Chapter 201

The security team arrived first. The incident had already spread like wildfire, and as soon as Lily Collins spoke up, they sprang into action. A detailed statement was taken on-site, with bystanders willingly providing testimonies. The security team even took photographs as evidence.

Soon after, officers from the local police station arrived.

Lily, while tending to her daughter, recounted the events clearly. The officers conducted a thorough investigation before leaving.

In the hospital room, Lily sat by the bed, gently stroking her daughter’s forehead as tears streamed down her face. How much suffering had this child endured?

Phoenix woke up in the middle of the night. The first thing she saw was her mother holding her hand, asleep by the bedside. The pale-faced girl finally managed a faint smile. Her mother still loved her—she hadn’t abandoned her despite her rebellious behavior. She squeezed her mother’s fingers lightly.

She wasn’t an unwanted child.

Frank Ferguson and Maggie Lawson carried little Bobby home. The boy had only suffered minor scrapes—it looked worse than it was. On the way, Frank got the full story from Bobby, who stammered that he’d accidentally fallen off the bed. Only then did Frank feel a twinge of guilt.

He’d wrongly accused the girl and even hit her.

But that guilt was quickly replaced by anger. The thought of Lily daring to withhold child support made his blood boil. This was the perfect opportunity to teach Phoenix a lesson—to show her what happened when her mother refused to pay.

Maggie, however, remained indifferent, focusing solely on her son. When they got home, they found the front door wide open and the house empty. Frank cursed loudly, "Where the hell did that brat run off to? I’ll beat her senseless when I find her!"

His fury hadn’t subsided.

"Save your breath. She probably went to your mother’s place," Maggie said, placing Bobby on the bed. Seeing the bandage on his head, she frowned. "It’s late. Let’s just sleep. I’m exhausted."

Bobby had already dozed off—the poor kid had been through enough for one night.

Just as the couple lay down, a thunderous knock shook the front door. Frank flew into a rage. "Who the hell is banging on the door at this hour? Looking for trouble?"

He yanked the door open, only to freeze at the sight of uniformed officers.

"Officers, uh… what’s this about?"

"Are you Frank Ferguson?"

"Yes, that’s me!" Frank’s heart pounded. He was all talk—he’d never actually dared to commit any real crimes. Why were the police here?

"Is Phoenix Foster your daughter?" The officer’s expression was grave. This case had drawn serious attention—it involved a doctor’s family, making it no small matter.

"Y-yes, she’s my daughter." Frank’s stomach dropped. Had Lily gone to the police? But what could they possibly charge him with?

Then it hit him—he’d hit Phoenix earlier. Had that wretched girl and her mother teamed up to report him?

"Come with us to the station for questioning," the officer said firmly after confirming his identity.

Frank panicked. "Officer, I haven’t done anything wrong!"

"We’re just asking you to cooperate with the investigation," the officer said sternly. "Your daughter Phoenix is currently hospitalized with severe injuries—head trauma and peritonitis caused by intestinal perforation. Her mother has filed a report alleging child abuse."

"That’s impossible!" Frank jumped up. "I only slapped her and kicked her once! How could it be that serious? Lily’s framing me!"

"Enough!" The officer grabbed him. "We’ll determine whether it’s a frame-up after the investigation. If you’re innocent, you’ll be released."

Maggie rushed out at the commotion and gasped when she saw her husband being taken away. "Officers, what’s he being accused of?"

"He’s been reported for child abuse resulting in serious injury," the officer said, pushing Frank toward the car. "Interfere again, and we’ll take you in too!"

Frank turned his head and shouted, "Go talk to Mom!" Before he could finish, he was shoved into the police car.

Maggie, left with a sleeping Bobby, paced anxiously. There was no way she could leave the house with the child now—she’d have to wait until morning.

At the crack of dawn, Maggie rushed to her mother-in-law’s house with Bobby in her arms.

The old woman was tidying up when her daughter-in-law burst in with her grandson. The sight of the bandage on Bobby’s head immediately reminded her of that troublesome Phoenix.

"Why are you carrying him around with that injury? What if he catches a chill?" she scolded, quickly wrapping the boy in a blanket and settling him on the heated bed.

Bobby, full of energy, happily played with a biscuit.

Maggie gasped for breath. "Mom, something terrible has happened!"

The old woman handed her grandson another biscuit. "What could possibly happen this early in the morning?" She beamed as the boy munched away.

"Mom! Frank’s been arrested!"

The biscuit slipped from the old woman’s fingers and hit the floor.

"What? What nonsense are you spouting? What could Frank have possibly done?" She knew her son better than anyone—Frank was all bark at home, but he wouldn’t dare cause trouble outside. Why would the police come for him?