Chapter 4

I had barely returned from the nurse's station when I heard that the victim's family had called the cops.

Within minutes, officers arrived.

It wasn't just traffic cops—two detectives arrived on the scene as well.

The presence of criminal investigators instantly silenced the noisy corridor.

The family immediately surged forward, demanding answers.

Everyone there was convinced I was the hit-and-run driver. Sensing an opportunity, Helen wasted no time dumping everything on me.

She pulled out a copy of the liability document and marched right up to me.

Right in front of the officers and the entire family, she slammed the papers against my chest.

The sharp slap of paper cut through the tense room.

"The officers are right here! Read it again!" she barked. "Sign the remaining clauses and admit your fault publicly so this case can be closed!"

She was trying to force me into a second confession right in front of the police, sealing off any possible escape route.

My blood ran cold, followed by a surge of white-hot rage.

Before I could speak, Vincent leaned in close, his voice a venomous whisper in my ear.

"Summer, don't you dare say a word. If you try to recant, I'll call your parents right now and have them pin you down to sign it themselves."

At that exact moment, the very last trace of affection I had ever felt for him shattered into dust.

Months of accumulated humiliation erupted inside me. Amid the chaos, my mind kicked into overdrive, assembling the pieces of my defense.

The night Mia borrowed the car, the surveillance footage from the commercial strip, the parking garage logs, and the dashcam would all clearly show who was behind the wheel.

All that evidence was held by third parties, safe and sound, completely capable of clearing my name.

On top of that, I was at the airport that night. The airport security cameras would prove my alibi beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Facing Helen's aggressive shove, Vincent's disgusting threats, and the heavy glares of the crowd, I looked up, my eyes completely cold.

Looking straight at the officers, I spoke clearly, one word at a time.

"I'm not signing anything."

"Determining liability is a serious legal matter. I have the right to review every single clause, verify the facts, and only then make a decision."

That shut down their attempt to force my hand on the spot. With police officers present, no one could legally compel me to sign.

Vincent and his mother turned pale with rage, but they couldn't find a single flaw in my statement.

Taking advantage of their momentary shock, I slipped my backup phone out of my pocket.

My fingers flew across the screen, wasting no time texting my best friend to contact the parking garage staff and the airport security team.

She replied almost instantly.

"Don't worry. The full footage from that night and the license plate logs are all backed up. We can pull copies whenever you need them."

Swallowing down the surge of relief, I finalized the details with her.

Just then, the traffic officer spoke up, his voice firm and authoritative.

"Tomorrow at nine in the morning, the registered vehicle owner must report to the station for an official statement. That will serve as the basis for our final determination."

Hearing this, Helen lost her temper and raised her hand to slap me again.

Vincent stepped forward, his eyes dark with menace, preparing to intimidate me once more.

Suddenly, a hand caught Helen's wrist. It was the tall, dangerous-looking man from earlier.

I seized the opening, grabbed Vincent's wrist, and pushed him back.

Pulling out my backup phone, I hit play on the recording of Vincent and Helen from the night before.

"Officers, I'd also like to report an incident of false imprisonment and illegal trespassing."