CHAPTER 126: CHAPTER 126: DORIS ABUSED—I’M CALLING THE POLICE [THE EVIL MOTHER-IN-LAW IS ARRESTED!]

I immediately drove towards the Kendall Family’s house.

Sharon saw how anxious I was and asked, "Auntie Ellison, what happened?"

"Something might have happened to Doris."

As I spoke, I called Doris’s children’s phone.

Before long, she answered.

"I... I was locked up by grandma..."

For the first time, the little girl’s voice sounded so aggrieved; I had never heard her in such a tone before.

My heart tightened, and I asked, "Tell me, what happened?"

"I don’t know, I didn’t do anything... it was mom who fell down herself..."

Doris’s voice was trembling, repeatedly saying, "It really wasn’t me..."

Over the phone, Doris’s voice was choked with sobs, and my heart clenched over and over again.

Suppressing the panic, I gently comforted her, "Doris, don’t be afraid, I’m coming to find you right now."

I stepped hard on the gas pedal, rushing to Sophia Kendall’s house, Sharon’s little face filled with worry.

Finally arriving at Sophia Kendall’s villa, I was immediately stopped at the gate by the servants.

"Move aside! Where’s my Doris!"

I rushed forward, but those people directly pushed me outside.

"Miss Doris made the madam have a miscarriage, you can’t take her away!"

The servants had a firm attitude, blocking the door relentlessly.

I immediately dialed Timothy Xavier’s number.

He loves Doris so much, I don’t believe he wouldn’t be anxious knowing about this.

Soon, the call was connected.

I restrained my angry voice, asking: "Where are you?"

Timothy Xavier’s voice was deathly cold: "Are you talking about Doris? I’m not in Veridia right now, but my mom already told me."

"Did she tell you that she locked up Doris?" I stated word by word, "I don’t know Doris’s current condition, but she called me for help. She said it wasn’t her!"

I thought Timothy Xavier would feel sorry for his daughter’s plight, but his voice was flat, telling me, "My mom is Doris’s biological grandma, it’s normal for her to discipline Doris. Just go back, since you’ve set your mind on divorce, matters related to the Xavier Family are none of your business. As for Doris, we’ll talk when I get back."

"Timothy Xavier!" I was so angry that my voice was trembling: "Yes, matters of the Xavier Family are none of my business now, but my daughter is locked up, and I can’t see her! You..."

Before I could finish, the call was already disconnected.

Unable to see Doris, I certainly refused to leave.

Time passed slowly, second by second.

Sharon suddenly reached out, took my phone, and skillfully dialed Mason Hawthorne’s number, saying, "Dad! Please send bodyguards to the Kendall family to help us! Doris is locked up by her grandma, and Auntie Ellison is crying with anxiety!"

I knew I shouldn’t trouble Mason Hawthorne, shouldn’t involve anyone associated with Julian Sinclair.

But at this moment, I had no other options and could only let Sharon seek help from her dad.

After hanging up, Sharon looked up at me and said confidently, "Auntie Ellison, don’t be afraid, Dad will help us. He said he’ll send bodyguards over immediately!"

I felt both sour and warm inside, choking up, "Thank you, Sharon."

About half an hour later, several black sedans pulled up at Sophia Kendall’s house.

A group of bodyguards in black suits approached briskly, pushed aside the blocking servants, and ushered Sharon and me inside.

The servants tried to stop us, but were firmly held off by the bodyguards, not even having the chance to call the police.

We searched around the villa and finally found Doris in a small storage room in the basement.

The storage room was dark and cold, with only a small lamp lit.

Doris was curled up in a corner, her children’s watch still blinking, but she was too exhausted to answer it.

I rushed over to pick her up, and Doris was already unconscious.

My heart tightened, and I carried her out, heading straight for the children’s hospital.

Sharon quickly followed behind me.

...

In the emergency room, the doctor examined Doris, frowning slightly, "There’s no major issue with the child, just low blood sugar from not eating for a day, causing her to faint. However..."

