Chapter 21

"So?"

Vera still waited for her client to speak. It turned out that the woman's family issues were not as simple as she had thought.

After a long silence, Vera finally prodded gently, "Remaining silent won't bring any changes, Mrs. Andeen. You—forget about yourself, have you ever thought about your daughter's fate?"

"What? How do you—"

"Your own daughter is speaking to me. She's asking for help to save you, Mrs. Andeen."

Instantly, tears flowed down Mrs. Andeen's cheeks, and sobs filled the air. It seemed that the woman didn't know that her daughter had been observing her and her husband all along.

"How can she say such things?" she cried in anguish. "I have tried to appear fine in front of my daughter. I have always told her to stay in her room with earphones or play outside with her friends. But—"

"It's possible that your daughter has seen and heard your arguments and your injuries." Vera glanced at the bruises on Mrs. Andeen's wrists and neck.

"Oh, my poor daughter! Oh, dear God..