Daisy’s eyes met Gabriela’s. Gabriela mouthed silent words. “Tell the truth, my love. I love you.”
The prosecutor crouched beside Daisy. “Sweetheart, tell us what happened the night you got hurt.”
Daisy swallowed. Her gaze flickered toward Cassandra sitting in the gallery, posture stiff, eyes sharp. Then she looked at her father whose face was pale and torn. Finally she looked at Gabriela.
“I,” Daisy whispered.
Tears slipped down her cheeks. She squeezed her rabbit until her knuckles whitened.
“I do not want to lie anymore,” she said.
The courtroom inhaled as one body. The judge leaned forward. “Speak clearly, young lady.”
“Gabriela did not hurt me,” Daisy cried. “Cassandra told me to say that. She put paint on my face. She said if I did not lie then Gabriela would go away forever and it would be my fault.”
Chaos erupted. Reporters scribbled wildly. The prosecutor stammered objections. Fiona rose in triumph. “The defense requests immediate recess to investigate these grave allegations.”
The judge banged his gavel. “Granted. Ms Blake, you will remain available to the court.”
Gabriela collapsed to her knees, sobbing with relief. Daisy looked at her and whispered as she was led away, “Do not cry, Gabi. I told them.”
That evening, Brandon confronted Cassandra in the mansion study. She paced like a predator.
“You are letting a confused child destroy everything,” Cassandra hissed.
Brandon stood slowly. “I saw her fear. I heard her truth. I ignored it once. I will not again.”
Cassandra’s smile sharpened. “Do you know what the press will do to you if you turn against me now.”
“I would rather be ashamed than blind,” Brandon said.
Upstairs, Daisy curled under her blanket, whispering to her rabbit. “It has to end soon.”
The next morning the courthouse swarmed with media. Gabriela walked in with new strength in her posture despite the shackles on her wrists.
Fiona filed a motion to dismiss. The judge called Detective Ruiz to the stand. Ruiz presented the lab report.
“The bruise was fabricated,” Ruiz stated. “We found cosmetic foundation, adhesive, and synthetic glitter. The injury is inconsistent with trauma. We searched Ms Blake’s makeup case under warrant. Products matching the residue were found. Her fingerprints were present on adhesive recovered from the child’s cheek.”
Gasps rippled through the courtroom.
Cassandra leapt up screaming denial. Officers moved toward her.