The doctor paused, looking at me, "Why are there needle marks all over her arm? Has she been bullied at school?"

My heart thudded, and I hurriedly rolled up Doris’s sleeve.

On her fair, tender little arm, it was covered densely with tiny needle marks, causing my heart to feel like it was being cut by knives.

I had thought that even if Serena was pregnant, Timothy Xavier’s love for Doris would ensure he would take good care of her.

I had such faith in him, believing that even if he wasn’t a good husband, he would still be a good father.

But under his watch, Doris was labeled a jinx, left alone at home; under his watch, Doris was treated like this!

Later, the doctor administered a nutrient solution to Doris, and the little girl finally woke up.

She was terrified, and as soon as she woke up, she looked at us fearfully, saying, "It really wasn’t me! I didn’t push her..."

Holding back tears, I comforted her while asking, "Doris, tell me, what are these needle marks about?"

Doris’s tears immediately welled up, and she choked out, "Grandma... Grandma said I killed the little brother. She pricked me with a sewing needle, telling me to go accompany little brother..."

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry I came too late."

I held her tightly in my arms, unable to hold back my tears anymore, feeling as if my heart was being torn apart.

Doris trembled and cried in my arms, repeatedly saying, "But I really didn’t do it."

Then the doctor came over and softly said, "The child doesn’t have any major health issues now, but she’s very frightened, it’s best to take her home. Familiar surroundings give her a sense of security, which is better than at the hospital."

I nodded, took Doris home, with Sharon following alongside, looking at Doris and me with much concern.

Upon arriving home, Doris sat on the sofa, still shaking uncontrollably.

The little girl’s eyes were full of fear, like a frightened little beast, causing my heart to ache repeatedly.

I sat beside her and softly said, "Doris, can you tell me what really happened?"

Doris sniffled, still speaking in a terrified tone, tremblingly said, "This morning, Mommy was holding my hand, walking downstairs for breakfast. When we got to the second floor, she... she suddenly let go of my hand and fell down the stairs herself. I was so scared, Grandma heard the noise and came over. Mommy was bleeding a lot, but she...said I pushed her."

I looked at her, asking seriously and solemnly, "So, you didn’t push her, right? Doris, you have to tell me the truth, only then can I help you."

Doris looked at me, tears welling up in her eyes, and asked, "Will you believe me if I tell you?"

"Yes." I nodded and said, "As long as you say it, I will believe it."

Doris said word by word, "I didn’t push her, I don’t know why she’s lying to everyone. She is my mom, but she... why doesn’t she love me? Why?"

By the end, she was sobbing, looking at me in confusion.

I held her in my arms and softly said, "Don’t cry anymore, I believe you. I believe that Doris is a good child who wouldn’t do such a thing."

She lifted her head from my arms, incredulously asking, "You really believe me?"

"Yes, really."

After I said that, Sharon came over too, earnestly saying, "Doris, I believe you too!"

Doris broke down and cried out loud.

I could understand her.

After all, she really saw Serena Sawyer as her mom.

I remember clearly how happy she was last night when Serena came to pick her up.

It’s imaginable, how shocked and disappointed she was this morning when she was betrayed and wronged by the one she loved most.

Before today, Timothy Xavier and Serena Sawyer should have been Doris’s whole world.

But now, that world has collapsed.

So young, yet she sees clearly the filth and cruelty of the adult world!

Just at this moment, Sophia Kendall’s call came through.

I was about to ask her about today’s events when she immediately started cursing, "Zoe Ellison, you bitch! It was that bastard you gave birth to that caused Serena to miscarry, and you even dared to come to our Kendall family to snatch people! I’m telling you, I won’t let you go!"

I pressed the call recording button and asked her word by word, "Were the needle marks on Doris’s body caused by you? And was it you who locked her in the basement all day without food or drink?"

"Yes, and what of it!"

Sophia Kendall admitted without hesitation, gritting her teeth and saying, "She caused the loss of my grandson like this, not demanding her life is already benevolent!"

