Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Father Died, and My Mermaid Stepmother Disappeared: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 8

By the time the police arrived, I was curled up in a corner, trembling.The entrance to our home had been sealed off with police tape.Neighbors gathered outside to watch, and their gossip drifted into my ears."Good grief, did you hear? Mr. Scott is dead.""They said he overdid it while fooling around. His heart gave out, and he was covered in STD germs. It was horrifying to look at…""What about his new wife? She disappeared ages ago. She even took all the money from the house. She probably saw Mr. Scott drop dead and decided she didn't want to take care of Azure. She wasn't Azure's real mother, after all.""Neither of them was legally married anyway. She had no official status, so she could leave whenever she wanted.""Poor Azure. She's so young, and both her parents died one after another. Then her stepmother ran away too. What a shame…"A few short comments were enough to piece together my miserable life.A young female police officer approached me, her voice gentle."Don't be afr

My eyes instantly filled with tears."Mr. Lewis, you're overthinking this. I may have hated my father, but I would never want him dead. He was still the only family I had left in this world."If he died, no one would pay for my education or give me an allowance."I really don't know how my father died. If Ariel really killed him, then she must have transformed into a mermaid and escaped back into the sea. It's true! She really is a mermaid!"Desmond's lips moved twice, and he looked at me with a complicated expression."How about we end today's questioning here? Miss Scott, tomorrow is Sunday, and the day after is Monday. You still have school."So I hope you'll think carefully about everything tonight. I'll continue questioning you tomorrow."I heard him quietly tell the policewoman, "Find time to give her a psychological assessment.""Understood, sir."Just then, another officer pushed open the door and entered."Sir, the autopsy report is ready. We also received the test results for

I took a deep breath and forced myself to remain calm."Mr. Lewis, what are you talking about? I don't know anything."When Ariel disappeared at the train station, I was lying in a hospital bed. People can vouch for that."Desmond looked agitated as he grabbed my hand."No, that's not what happened! When your father died, Ariel never left your home. She remained at the crime scene the entire time!"She used the same method at the train station. She was in the security office the whole time and never left. That's why she seemed to vanish right in front of everyone!"My heart jolted violently.Whispers rose around us.I pulled my hand free, my eyes reddening."Mr. Lewis, you're a police officer, but you can't keep dragging me through this over and over."I already told you that Ariel was a mermaid, but you didn't believe me. Now she's disappeared, and my father is dead. I finally got into college, so why do you have to stop me now?"I lowered my voice, letting a hint of menace enter my t

"Marcus."He nodded and handed me a baseball cap and a long wig. "Put these on. Don't let anyone recognize you."I put them on immediately.The van drove for more than two hours, heading straight for the outskirts of a neighboring city. It finally stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse.Three men were waiting inside. They all looked menacing as they sized me up."This is the one you brought this time? She's so skinny and small. Will she fetch a good price?"Marcus gave a flattering smile. "What could I do? College students are usually more cautious. This one was easy to fool. Why don't you check her out first?""Fine. Search her."One of the men walked toward me and reached out to touch me.The moment he came close, I suddenly sprang to my feet.The utility knife hidden in my sleeve plunged into his lower abdomen!"Damn! It's a trap!""You bastards are looking for trouble!"The other two men immediately lunged at me.Marcus grabbed an iron rod and rushed forward to hold them off. H