Chapter 32

Mrs. Heath arrived at the hospital in a whirlwind, her staff trailing behind.

One look at the scene, and she instantly decided that Lucie was at fault.

"This is outrageous! You come from a respectable family. How could you treat Shannon like this?"

She set her jaw, voice sharp. "Let's get one thing straight. Shannon may be my goddaughter, but I love her as if she were my own. If you can't accept her, you can't accept me."

Lucie said nothing. She stood there, cold and silent, while the whole family hurled their accusations.

"How do you even have the nerve to show your face here?" Steven snapped. "I already agreed to send Shannon overseas. Why are you still targeting her?"

Lucie clenched her car keys, the sharp metal biting into her palm. It's painful, but nothing compared to the ache in her chest.

A bitter laugh slipped out, echoing down the sterile corridor. "Perfect. Just perfect."

She raised her eyes to Steven, her gaze icy and unflinching. "So you all really believe I pushed her?"

Steven's brow drew tight, but before he could speak, the emergency room doors banged open.

A doctor stepped out, exhaustion etched across his face. "The patient is out of danger, but she'll need to be monitored."

No sooner had he finished than Marian stumbled toward the room, sobbing so hard her whole body shook.

Mrs. Heath shot Lucie a look of pure venom before sweeping after her.

Steven hesitated, locking eyes with Lucie for a heartbeat, then turned and followed the others.

Lucie watched them walk away, her vision blurring at the edges. But she refused to let a single tear fall.

If she'd done it, she'd own up to it.

But she hadn't-and she would not be their scapegoat.

She called the police.

At the same time, she ordered her assistant to pull every scrap of security footage from the house.

Shannon was clever; she knew exactly where the stairwell cameras couldn't see. That was where she'd chosen to fall.

But there were other angles, other clues. It might just be enough to piece together the truth.

Twenty minutes later, a squad of officers swept into the hospital.

"Who called this in?"

"I did." Lucie stepped forward, her voice

"A woman fell down the

stairs at my home angelome

of pushing her.” g

She met the officer's gaze. "I didn't touch her. I want the police to clear my name."

"We'll conduct a full investigation," the officer promised.

Inside the hospital room, Shannon's wounds had been dressed. She blinked awake, pale and frail on the bed.

"Shannon, how do you feel?"

Shannon whimpered, her voice trembling. "Steven, it's my fault. I just lost my balance. Please don't blame Lucie."

Marian's eyes were swollen and red from crying. "You foolish girl. Even now, you're still protecting her. Why?"

Mrs. Heath bristled with indignation. "Lucie's gone too far. I can't believě she would ever do something like this

She reached for Shannon's hand. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I will make sure you

get justice."

Just then, the door swung open.

Lucie strode in, police officers at her side.

Everyone froze.

"Lucie, what are you trying to pull now?" Steven demanded.

Lucie's eyes never left Shannon.

é

"You all say I pushed her down the stairs. Well, the police are here now.

you?"

Som asking you again, in front of everyone did push

At the sight of the officers, Shannon flinched, her gaze flickering with barely concealed panic.

"Steven, it was my fault. Please, let's not drag this out. I don't blame Lucie. Just say I fell by accident."