CHAPTER 1 — The Statement
Officer Grant Miller kept his eyes on Derek as another officer guided him into handcuffs.
“This is ridiculous!” Derek shouted. “She’s making everything up!”
But nobody in the room was listening anymore.
Not after the slap.
Not after the bruises.
Not after the security footage.
Madison sat in a wheelchair while Nurse Callie cleaned the blood from her lip.
“Can you tell us what happened?” Officer Miller asked gently.
For years, Madison would have said it was nothing.
An accident.
A misunderstanding.
But something had changed.
Maybe it was the fact that witnesses had finally seen it.
Maybe it was because she was tired.
“He’s been hurting me for years,” she whispered.
The room went silent.
Dr. Rhodes looked down.
The officers exchanged a glance.
And Madison finally began telling the truth.
May you like
Not just about today.
About everything.
