Chapter 263: Chapter 263

Despite Clara being Shelby’s mother, Murray never gave her any consideration for being in that role. Murray respected every single person by Shelby, but Clara did not make that mark. It was not like Clara putting any effort towards her daughter. One could even ask themselves if Shelby had harmed her mother in any way, but that was not the case.

Ava looked straight at the woman sprawled on the floor after Murray had thrown her unceremoniously into the room. Ava felt no pity for this woman who had assumed the role of a mother but had made Shelby’s life a living hell.

Thinking of what Rocky had said infuriated Ava the more. With the idea of Clara, Ava never longed for a mother like that. This time, Ava was not alone in that fury she was experiencing, and the reasons associated with it.

Yes, it was evident that Clara was not the one who had harmed Shelby, but the bystander syndrome stuff was just as ’BS’ for Ava as could be. That tough pill for them to swallow was that Shelby had asked for help from her mother, but Cara had ignored it. It was so farfetched to even think that Clara was the one who had carried Shelby for nine whole months in her belly!

Rocky also tensed when his mother arrived, and he could not even mask the disgust on his face. This time, Clara had gone too far!

The more Rocky listened to his mother’s words, the more he wanted to tear at her face. He had reached the point where he felt utterly repulsed at her character.

’Just what did Sissy do to deserve this treatment from her own mother?’ This was something that Rocky would never know.

For some reason, Rocky had expected that slap, and he felt some of the tension leave him at it. It was more of a relief that someone was capable of putting his mother in her place.

"Ahh!!" Clara screamed and scrambled back, holding onto her cheek.

The slap, though surprising, was met with indifference by all in the room. One could even speculate that seeing it evoked an underlying satisfaction.

Geneva flexed her hands and returned to her seat, lamenting and sulking as if someone had harmed her instead.

"They would call it bullying if I had let you do it for me, dear," Geneva turned to her husband as if she had been aggrieved beyond measure.

Alex shook his head as he recalled Geneva’s last sentence before she landed the slap on Clara.

"Brad or those men cannot help me either... and I cannot tell Rocky to touch his mother. I must reluctantly do this myself ... sigh...."

When Clara took off her hands slowly. She was totally shocked! There was a thin trail of blood where the spiky parts of the ring had broken the skin.

"Why would you do that?! Why would you slap me?" Clara teared up, and her face took on a very pitiful look, but the hardened gaze of everyone there told her that something was wrong.

"You do not deserve to be a mother. I wonder why nature grants these blessings to trash like you! You look me in the face and say such disgusting things when your daughter is on the brink of death...."

"She is?" Clara’s tears fell ... more like poured in torrents.

"I didn’t know that... Oh my... Shelby! What am I to do.... I-"

"Save the crocodile tears for the men you have around your fingers. I cannot, for the love of the heavens, understand a woman like you. Who would allow your man to do that to your own child? Whatever you are thinking is really sick and skewed."

"I- This is false accusations!" Clara turned to her son, blinking out more fake tears,

"Rocky dear, tell them... You know that it’s not like that...."

Rocky turned his head away and then leaned back on Ava as he sat right by her side.

"Rocky!!!!!" The boy did not even budge. The alcohol, rush of emotions, and all others from the evening had taken their toll on him, and his eyes were starting to droop. He had decided yet again, and at that point, that his mother was not worth it. After confirming that his sister was okay, Rocky had given in to his tiredness. One could say that Ava’s closeness also helped.

He looked at his mother like she was a stranger.

’Has mum always been ? Am I only noticing it more now... or what?’

"There’s nothing for us to do here again, Ava. Shelby is in good hands now; let’s go catch some rest and come back later."

Geneva overheard that little comment and then nodded.

"Ava, you go with Rocky, and we’ll let you know when they wake up. Rest up for what is ahead. Shelby will need that strength from you two."

"Don’t worry. Suzie is on her way here, so Shelby’ll be in good hands."

Ava nodded and then stood up with Rocky. Without looking over at Clara, the two walked out of the place.

"Rocky! Mum is talking to you!"

Rocky paused and then said, "I don’t have a mother like you!"

"Rockwell Wendover! Get back here right now!"

Despite all the screaming, Rocky left with Ava without a backward glance.

"Now, that you are done with your acting, let’s lay down some ground rules, Clara Wendover...."

Half an hour later, Clara was literally thrown out of the lounge, and the detectives ushered in. Luckily or unluckily for her, Murray sent her back home. It involved him knocking her unconscious and dropping her off in front of the Wendover mansion, and then leaving her right out in the night air...

[A/N: At least Murray got her back home in one piece.]

"Any luck?" Brad asked for the nth time, and then Currey nodded this time, but the detectives interrupted right away. No official complaints had been filed, but the apparent Co2 poisoning had all but circulated in the news.

The hospital was also obliged to report such cases, so it was not surprising that the two detectives were there. Even more so was the fact that the victim was related to the Thornstons. Not even the time of the night had hindered them and they had set to work as soon as they had heard.

Even at that time, the large TV behind them was streaming this:

"Breaking news from T-Vino Island shows that the new Mrs Shelby Thornston has been a victim of Co2 poisoning. At this stage, we do not know if it was an accident or it was an attempted murder. The police...."

"Detectives, have you checked the site and tried to retrieve all pieces of evidence to be considered? ...."

"Erm, no, Sir. We came to check on the victim ... I mean, the Mrs, and try to get her statement...."

Geneva set her teacup down and then looked them straight in the eyes.

"While you stand here, trying to be humanitarian in your ways, the crime scene remains. Why you are here, instead of there, baffles me...."

The statement sounded unfair on so many levels. The police had not been called by the Thornstons, and they only visited the hospital that had called them.

Alex placed his hands on his wife’s and then beckoned to Currey.

"You were about to show us something that will benefit the detectives as well, right?"

The two detectives shared a look and then breathed a sigh of relief. At least they knew that with red tape in their bureau, it would take a while before they got the evidence and process they needed to get their work done. Alex was giving them a golden ticket to get to know important information that would help them in their work.

Currey nodded and then used the large TV in the room as a projection.

"This is what I pieced together. The madam was given a glass of wine that looked to have been drugged...."

"Why do you say that?" One detective asked.

"Look carefully. Her actions after taking that drink look a little bizarre."

The second detective, Leon, placed his hand on the first’s shoulder to stop him.

"Please continue, Mr. Currey."

"This is where the video ends. The CCTV was deleted, and I’ll need some time to try and restore it."

Leon nodded and then said, "Thank you, assistant Currey. If you can send us a picture of the person you mentioned, we will try our best to get him for questioning."

Currey nodded and then saw them out. It only took about five minutes for him to return.

"Was that all?" Brad snapped in frustration.

"No, Master Brad, I figured you and the family needed to see this before it is given out to the police."

That statement made them all sit up as Currey nodded and then brought up the last video. There was no need for investigation, as the cameras clearly caught the two girls... that they all somewhat knew. At least, they clearly knew one of them.

Alex sucked in his breath as disappointment floored him. Geneva rained curses on that girl she had never liked. However, Geneva knew she could not go with ’I told you so....’

"So, I presume that you all know this person?"

The statement caused them to snap back to the door that had been left ajar to see one of the detectives who had supposedly left.

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