Chapter 22
Bradley followed close behind, his eyes scanning the scene. Without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over Melissa’s shoulders.
The jacket was warm, carrying Bradley’s familiar scent, and Melissa’s chest tightened as her emotions surged. She glanced at him, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why did you bring him here?”
Bradley’s jaw tightened, irritation flickering across his face. He didn’t bother answering, instead turning his glare toward the loudmouth father, who immediately shrank back a little under the weight of his gaze
“What the hell’s going on here?” Bradley asked, his voice calm but cold enough to chill the room.
Before Melissa could speak, the man cut in, his bravado suddenly shaky but still present. “What’s going on Your wife shoved my son into a pool. that’s what is she insane! You need to get her help before she hurts someone clic!”
Bradley’s face darkened, his patience snapping Without a word, he closed the distance between them, grabbed the man by the collar, and yanked him forward. His voice dropped to a menacing growl. “Say one more word, and 11 personally throw you into that damn pool.”
The man gasped for air, his face pale and drenched in cold sweat. Panicking, he shouted at the officer, “He hit me! This thug attacked me! Are you just gonna let this happen?”
The officers exchanged a tired look, clearly done with his theatrics, One of them frowned and said sharply, “Sir, that’s enough. Calm down”
The man turned to Bradley, who stood there calm as ever, his sheer presence towering and unshakable. For a moment, the man looked like he might argue, but seeing Bradley’s icy stare, he clamped his mouth shut.
Curtis, meanwhile, had no intention of keeping quiet. Putting out his chest, be glared at the man. “Mommy, don’t worry! Daddy’s here. He’ll protect you, and the bad guy can’t do anything now!”
The man’s face turned beet red, his anger bubbling over. “Who are you calling a bad guy, you little brat?!”
Curtis didn’t flinch. If anything, he leaned into the moment, sticking out his tongue and making a dramatic face. “Whoever picks on my mommy is a bad guy! You picked on my mommy, so that makes you the bad guy! Na–na–na?”
Melissa couldn’t help but laugh. Despite the mess she was in, Curtis’s bold defiance made her heart feel lighter.
The officer at the desk rapped his knuckles on the table, signaling for silence. “Alright, everyone quiet down, he said firmly, then turned to the computer screen and played the surveillance footage from the pobl
The video was undeniable. It showed Melissa rushing to save the boy, with no indication of wrongdoing on her part. The truth was clear.
The property manager immediately stepped forward, bowing slightly as he stammered, Tm terribly sorry for the misunderstanding. We deeply apologize for the trouble this has caused.”
Meanwhile, the boy’s father, now comered, muttered a reluctant “Sorry” under his breath, not even looking Melissa in the eye.
Melissa’s fists clenched at her sides. Her voice came out cold and ilurp. “That’s all? You think a half–assed ‘sorry‘ is enough?
The man stiffened, putting himself up. “What do you want me to do? Beg you to forgive me! Keep dreaming”
Melissa’s eyes narrowed. “I want a written apology. You’re going to post it in the community clat,, and 1 want it pinned at the entrance and the pool. Everyone should see it.
For the first time since stepping in, Bradley spoke, his voice calm but with a sharp edge. “A written apology! That’s it?”
Melissa blinked, thrown off by the question. She wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but before she could respond, he stepped closer to her.
Reaching out, Bradley gently brushed his thumb against the swollen corner of her left eye. His voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone. “And what’s
Melissa flinched authe touch and instinctively took a step back. She glanced at the boy cowering behind his father. Tr’s nothing. He panicked when t was pulling him out and accidentally hit me
Bradley’s expression hardened, his voice icy and deliberate. “Accidentally? How do you know it wasn’t on purpose! We’re going to the hospital to document this”
The man’s composure cracked. “He’s just a kid! There’s no way he’d do something like that on purpose. And how do we know she didn’t already have that bruise? She could be making this up!
Bradley stepped closer, his tone curting through the man’s protests like a knife. “A full medical exam will clear that up. Head to toe. Every brave, every mark, every potential injury gets documented. Internal, external, psychological. The works.”
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Chapter 22
His voice dropped to a growl, his glare sharp enough to cut. “And let me make myself perfectly clear–if she has even one injury because of this, you’re gonna regret opening your damin mouth”
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