Chapter 2 - The Damage
The sterile smell of the ER was a sharp contrast to the suffocating heat of the afternoon. A pediatric burn specialist, Dr. Evans, carefully applied a silver sulfadiazine cream to Chloe’s wrist. Second-degree burns. Blistering, severe, and incredibly painful, but thankfully, they wouldn't require skin grafts.
“She’s going to have a scar,” Dr. Evans said quietly, pulling me into the hallway while a nurse gave Chloe a cherry popsicle. “And she’s going to need therapy. The psychological burn is often deeper than the physical one.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump of pure rage in my throat.
Just as I turned back to the room, the double doors of the ER swung open. It wasn't Marcus. It was Vance Sterling, Austin’s most expensive defense attorney, wearing a bespoke suit that cost more than my car. Marcus had sent his attack dog.
“Clara,” Vance said smoothly, offering a sympathetic, practiced smile. “Marcus is devastated. He wants to cover all medical expenses. We’d like to offer you a very generous settlement to handle this... privately. A messy trial is bad for Chloe, don’t you agree?”
He was trying to buy my silence. He was trying to buy his mother’s freedom.
May you like
I pulled my phone from my pocket—the same one that held the video from the hallway. “Vance, tell Marcus to save his money for his mother’s bail. If you ever approach me without my lawyer again, I’ll add harassment to the list of charges. Get out of my sight.”
For the first time, the slick lawyer’s smile faltered. He nodded once, stiffly, and walked away. The war had officially begun.