I hung up the phone, looking at the dense needle marks on Doris’s arm, and dialed 110.

"Hello, I’d like to report child abuse."

I explained the situation from beginning to end over the phone, and the police quickly responded.

The needle marks on Doris’s arm and the recording I made earlier were evidence.

Two police officers came to my home, collected evidence, and asked Doris some questions.

Doris answered truthfully, and they said, "Ms. Ellison, we have now sent colleagues to question Sophia Kendall. We will contact you if there are any developments or if we need your cooperation."

I nodded and thanked them, seeing them out of the door.

And Doris only drank a small bowl of porridge for dinner, despite not having had anything to eat or drink all day due to Sophia Kendall, she still couldn’t eat anything.

After dinner, she quietly went to sit on the sofa by herself, lost in thought.

Sharon Hawthorne whispered, "Auntie Ellison, shall I go comfort her?"

"No need."

I gently said, "Go play in the room, let her be by herself for a while. She’ll get better, don’t worry."

Sharon gave her one more worried look before returning to her room.

After I cleaned up, the little girl was still sitting there with her knees up, curled up into herself, motionless.

Her small body, so lonely.

I sighed, walked over, sat beside her, and asked, "What are you thinking about? Can you tell me?"

Doris wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, looked down at the ground, and murmured, "Why did she hurt me? Why did she lie? She’s really not my real mom..."

"Yes, you understand, right? Because she’s not your real mom, so she falsely accused you."

I responded to her calmly.

Doris looked at me with red-rimmed eyes and said, "But you’re not Sharon’s real mom either, why are you so good to her? Can’t you falsely accuse someone just because they’re not your biological child?"

I was momentarily at a loss for words, not knowing how to explain it to her, or if she could understand.

At that moment, Doris asked me, "I still don’t understand why you’re my real mom but I never saw you growing up. It wasn’t until I was older that Dad suddenly told me you were the one who gave birth to me..."

Her bright black eyes looked at me, full of questions.

I looked at her too and said, "If I tell you, will you believe me? Because it might make you see a different side of your dad."

Doris paused for a moment, nodded very seriously, and said, "You trust me, and I trust you. Go ahead and tell me!"

There were things that had been pent up in my heart for too long, and regardless of whether she could understand, I told her about what happened that year.

"Four years ago, when I gave birth to you, your dad told me that I gave birth to a stillborn baby without breath. So since you were young, you were given to Serena Sawyer to raise. I thought my child was gone, I had no idea she was still alive..."

I talked for a long, long time, and Doris didn’t interrupt me, just listening earnestly.

Her expression seemed to grow more complex, but also clearer.

After I finished speaking, she said with emotion, "Why did my dad lie? If he’s a deceitful dad, I won’t like him anymore!"

"Doris, this is an adult’s matter. He’s still good to you."

I stroked her hair and told her earnestly, "Even though he didn’t protect you this time, he has indeed been good to you before. So I hope that because of what happened between me and him, you won’t harbor any hatred towards him."

Doris, with tears in her red-rimmed eyes, leaned into my embrace and said, "I’m sorry, I didn’t know Dad lied to you. I thought it was you who abandoned us first..."

I smiled and said, "Now you know, don’t you?"

"Will you still want me?"

She looked at me with hopeful eyes and said, "I treated you that way before..."

I pinched her cheek and said, "I’m your mom, whenever you need me, I’ll be here to protect you."

Later, she finally fell asleep in my arms, her tense body finally relaxing, as if letting go of all her defenses.

I carefully picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

After getting Doris settled, I discovered that Timothy Xavier had called me over a dozen times.

Just then, his call came in again.

I directly hung up without answering.

...

The next day was the weekend, and neither child had school.

I could use these two days to comfort Doris and have Sharon play with her to distract her.

But surprisingly, early in the morning, the doorbell kept ringing.

Timothy Xavier stood at the door, with an attitude that he wouldn’t leave until I opened the door.

Thinking of the grievance Doris suffered yesterday, I decided to open the door.

