Chapter 2

Nearly a month's worth of surveillance footage was intact—yet there was nothing for the night of Mimi's incident!

The alley was spotless, as if it had been deep cleaned. There was not a single sign of struggle, no trace of blood.

I collapsed onto the ground. "Why isn't it here? What happened to the footage from that night?"

"Ma'am, the camera happened to have malfunctioned that day. Right, I've shown you everything; there's nothing else to see. Would you let me get back to work now?"

Was it really just a coincidence...

Thinking of Mimi's fragile face, I screwed my eyes shut with agony.

Why was this happening to us? Every step felt like we were being forced further into a dead end.

At 11:00 pm, I returned to the ward with a smile plastered on my face.

As soon as I entered, I saw Mimi cowering at the head of the bed like a frightened bird. Her eyes were fixed on the door, unblinking.

When I walked further in, a faint rustling came from behind the door.

It sounded like clothes brushing against the wall—an almost imperceptible noise.

At first, I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me from all the tension.

But then, the distinct sound of a man's sigh reached my ears.

In the dead silence of the hospital room, it was eerily clear.

My scalp tingled, and I noticed Mimi's trembling growing more intense.

She was terrified. She was deeply terrified of this unknown man.

Slowly, I cranked my stiff neck toward the door. In the dim light, I saw a silhouette cast through the gap in the door.

The figure looked tall and buff.

Behind the door hid a man—a man who could take our lives at any moment.

4

A hand slowly reached out from the crack in the door and wrapped itself around my throat.

His grip on my neck started to tighten, and I felt my lungs screaming for air.

I fought to suppress my trembling and tried to strike him with both hands and feet. However, the height difference and the distance made it impossible to do so.

In the end, I reached into my pocket for my phone.

With all the strength I had left, I smashed it against the wrist around my neck.

Following a grunt of pain, the restraint on my neck lifted.

The mysterious man emerged behind the door with the widest grin on his face.

His demeanor was beyond smug as he yanked my hair and leaned close to my ear.

"Surprise, Ms. Lawson."

The blood in my veins turned to ice.

This voice—I knew it all too well. It was etched into my very bones.

"Cedric Sutton, you beast! How dare you show yourself here?"

I bared my teeth at him and tossed him a deadly glare. Enduring the pain from my scalp, I raised a hand and slapped him across the face.

Cedric's face darkened instantly into a grim look. He threw me onto the ground with a loud crash.

With another handful of hair, he dragged me across the floor like a piece of garbage. He then tossed me in the direction of Mimi's bed.

From where I lay on the ground, I could only watch helplessly as he stalked over to Mimi. I was powerless.

I clambered desperately over with both hands and feet, opening my mouth to dig my teeth into his leg. I bit him hard enough to draw blood.

But it was all futile.

He effortlessly landed his foot on my stomach, pinning me in place.

"Say, do you think we make a good couple?" he asked.

He lifted a few strands of Mimi's hair and brought them to his nose. He took a deep whiff.

Cedric wasn't in a hurry. He just stood there, patiently waiting for Mimi to answer him.

But with each passing minute, the pressure on my stomach grew.

Until I couldn't take it anymore and was about to pass out...

"We are!" Mimi shouted.

"No! You must tell him no! Cedric Sutton, you filthy lowlife, you will never get away with this!"

I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Cedric stood back up and straightened his slightly wrinkled suit. He then pulled out a wad of cash from his bag and threw it in my face. "Oh, Ms. Lawson, surely you understand by now—money makes the world go round. After all these years, how come you still don't get it?

"If that isn't enough, feel free to ask for more. After all, Mimi was kind enough to donate one of her kidneys, hahaha..." Cedric cackled.

He sighed, "So, when do you think would be a convenient time for me to pick up the next one?"

Hopelessness permeated my heart.

As the door clicked shut after Cedric's departure, Mimi muttered, "Mom, let's just drop the case..."

Those few words completely knocked me out.

5

I didn't heed Mimi's plea.

I reported everything. Filed the charges with the court.

Down at the police station, an officer asked me whether I'd managed to salvage any evidence.

I shook my head.

"Were there no eyewitnesses? How about physical evidence like clothes from that night or any bodily fluids left behind?"

My last hope of physical evidence was the surveillance video, but that was now gone.

As for clothes... There were none left on her when she was found that day.

As for bodily fluids... The thought of Cedric's arrogant face made me clench my fists. I could only continue shaking my head.

The officer frowned at me. "Wasn't your daughter found by someone? Testimony from that witness could still help."

…

Before I came to the police station, I had already identified that witness. It was a migrant worker.