When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

The police officer seemed a tad conflicted but eventually nodded, signaling that they'd keep me updated.

As they escorted Paul away, I naturally followed.

"Officer, what Jarvis pointed out about me before must have been directed by Kayla. I'd like to know what he has to say."

"Can I identify this person?"

Being directly affected by the incident, the police didn't make it too hard for me.

Especially since uncovering the mastermind behind Kayla was crucial, it was better to uncover the truth sooner.

Without solid evidence, the Patterson family wouldn't take the word of an outsider like me.

Upon entering the surveillance room next to the interrogation chamber, I finally got a glimpse of Jarvis.

He looked drained but noticeably more at ease, probably knowing his daughter was safe.

The police questioned him about Kayla, and he spilled everything.

"Turns out, some rich guy with the last name Patterson took a fancy to her. Once she got the money, of course, she didn't want me or the kid. It must be Clyde, who else would shower her with so much cash? I only went after her because I saw her bestie's posts about her being the other woman, flaunting her wealth! Her daughter couldn't even afford preschool, so of course, I demanded child support."

It wasn't Kayla who approached him but the other way around.

However, having climbed the social ladder with Clyde, Kayla naturally wanted to erase her past, even disowning her daughter.

From shock to indifference, my emotions had run the gamut.

Kayla was quite the character; Clyde wasn't a fool. Being deceived by her for so long only proved her cunning.

Jarvis was a mess, crying, "She even threatened to call the cops on me, saying she's rich and the police would only believe her, ensuring I'd be arrested."

"I can't go to jail. What about my daughter?"

The interrogating officer slammed his hand on the table.

"Jarvis, cut the act. Tell the truth! Are you after the money for your daughter?"

"Don't think we're clueless. Your past deeds? Forgotten already? Better come clean."

The twist caught me off guard. Jarvis hesitated before confessing his past wrongdoing.

It turned out he had accidentally killed an elderly man in his village.

Unfortunately for him, the elderly man was already in poor health and seemingly died from the shock of the collision.

After begging the family for forgiveness and agreeing to compensation, the police weren't notified.

Back in the day, an elderly person's death was handled with a simple funeral in the countryside, and that was that, though he had to provide monthly living expenses for the family.

"The family's insatiable. I later found

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out the old man was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had just months to live. I initially gave them a hundred thousand, but they demanded a thousand every for their child's college fund. That was bearable, but now they want five thousand a month. Where am I supposed to find that kind of money?"

Jarvis' sob story meandered until the police steered him back.

"So, Kayla blackmailed you with this?"

He nodded vigorously.

Kayla was from his hometown, and they had dated. Their breakup was precisely because of this incident.

"I was desperate. I can't go to jail; my daughter is only two! Kayla then offered me money, promising wealth and no more worries if I obeyed her. I had no choice. She even mentioned that once her backer came into power, she could send my daughter abroad. It was all for my child, for my child!"

I couldn't listen anymore, feeling for their daughter caught in the middle.

Her photo, with those round eyes and fair complexion so like Kayla's, was etched in my mind.

Ironically, despite his claims of doing everything for his daughter, he had not once inquired about her welfare during the interrogation.

I left the surveillance room, heading to the hallway.

The police later informed me that Isla wasn't killed by Jarvis. He was merely responsible for delivering her to Kayla.

Hospital security footage backed up his alibi; he didn't have the chance to commit the crime.

And from Paul, more was uncovered.

He had an arrangement with Kayla: success would immediately be reported and rewarded with half a million.

The police tried to trace KaylaAll text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

through a call he made to her, but she was cautious, keeping the call under thirty seconds and using international transfers to pay Paul, leaving no trail.

Finding Kayla seemed increasingly difficult.

Though cleared of any suspicion, the real puppeteer behind the Patterson family's troubles remained unidentified.

Jade gently took my hand, "Melanie, the doctor said you shouldn't worry too much."

I reassured her with a pat, indicating I was fine.

Worry was inevitable, but if sacrificing my well-being could solve the Patterson family's issues, it seemed a fair trade.

At that moment, I found peace.

Facing an inevitable divorce from Clyde, I decided to embrace my final role as Mrs. Patterson wholeheartedly.