The silence that followed was suffocating.
Her mother’s hands started to shake.
Vanessa stood.
“This is insane. We didn’t do anything wrong.”
Detective Chen turned to her.
“What’s your name?”
“Vanessa.”
“Vanessa, are you aware that your sister was entitled to financial support from her grandfather?”
Vanessa’s face flushed.
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“Then why are you driving her car?”
Vanessa froze.
Claire’s voice came out stronger than she expected.
“She’s wearing my coat, too.”
Every head turned toward her.
She stood in the doorway, holding Lily, her hospital bracelet still visible on her wrist.
Her mother’s face crumpled.
“Claire, sweetie, this is a misunderstanding—”
“You threw me out into a blizzard.”
Her mother flinched.
“You were being dramatic—”
“I just gave birth.”
The words landed like stones.
Her father stepped forward.
“Claire, you have to understand—”
“Where’s my money?”
Her voice cracked.
“Where is it?”
No one answered.
Detective Chen pulled out her phone.