I couldn’t believe that his daughter was abused by his mother like this and he wouldn’t feel heartache!

Before opening the door, I let Doris and Sharon go back to the room.

As soon as Timothy Xavier walked in, he had a somber face, demanding, "Is Doris here with you?"

I hadn’t expected this attitude from him and said, "Aren’t you going to ask why Doris is here with me? Don’t you want to know how your mom treated her?"

"I already know."

Timothy Xavier coldly said, "You’ve already had the police take her away, haven’t you? Yes, she shouldn’t have treated Doris like that. But what did Doris do? My mom was furious at the time!"

I was stunned, looking at him in disbelief, and said, "You don’t believe your daughter? Instead, you believe Serena Sawyer? You raised your daughter; do you think she could do such a thing?"

Timothy Xavier sneered and said, "Maybe she wouldn’t before. But lately, after you’ve been with her for so long, she’s completely changed."

I instinctively took a few steps back; this man was more frightening than I imagined!

Timothy Xavier took steps toward me, saying sternly, "If you don’t want Serena to have this baby, you could have told me, you could have said it directly. I’d handle it! Why instruct Doris to do such a thing?"

I could no longer suppress the anger in my heart and pointed at Timothy Xavier’s nose, saying, "Timothy Xavier, did you know you’re being cheated on? The baby in Serena Sawyer’s belly is my brother’s! She absolutely can’t have that baby!"

Timothy Xavier seemed to have heard the most ridiculous joke.

He looked at me with cold eyes and said, "Zoe Ellison, Serena is still lying in the hospital now, the doctor said she almost lost her uterus, and you’re still slandering her? You’re a woman; do you have to be so cruel to her?"

"She’s the one who slandered Doris first! Just because she’s carrying my brother’s child and can’t have it openly, she intentionally framed Doris, wanting to use her to get rid of this trouble! Now, she’s accomplished all her goals!"

I thought I had explained it clearly enough.

But Timothy Xavier’s face remained unmoved, saying, "Now I finally know who taught Doris all these bad ideas! Zoe Ellison, you’re really ruthless. You can even make up such twisted lies!"

I hadn’t expected him to be so deeply convinced of Serena Sawyer.

I pointed towards the door and said, "Get out! Timothy Xavier, you are not qualified to be Doris’s father, get lost!"

Timothy Xavier’s tone carried an undeniable firmness, saying, "I can’t let Doris stay with you any longer, or she’ll be completely ruined by your teaching!"

With that, he headed straight toward the bedroom, intending to forcefully take Doris away.

I hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.

I never imagined that Timothy Xavier, who used to cherish Doris deeply, would now refuse to give her even a bit of trust.

In the end, he didn’t believe me; he thought I instigated Doris to harm Serena Sawyer and cause a miscarriage.

I was pulling him, trying to drag him out, not wanting him to contact Doris.

Yesterday, Doris was already traumatized when she was accused by the person she trusted the most.

If today she found out that her father also didn’t believe her, I didn’t know how much more it would hurt her.

Even though I felt that perhaps our conversation had already been overheard by the children in the room.

Timothy Xavier was angry, and I couldn’t stop him.

He went straight to the bedroom door and reached to push it open.

I desperately tried to stop him, but he pushed me aside, and I stumbled backward, hitting the wall.

The bedroom door suddenly opened.

Sharon rushed over to help me up.

Doris, seeing this scene, was like an enraged little beast. She suddenly rushed out and gave Timothy Xavier a fierce push with all her strength.

This was the first time she had acted against Timothy Xavier, her eyes full of disappointment and hatred, no longer adoration and dependence.

Timothy Xavier was pushed and stood there in shock, clearly not expecting Doris to do such a thing.

He frowned and said sternly, "Doris Xavier, who taught you to hit adults?"

Doris’s tears fell like broken beads, but she stubbornly glared at him, her voice carried a determined sobbing tone, "No one taught me! You pushed my mom first! None of you believe me, but my mom does! All of you are bad people!"