Ella observed Mrs. Rosewood with wide, astonished eyes. Her hands covered her nose and mouth, and she swayed slightly where she stood. Nolan scanned the room, noting everyone's pale faces, his own complexion equally ashen. "That's the best we can hope for," he murmured gruffly. He cleared his throat before speaking up again, "Juliette, hang in there, alright? Help is on the way. You're doing great."
"Alright, enough of that," Derick said impatiently. "Satisfied now, Lieutenant?"
"As satisfied as I'm going to be." Nolan's tone was far from enthusiastic.
"Is Barbara around?"
"She is." Nolan beckoned Mrs. Rosewood to come closer. She stumbled slightly as she walked around the table.
"Der?" she called out, her voice trembling so much that his name sounded distorted. She swallowed hard as Alan approached from behind and comfortingly rubbed her back. Ella wished someone would provide her the same solace.
Derick began to taunt her. "How are you holding up? Everything alright?"
Mrs. Rosewood looked livid. Ella was certain she would lash out at Derick just as he wanted, but instead, she composed herself impressively.
"I'd feel better if I could just speak to Hunter," she responded with remarkable calmness.
"No."
"What do you want?" Mrs. Rosewood struggled to hold back tears. "I'll give you anything! I can sell Rosedale. Derick, I'm worth thirty-five million dollars—it's yours!"
"I don't need your money, darling. I'm already wealthy."
"I just want to hear his voice." Tears streamed down Mrs. Rosewood's face. "Is that too much to ask?"
"Not going to happen, love."
"Derick," Mrs. Rosewood pleaded desperately. "Please, you're my husband. How can you do this to me?"
"To you? Just hours ago I beat your son senseless and you're concerned about what I'm doing to you?" He sneered, "You've always been a selfish bitch."
Mrs. Rosewood gasped raspily, her face turning red as she tried to stifle her sobs. "He's my world," she whispered brokenly.
"And that," Derick said with disdain, "is exactly the problem."
Ella knew her father had always considered her and her sisters as his world; he had told them so many times. Marissa had never felt bitter for how much he loved them; in fact, neither of them resented each other's children from previous relationships—they embraced them instead. Ella couldn't comprehend why Derick hadn't managed to do the same with Hunter.
"Hunter? Are you there?" asked Mrs. Rosewood, her hands trembling as she fumbled with her phone and brought it to her ear.
"Mom? Yes, it's me," Hunter's voice was strained but urgent. "Can you hear me?"
With a shaky breath, Mrs. Rosewood collapsed into a chair. "Hunter! Thank God, where are you? What happened?"
As the door creaked open silently, Detective Cheng slipped in followed by a uniformed officer Ella recognized from the previous night, though she couldn't recall his name. Cheng assessed the tense room and mouthed, "Is that Hunter?" Nolan nodded and stepped aside, allowing Cheng to approach the phone. It felt like an eternity had passed before the police got there, but the microwave clock confirmed it had been less than five minutes.
"I'm alright," Hunter said, though Ella could tell he was anything but. "I love you. Please promise me you know that."
"I do, sweetheart. I know," Mrs. Rosewood's voice trembled with emotion. "You're my everything."
Before Hunter could respond, Juliette's frantic shouts cut through the air. "No! No way! Don't—" Her voice wavered with panic. "Not when his mom is on the phone! Your wife? Don't make her hear this—"
Derick's slap reverberated through the room, causing Celine to scream. Mrs. Rosewood dropped the phone as if it had scorched her fingers. Ella recoiled into herself, desperate to escape this nightmare.
Juliette's voice lost its fear as she challenged him boldly, "I'm not moving an inch. Hit me again if you dare, you psycho."
Derick's chilling laugh sent shivers down Ella's spine—a haunting echo of her darkest fears.
Mr. Grier let go of Marissa's hand and started pacing frantically, cursing under his breath as he pulled at his hair. Ella silently echoed some of those curses herself; she'd never sworn before now.
Derick considered Juliette's defiant request before obliging with what sounded like a punch this time. Ella hugged herself tighter as if that would protect her from the chaos around her while Rachelle rushed over to comfort her.
"Oh, you want me to beat you up instead?" Derick taunted Juliette menacingly.
"Yes!" Juliette cried out defiantly. "It's my turn now; let him recover."
"Juliette!" Hunter yelled, his voice straining with effort far beyond what Ella thought he could manage anymore. "Step back!"
"That's right," Derick sneered approvingly. "Keep your woman in line."
"You don't have any right to call her that," Hunter spat back.
"I don't care what he calls me," Juliette retorted fiercely. "And I'm not backing off for anything."
Ella buried her face in Rachelle's chest, squeezing her eyes shut tight. It wouldn't block out the phone call, but at least she wouldn't have to witness everyone's reactions. Rachelle held her closer.
Detective Cheng finally broke the silence. "Derick Staples? This is Detective Evelyn Cheng from the Brooksdale County Sheriff's Office. I need to ask you a few questions."
"I'm busy," Derick snapped back, hitting Juliette again. Hunter's protests went unheeded as Derick continued his assault.
"Are you going to stop this?" Mr. Grier shouted at Detective Cheng.
Ignoring him, Detective Cheng pressed on, "Mr. Staples, let's talk."
A violent scuffle ensued. Derick seemed to be dragging Juliette away from Hunter and likely succeeding until suddenly he shouted, cursed, and then the commotion ceased. Juliette let out a mocking laugh before shrieking—not in pain, but in surprise. There was a sickening thud followed by Hunter's yelp of unexpected pain.
Someone began crying loudly. Rachelle rubbed Ella's back in an attempt to comfort her, only to realize the sobs were coming from her own mouth. What an ironic twist—how could she be crying without realizing it? She felt so disconnected from her surroundings and even from her own body that she wondered if she was losing her mind.
"I want to talk to you about Juliette," said Detective Cheng. Ella twisted in Rachelle's arms to see the room again. Every Grier member perked up.
"What about her?" Derick grumbled reluctantly.
"She seems quite the nuisance for you," Detective Cheng observed calmly. "Am I right?"
Mr. Grier spun around, ready to protest but was halted by a finger on the detective's lips. Ella thought she heard a uniformed officer tell her father to let the detective handle matters.
"She's difficult, yes," Derick admitted, as Detective Cheng nodded knowingly as if everything was unfolding according to plan.
"Downgraded me, have you? What happened to your lieutenant? I liked him," Derick sneered.
Detective Cheng glanced up quizzically before catching Nolan's subtle indication that Derick was referring to him. She simply raised her eyebrows and replied, "I'm leading this case; he said I could speak with you directly."
"You don't strike me as a murderer, Mr. Staples."
Ella and several onlookers contorted their faces in disbelief—he certainly seemed like one to them.
"You're mad at Hunter; that much is clear," said Detective Cheng with a kindness that disturbed Ella. There was nothing understandable about it. "But why are you taking it out on Juliette?"
"She keeps him in check."
"Sure, sure," Detective Cheng agreed smoothly. "But who keeps Juliette in check? She's getting in your way but not enough for you to kill her—I know you don't want that. So why not just send her home?"