Chapter 3

I gasped sharply, a cold chill rushing through me. Without a second thought, I moved to block the way to the study.

Cold sweat beaded on my forehead, and my eyes brimmed red with panic. "No! No one is allowed to enter!" I cried.

A cold dread washed through me. I knew that once they stepped inside with Dad, they would come out changed—just like all the others before.

Seeing how terrified I was, Susan wrapped an arm around my shoulder to comfort me.

"Ellie, are you alright? It's okay. I'm here now, and so are the police. Your dad can't hurt you anymore."

She watched me, concerned, but I stood firmly in front of the door. I gripped the handle tightly, refusing to let anyone enter.

I was terrified and desperate. Even the police officers seemed puzzled by my intense reaction.

Then, two female officers approached me with gentle smiles. They took my hand and guided me to the side.

"It's okay, Elizabeth. They'll just let him get some stuff. He won't be able to harm you," one of them reassured me.

I shook my head desperately as tears streamed down my face. "No, please. You can't let him go in."

My resistance only affirmed the police officers' belief that the study hid some terrible secret.

One of the female officers ordered me to stay put as everyone else followed Dad inside. I could do nothing to stop them.

Even Susan couldn't hold back her frustration. "Now that you're at death's door, let's see what tricks you have up your sleeve!" she snapped. "How dare you try to kill your own daughter! The law will make you pay no matter what you've done!"

She was the last to enter the study. Just before stepping in, she turned and gave me a quick, reassuring wink and a smile.

It was as if to say that there was nothing to worry about and that with her there everything would be fine.

I stood there, my emotions in turmoil. A part of me clung to hope that perhaps, Susan's will was strong enough to resist Dad's influence.

Even if she went into that study, surely she would still be the same person I trusted. But as it turned out, I had been too naive.

Through the crack in the door, I watched as Susan's expression shifted from fear and panic to anger and hostility. Grinding her teeth in rage, she grabbed a teacup and hurled it to the floor.

At that, Dad looked up smugly, as if he had expected it all along.

When she finally came out, she destroyed her phone. Then, she smiled sweetly at the police officers and apologized.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Schrute was only trying to bond with his daughter. He never intended to hurt her. I misunderstood the entire situation."

The officers frowned, their expressions stern as they fixed their eyes on me.

"Don't you dare make another false report!" one exclaimed. "We'll let you off with a warning this time, but next time, you won't be so lucky!"

Hearing that, I slumped to the ground like a deflated balloon. The shift in their attitude was clear—I had lost my last chance at help.

Susan then jabbed her nails harshly into my temples and snarled. "You heard that, didn't you? If you hadn't lied about someone trying to kill you, I never would've made a false report. You'd better reflect on what you've done!"

Everyone glared at me before the police officers released Dad. Then one by one, they all left.

As the door closed, Susan turned back with a bitter and scornful look.

She stormed into the kitchen and grabbed two knives. Then, she shoved them into Dad's hand and urged him to just finish me off.

"You were right, Mr. Schrute. Elizabeth is nothing but a disgrace. She'd rather throw away a good life just for some romance. You should just finish her off since she refuses to listen. Trash like her doesn't deserve to breathe. She's better off dead."

Upon hearing that, my tears fell uncontrollably as I stared at her in disbelief.