Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I scrambled up from the ground, crawling and stumbling after her. I grabbed the hem of her jacket with all my remaining strength.

"Don't you run! Come to the precinct with me! My father gave his life for this country! The law protects Gold Star families, and the police will lock you up!"

She shoved me off with disgust and smoothed the wrinkles on her designer coat.

"Get your filthy hands off me! A family of heroes? You're just a bunch of lowlife frauds."

The exhaust from her sports car blinded my eyes with dust. The hospital staff was too terrified of the Mercer family to treat me properly, so I limped back to the wrecked boba shop to pull the security camera footage.

Courtney and her crew had staked out the shop days in advance to corner me.

When they couldn't find me because I had been studying in the city library, they targeted my mother instead.

A few days ago, Courtney had poured scalding hot tea directly onto Mom's face.

Today, she brought a group of thugs into the shop and beat Mom without mercy.

When I had asked Mom about the burns earlier this week, she lied and said she had accidentally spilled boiling water.

Back then, I was so focused on studying for my scholarship exams that I failed to notice her pain.

Ever since my father died on a classified military mission, Mom and I had leaned on each other to survive. She always told me that because our family served the nation, we should be patient and avoid conflicts so we wouldn't trouble the state.

Yet, our endless patience had brought us to this living hell.

I backed up the surveillance footage on a flash drive. When I tried to hail a taxi, I noticed two suspicious men watching me from across the street.

Every time I waved at a cab, the men would flash a weapon, scaring the drivers away. I had no choice but to limp on foot all the way back to the hospital.

Mom was moved to the Intensive Care Unit. The doctor told me that if we had arrived five minutes later, she would have died.

She was covered in white bandages from head to toe, and both of her fractured legs were suspended in traction.

Looking at my fragile mother on the hospital bed, hot tears poured down my face.

I hated myself for being so weak, and I hated myself for being so blind.

As if feeling my presence, Mom slowly opened her eyes. She weakly lifted her less injured hand and tried to wipe away my tears.

"Don't cry, Hailey... Mommy's good girl, please don't cry."

I couldn't hold back the agonizing sob that tore from my chest.

"Mom, it's all my fault! I promise I will make them pay! They can't get away with doing this to you!"

Mom shook her head frantically, wincing as the movement pulled at her stitched wounds.

"No, Hailey! The Mercer family owns this city. It's just the two of us left now. I promised your grandparents and your father that I would protect you."

"Your life is just beginning. Don't ruin your future by provoking them. We can't fight monsters like them."

I collapsed beside her bed, weeping uncontrollably.

To save money for my college tuition, Mom had worked countless exhausting jobs over the years.

She always said that since Dad was gone, she had to be both a mother and a father, and that seeing me succeed was her only wish in life.

She had donated Dad's entire government death pension to a school for children of fallen soldiers.

By cleaning offices during the day and delivering food late at night, she finally saved enough to open her own boba shop.

What did my mother do wrong? Just because I earned a top scholarship, she had to endure such brutal torture?

The fury inside me burned hotter than ever.

Family members were only allowed brief visits in the ICU. After stepping out, I checked the hallway carefully to make sure no one was following me before heading straight to the police station.

I handed over all the video footage and evidence to the desk officer.

The officer reviewed the video, let out a heavy sigh, and lowered his voice: "The Mercers are the wealthiest family in this county. They have deep connections in the department. You cannot win this case, kid."

"But I have undeniable proof! The surveillance cameras caught every single punch and kick!"

The officer looked at my bruised face and grew impatient. "Listen to me, young lady. Look at the tape right here―your mother tried to push one of the men away. In legal terms, that's mutual combat. If we open an investigation, your mother will be charged with disorderly conduct and assault as well."

"She's currently fighting for her life in the ICU! Do you want her dragged into a holding cell in handcuffs? How can you be so selfish?"

"That's absurd! That was pure self-defense!"

They were the ones who raided our shop, yet with a few twisted words, my dying mother was branded a criminal!

"Enough. The Mercer family controls the local courts too. It's too easy for them to bury you. You're young, and your mom needs medical care. Take their settlement check, sign the waiver, and move on."

I stood in the center of the police station, staring at the badge on the wall while a deep, freezing chill crept through my bones.

The very people my father died protecting were turning a blind eye to justice to protect the corrupt and wealthy.

Did money and power really grant people the right to trample on human lives?

I walked out of the station like an empty shell. I thought reporting the crime would bring justice, but even the authorities were in Courtney's pocket.

I sat by the riverbank, staring at the rushing dark waters, when my phone suddenly vibrated.

It was a message from an unknown number.

Horrifying photos popped up on my screen―the bandages on Mom's body had been ripped off, and she was pinned to the cold hospital floor!

Her broken leg was twisted backward at a sickening ninety-degree angle while two thugs stepped on her back.

Rage exploded in my chest like a volcano.

Yet beneath the anger was crushing guilt. It was because I went to the police that Mom was being tortured again!

My hands shook so violently that I couldn't even unlock my phone.

I raised my hand and slapped myself hard across the face, over and over.

Through the dizzying pain, I finally forced myself to dial the number back.