Chapter 4 - The Court of Public Opinion
"She's lying."
Leah’s voice trembled as she stared at the glowing screen of Evan’s phone. Her uninjured hand gripped the bedsheets so tightly her knuckles turned white. "Evan, she’s lying. I never touched her! I only stepped in front of Ellie!"
"I know," Evan said, his voice dangerously calm as he slipped the phone back into his pocket. He didn’t want Leah to see the vitriolic comments flooding the post—people calling for Leah’s arrest, tagging the local police department, spreading her name and address. Sabrina’s social circle was vast, wealthy, and hungry for drama. "She did this to herself after she left my house. She's trying to get ahead of the narrative."
"What if the police believe her?" Panic edged into Leah’s voice, her heart monitor beeping faster. "She has money, Evan. She has lawyers. If they arrest me, what happens to Ellie?"
"Nobody is arresting you," Evan said, standing up. His imposing presence seemed to fill the hospital room, a silent shield between Leah and the outside world. He turned to the pediatric nurse, who had been quietly cleaning up the spilled coffee. "Excuse me. Can you take Ellie to the playroom at the end of the hall for a few minutes? My security guards will escort you."
"Of course, Mr. Mercer," the nurse agreed sympathetically. She held out her hand. "Come on, Ellie. Let's go find some crayons."
Once the door clicked shut behind them, Evan turned back to Leah. He pulled his chair closer to the bed, leaning in.
"Listen to me very carefully," Evan said, his tone resolute. "Sabrina is playing a desperate game because she knows I called 911. She knows there is a police report stating she attacked you. This Facebook post? It’s not just a lie; it’s defamation. And it proves she is a danger to herself and others."
Leah swallowed hard, tears tracing down her pale cheeks. "She’s trying to frame me so she can take Ellie away. She promised she would do this four years ago. She said nobody would believe a broke college student over the Hayes family."
"She didn’t factor me into the equation this time," Evan stated. "I am the CEO of one of the largest logistics firms in this state. My lawyers make her father's lawyers look like mall cops. She thinks she can control the narrative? Fine. We’ll let her dig her own grave."
Just then, a sharp knock at the door interrupted them.
The heavy wooden door pushed open, and Officer Davis—the same cop from the night before—walked in, accompanied by a woman in a sharp gray pantsuit.
Evan immediately stood up, crossing his arms. "Officer Davis. Who is this?"
"Mr. Mercer. Ms. Walker," the officer nodded, his expression grim. "This is Detective Reynolds. She’s with the Special Victims Unit. We’re here to follow up on the incident last night."
Detective Reynolds stepped forward, her eyes scanning Leah’s sling and bruised face. "Ms. Walker, I know you’re recovering, but we need to ask you some questions. Sabrina Hayes filed a police report at 3:00 AM this morning at the downtown precinct. She claims she came to Mr. Mercer’s house to surprise him, and you broke in and attacked her with a hockey stick in a jealous rage."
Leah let out a choked gasp, shrinking back into the pillows.
"That is a complete fabrication," Evan snarled, stepping between the detective and Leah. "I was there. I witnessed the entire thing. Sabrina brought the weapon. She swung at a four-year-old child. Leah took the hit to protect my daughter."
Detective Reynolds raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Your daughter? Ms. Hayes claimed the child is a neighborhood kid Ms. Walker uses to get close to you."
"Ms. Hayes is a pathological liar," Evan shot back. "Ellie is my biological daughter. My lawyer is currently filing emergency custody paperwork and a protective order against Sabrina."
"We’ll need to see proof of paternity, Mr. Mercer," Detective Reynolds said neutrally. "Ms. Hayes had severe facial lacerations and a bruised cheekbone. She stated you stood by while Ms. Walker assaulted her, and then you kicked her out to protect Ms. Walker."
Evan laughed—a dark, humorless sound that made the officer flinch. "So she beats her own face in to avoid a felony charge, and you buy it? Have you dusted the hockey stick for prints? Have you checked the trajectory of Leah’s broken collarbone? A woman her size couldn't inflict that kind of downward force on herself. Furthermore, why would Leah bring her four-year-old child to an ambush?"
The detective fell silent, her lips pursing. "Forensics is processing the weapon now. But until the evidence is conclusive, this is a he-said-she-said situation. We have dual complaints of assault. I’m afraid I have to inform you, Ms. Walker, that if the forensic evidence leans toward Ms. Hayes's story, you may be facing aggravated assault charges."
Leah let out a stifled sob, turning her face away.
Evan’s blood boiled. He stepped directly into the detective’s personal space.
"You listen to me," Evan growled softly, the menace in his voice unmistakable. "You touch one hair on her head, you try to put her in cuffs based on the lies of a spoiled psychopath, and I will sue this department into oblivion. Get out."
Officer Davis sighed. "Mr. Mercer, we're just doing our jobs."
"Do it better," Evan snapped. "Check Sabrina’s Ring doorbell cameras. Check her car’s dashcam. You'll find she didn't have a scratch on her face until after she left my property. Now get out of my fiancée's room."
Leah’s head whipped around, her jaw dropping.
The detective blinked, clearly taken aback by the fierce defense. "Fiancée?"
"You heard me," Evan lied smoothly, not breaking eye contact with the cops. "We are getting married. She and my daughter are moving in with me today. If you have any further questions, you can direct them to my attorney, Marcus Vance."
The mention of the high-powered lawyer finally made the detective step back. "Understood. We will be in touch, Mr. Mercer."
Once the door clicked shut, Evan blew out a long breath, running a hand over his face.
He turned to look at Leah, who was staring at him with wide, shocked eyes.
"Fiancée?" she whispered.
"Legal privilege," Evan explained quickly, walking back to her side. "If we're legally bound, they can't force us to testify against each other, and it strengthens my position to grant you full protection under my estate and security. It was the fastest way to make them back off."
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Leah stared at him, a flush rising in her pale cheeks. "You just declared war against the police for me."
"I told you," Evan said, reaching down to gently take her uninjured hand in his. "You're mine to protect now. And I’m going to prove Sabrina is lying if it’s the last thing I do."
