Family's Cruel Apathy

I stared at the water spilling over the metal table, glaring at Declan with profound disdain. Had he finally remembered the desperate, pleading call I made to him hours ago? I had been begging for my life, yet he never came. Now he wanted to play the traumatized husband—who exactly was this masquerade for?

"That's completely absurd," Maya interjected. "A real murder requires a genuine motive. If this were a robbery, the assailant would have stripped the custom gown and sold it. Nobody throws away millions in real diamonds."

She leaned closer. "And if it was jealousy, they would have shredded the fabric, not tossed it in the river. Who takes the time to undress a victim just to let a naked body float off? It doesn't make sense."

The horror on Declan's face vanished, replaced by a sickening spark of relief. "Exactly. Did you recover anything else? Her phone? Her shoes? What about the actual weapon, or a definitive blood trail?"

"We haven't secured those items," Victor replied.

Maya seized the opening. "Then it's obvious. Serena took the gown off, hacked it with scissors, and smeared her own blood on the silk just to manufacture a spectacle."

"That ungrateful brat is utterly out of control." My mother’s sharp voice echoed down the corridor. My family had just walked in for questioning, catching the tail end of Maya’s theory. "Her petty tricks for attention were bad enough, but dragging us to a precinct is a new low."

Victor raised a hand. "Mrs. Vance, please try to stay calm."

My mother scoffed. "Don't tell me to be calm. You look old enough to have children. If your daughter grew up to be a spiteful girl trying to ruin her sister's life, would you keep your composure?"

Beside her, Caleb checked his watch. "Officer, my schedule is packed. We came here to officially ask you to stop wasting our time with her childish antics."

I stood anchored, my heart fracturing. Staring at the people who had subjected me to years of torment, a terrifying numbness washed over me. What unforgivable sin had I committed to earn this unfiltered hatred?

The surrounding cops exchanged baffled looks. Another officer stepped forward. "She's your flesh and blood. The woman is missing and could be harmed. Are you not the least bit worried?"

"I know my daughter," my mother shot back. "She has skin like armor and would gladly sacrifice her dignity for a stunt. And she carries the Sterling name now. Stop burning public resources on a girl who is definitely hiding in a hotel, laughing at us."

Caleb tapped his watch. "I have a board meeting. I'm leaving."

They breezed toward the exit. As they walked away, my mother complained loudly, "This is infuriating. My manicure was only halfway done. I can't believe I was dragged here for this absolute garbage."

Maya skipped after her. "Your nails look stunning, Mom. Which salon did you go to?"

"I'll book us a session this afternoon," my mother cooed. "If Serena had a fraction of your grace, I wouldn't be stressing myself into wrinkles."

The doors swung shut, taking their laughter. The precinct fell quiet, leaving Declan standing rigid.

Officer Adler pressed him. "Mr. Sterling, did your wife reach out before vanishing? We know you abandoned the ceremony yesterday. Being publicly humiliated could have pushed her into a suicidal state. You need to cooperate."

The implication that his callous actions drove me to my death ignited his temper. He slammed his palm violently against the table, his chair screeching as he shot up. "Adler, you haven't found a body or a crime scene! How can you declare she's dead?"

"She is your wife!" Adler fired back.

Declan spun on his heel, storming toward the exit. "Then wait until you actually find a corpse before jumping to conclusions!"