Chapter 9 - Meredith Said She Was Protecting Her Sister’s Child
Meredith did not admit she wanted to hurt Elara.
Not at first.
She described the iron incident as “a moment of terrible judgment.”
Then “an attempt to create evidence.”
Then finally—
under questioning—
a plan.
She said she never intended a severe burn.
That did not help.
You do not press a hot iron against an infant and control what happens afterward.
She claimed she believed one small injury would be enough to remove June permanently.
Then Caleb would “finally realize” he needed Hannah’s family.
Her statement was almost worse because she still saw herself as morally justified.
“I was trying to protect Hannah’s daughter.”
The investigator asked:
“By burning Hannah’s daughter?”
Meredith began crying.
“I knew exactly where I would blame it.”
That answer chilled everyone.
She had not lost control.
She had calculated.
Her grief had turned into entitlement.
In Meredith’s mind, Elara belonged partly to Hannah.
Therefore, Hannah’s sister believed she had the right to decide where and how the child should be raised.
Caleb’s choices became obstacles.
June became competition.
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And eventually Elara herself became evidence.
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