheryl had slept through it.
May you like
Because the baby had not seen her mother pinned to a wall.
Because maybe, just maybe, one cycle had ended before it reached the crib.
