Chapter 6
“Try not to worry too much,” the officer said gently. “Cassandra’s a smart kid. She’ll be fine. Maybe it’s just because she’s an orphan that her mental state might be a little off. However, now that she’s been adopted into a stable family, she should recover with time.”
I did not even care a shit about Cassandra’s situation at all.”
My mind was fixated on one phrase he had just said, which was “Their family isn’t well–off.” So that was why Cassandra silently left her house and showed up at my door again.”
It was greed. She could not stomach the thought of growing up in a poor home, sharing space and resources with a mentally disabled brother, especially since she would not have any inheritance at all.
The more I thought about it, the colder I felt inside.}
As the officer was about to hang up, I blurted out everything to him, about my daughter’s disappearance and my suspicions of Cassandra.
“When exactly was Cassandra picked up last night?” I asked.”
The officer responded immediately, “Right after you left. Her adoptive parents arrived just minutes behind you. You were almost back–to–back.”
I glanced at the time on my phone to count. I had left the station around six in the morning, which meant Cassandra was gone by seven at the latest. My daughter had to be at school by eight.
It lined up perfectly.”
Panic clawed at my chest. I immediately said, “I want to file a report, Cassandra is the prime suspect in my daughter’s disappearance!“}]
“You have to find her now! If you’re even a little late, something terrible might happen!” I said in panic.
It was clear the officer did not believe me. He thought I was just an overwrought mother grasping at straws. He even had the audacity to laugh.
“Ma’am, I get that you’re scared, but Cassandra is still a child herself. Besides, she’s disabled and can’t even walk. You can’t just accuse someone like that without evidence,” he said.
“Where was your daughter last seen? Why don’t you come down to the station and give us a full report?” he asked. “We’ll send someone out immediately.”
Indeed, the rebirth thing was too crazy to talk about. There was no way anybody would believe it.
Besides, Cassandra had hidden her act well. Her leg muscles were underdeveloped from long–term wheelchair use. Combined with her petite tiny figure, she was exactly like a typical disabled girl.
Even if I swore, she was faking her disability, what proof did I have? On the contrary, they would think that I suffered mental illness.
I panicked, hung up the phone and rushed to the police station. As I ran, waves of regret for what I had done before battered me.}
My daughter had always had strong self–control, but at the end of the day, she was still just a child.
Afraid of affecting her studies, I never agreed to buy her any electronic devices. So even at school, she had to use cash to pay for her food
and snacks.
She had complained so many times that her classmates laughed at her and I dismissed her complaints. Instead, I just gave her some comforting words.
I told her that, as a student, a grade was the most important thing.
That the others were just jealous of how much I cared and loved for her.
However, after my daughter went missing, I realized that I did not have any means to reach her.”
Tears blurred my vision. I held my head and sobbed uncontrollably with regret.
Halfway there, I messaged Aaron.
He had got to the police station before me and explained everything to the police. Aaron had also told him about taking Ella to school that morning. So the officer sent out the team to investigate.
However, I could not sit and wait for the news at the police station. So, I dragged Aaron with me to search the places our daughter frequented visiting. We searched everywhere but we could not find even a single trace of our daughter’s whereabouts.}
As the dread deepened, I started to hurl insults at Cassandra without filter or restraint.
At first, Aaron tried to stay calm and listen. However, gradually his frown deepened and his face turned gloomy. He protested, “Diana, I know you’re scared for Ella, but Cassandra is still just a kid. The police haven’t found any direct link between her and our daughter’s disappearance. Going off like this won’t help anyone.”}
“I get that news article really got to you and I understand what you’re trying to say. However, we never adopted her. Don’t you remember? She’s an orphan, yes, but that’s not our fault.“W