Chapter 93
Not sure if Sharon had pushed too hard, but Kelly suddenly collapsed to the floor.
Right then, as if on cue, the door swung open. It was Carter. His eyes darkened as he spotted Kelly on the ground. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and helped her up.
“Kelly, are you alright?”
Still caught in her breakdown, Kelly stared up at his familiar face. For a second, the haze in her eyes seemed to lift. Then she threw herself into Carter’s arms and broke down sobbing.
“Carter, it was terrifying! They were going to lock me in a dark room! Please save me–I don’t want to go into that dark room!”
Carter frowned slightly, his voice low and steady. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one’s going to take you anywhere.”
Something sharp lodged itself in Sharon’s chest. A stabbing pain, sudden and cold.
Tears blurred Kelly’s eyes as she looked up at him. “Carter, will you really protect me?”
“I will.”
His words, soft and certain, seemed to calm her.
Timidly, she said, “Carter, I don’t want to stay here.”
“Okay.”
Watching Carter prepare to take Kelly away, Wendy couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Carter, are you really going to cuddle up to another woman right in front of your wife?”
Only then did Carter seem to notice the others in the room.
His eyes landed on Sharon, who stood silently nearby. His gaze dimmed slightly.
The police, still rattled from Kelly’s earlier outburst, finally came to.
“Kelly is suspected of kidnapping. We’ll need her to come with us for further investigation.”
Carter turned away, his voice cool. “As you can see, her mental state is unstable. She’s not in any condition to cooperate.”
The officers exchanged uneasy looks. Mentally unwell suspects like her were always the most complicated.
Just then, Simon walked in holding a stack of documents.
“Kelly is still receiving treatment at the hospital. She’s been diagnosed with severe depression. This is her psychiatric
evaluation.”
A suspect like Kelly-undiagnosed in court, mentally unstable, and still hospitalized-couldn’t be taken by force.
The officers glanced at each other, then said, “In that case, her legal guardian will need to come with us to give a statement.”
Carter looked at Simon. “Take Kelly back to her room.”
“No, Carter, don’t go!” Kelly suddenly clung to his arm, her face full of panic. “I’m scared. Please don’t leave me.”
Sharon watched in silence, lips twitching faintly. Her gaze lingered on Kelly’s terrified expression as she leaned into Carter’s chest.
Perhaps mindful of Sharon’s presence, Carter gently eased Kelly off him.
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“Go rest. I’ll come see you later.”
“No! I won’t!” Kelly’s voice spiked, her emotions flaring without warning. Her pupils widened with fear. “Carter, don’t go. The dark room is so scary. They use whips. It hurts so much… Please don’t go, I’m begging you!”
“I’ll be fine.”
Color drained from Kelly’s face. Tears streamed down, one after another, as she clung tightly to Carter, refusing to let go.
“Carter, if someone has to go, let it be me. Don’t go, please-it’s too dangerous…”
With that, she rushed to the police.
“Take me instead. Carter’s innocent! This has nothing to do with him. Don’t make things difficult for him!”
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