Officer Derek felt a little guilty for disturbing this heartfelt reunion. But he had the duty to solve this case, so he cleared his throat to signal Mrs. Gray.

"Ah—" Chloe looked over her shoulder, stared at Officer Derek, and then nodded. She turned back at her nephews and said, "Boys, I will have to talk with the Officer about this. You guys stay here for a while, okay?"

The boys were reluctant to part with their Aunt Chloe. They wanted to hug their Aunt for the rest of the night, or forever even because they had been deprived of love and safety.

Although he was unwilling, Aaron released her first, "We will wait. Please don't leave us, Aunty."

Chloe forced a smile. She was still thinking hard about how to convince Vernon about this, but she knew they just needed reassurance, "Don't worry, I won't leave you. You will meet with Boss Mackie later, okay?"

The boys' faces brightened after they heard about Boss Mackie.

They missed her a lot and couldn't wait to play with her.

Usually, Boss Mackie would tell them what to do, and they'd follow her instructions because she was so much fun to be around. They adored and respected her a lot, though it was probably because Boss Mackie looked like Aunt Chloe.

"Okay!" They said in unison. They finally released Aunt Chloe and sat obediently on the long couch, waiting for Aunt Chloe to take them.

Chloe turned around, and her smile disappeared instantly. She followed the Officer to leave the room and said, "Hold on, Officer. I'll have to text someone first."

Officer Derek nodded, and Chloe quickly texted Vernon that she was safe and told him to stay inside his car so he wouldn't get recognized.
After all, he was already quite popular on the Internet.


After getting the affirmative response she wanted, Chloe returned to Officer Derek. She asked, "Can you tell me what really happened? I know from the looks of my nephews that it must be something traumatizing. What happened to my sister and mother?"

Officer Derek paused for a moment and then nodded, "It's a tragedy. The reason I'm not telling you about this on the phone is because I'm afraid you cannot take it, Ma'am."

Chloe took a deep breath. She knew that Chelsea had gone insane. It was already obvious since the last time they met. Chelsea looked so unhinged as if she could snap anytime soon.

"I'm ready, take me to my sister and mother."

"This way," Officer Derek said.

Chloe followed the Officer who escorted her to another room, but this wasn't an office that the boys stayed in right now.

It was on the other side of an interrogation room with a one-way mirror. So they could see the interrogation room inside.

"There she is, Chelsea Davis," Officer Derek said, pointing at the one-way mirror.

Chelsea gave it a glance and gasped instantly.

She saw Chelsea with a haggard look. She was wearing a blood-stained jacket and pants. Her hair was a mess, and the scar on her face only heightened the madwoman's look on her.

She was handcuffed with her hand behind her while an officer interrogated her.

"W—What happened?" Chloe asked, her eyes still focused on her sister.

"It's a murder case," Officer Derek replied. "She murdered your mother, Judith Carlson with three backstabs and a stab on her shoulder, Judith passed away soon after. She then chased after her sons, but they were smart enough to hide themselves in a room and barricade the door by using broomsticks and a couch. We found her in the nearby park. She was hysterical, screaming at your husband—Vincent Gray's name repeatedly, and saying… disturbing stuff such as how she wants to marry him and how he lied to her about their love."

Chloe felt her world had been crushed when she heard about all this, especially when she learned that her mother had passed away.

She was very close with her mother ever since she was young. Chloe always looked up to her mother because Judith was a strong woman. She raised two daughters while living in harsh New York City.

She would voluntarily do household duties while Judith worked three jobs to support them when they were young. She'd always worry if her mother got sick.

Thus, she was also happy that she could at least provide her mother a decent life after marrying Vincent.

She kept her pretense of a happy married life before her mother because she didn't want to break her mother's joy of seeing her daughter happily married.

'I want to reconcile with her. I really do…' Chloe lamented. 'I want to tell her all the bad things that Vincent did. I want to cry on her lap, because I've been enduring his abuse for the past ten years. I tried to continue enduring, but I've reached my boiling point.'

'I know she will understand me once we have a heart-to-heart talk, but why can't she listen to me? Is it because I'm not brave enough to tell her everything that Vincent did before I left him?'

Chloe started to fall into a spiral of self-blame and pity.

But she quickly pulled herself together. She had to wait until she was in her room to cry freely and grieve over her late mother.

This wasn't the time to be vulnerable. She had to know the motive behind the murder to help with the investigation and bring the boys to safety. They went through a lot tonight.

Chloe gave a nod of understanding. The Officer was a bit surprised by her reaction.

She was obviously sad. Her facial expression said it all.

But she didn't wallow on it for too long and asked, "Did Chelsea say anything about my husband?"

"Yes, Ma'am, and they are quite disturbing," Officer Derek replied. "I'm sorry if I sound rude to pry on your private life. But may I know if your sister has been obsessed with your husband?"

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