Chapter 3 - The Price of Silence
My father stepped closer to the edge of Sophie’s hospital bed, not even glancing at the fresh bandages on his granddaughter's head.
"Preston is at the police station right now giving a voluntary statement," my father stated coldly.
"The detectives are asking questions, and the press is already catching wind of a disturbance at the Whitmore."
My mother tossed the thick white envelope onto the bedside table.
"There is fifty thousand dollars in a cashier's check inside that envelope," my mother said smoothly.
"You will sign a sworn affidavit stating that Sophie tripped on the runner and hit her head on a display pillar."
"You will state that Preston was merely trying to steady her."
I looked at the envelope, then back at my mother’s immaculate, emotionless face.
"You are offering me hush money to protect the man who almost cracked your granddaughter's skull open?" I asked in disbelief.
"Don't be dramatic, Evelyn," my mother scoffed, waving her manicured hand dismissively.
"The child is fine, she has a few stitches, children get hurt every day."
"Preston's father-in-law is a federal appellate judge, and this marriage cements a multi-million-dollar real estate merger."
"Do you really think we will let an insignificant little girl ruin thirty years of family planning?"
My hands trembled, but not from fear; they shook from the sheer magnitude of my disgust.
I pulled my smartphone out of my cardigan pocket and tapped the screen to stop the audio recording.
My parents froze as the little red recording bar flashed and saved the audio file directly to my cloud storage.
"What did you just do?" my father demanded, his face turning an alarming shade of purple.
"I just recorded every word of your attempt to bribe a witness and obstruct a felony investigation," I said evenly.
My father lunged toward me, his hand raised to snatch the phone from my grip.
"Don't you dare touch her," a deep voice boomed from the doorway.
Officer Campbell, the patrol officer from the ballroom, stepped inside with his hand resting firmly on his taser.
"Step back from the mother right now, sir," Officer Campbell ordered, stepping between my father and me.
My mother quickly snatched the envelope off the table, her composure fracturing into visible panic.
"We were just checking on our family, Officer," my mother stammered, trying to smile.
"Visiting hours are over for anyone not authorized by the mother," Officer Campbell said coldly.
"Leave now, or I will arrest both of you for trespassing and witness intimidation."
My father glared at me, his eyes full of pure, unbridled hatred.
"You will never see a single cent of your inheritance, Evelyn," he whispered harshly.
"You and your brat will starve on the street before you get an apology from us."
"We would rather starve than spend another second choking on your poison," I replied without hesitation.
They turned on their heels and marched out into the hallway, their expensive shoes clicking against the hospital linoleum.
Officer Campbell turned to me, his expression turning solemn.
"The hotel management is being difficult about releasing the security footage, ma'am," he informed me quietly.
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"The bride’s family has significant influence over the hotel's ownership group."
"Then we will have to go get that footage ourselves," I replied, narrowing my eyes.
