CHAPTER 2
Greg froze.
The entire department store felt different.
Moments earlier, shoppers had been avoiding eye contact.
Now everyone was staring.
The giant steel security gates blocked every exit.
Red warning lights flashed above the entrances.
And the cheerful background music that usually filled the mall had gone completely silent.
"What the hell is going on?" Greg yelled.
His voice echoed through the store.
Nobody answered.
The cashier behind the customer service counter slowly stepped backward.
Her eyes weren't focused on him.
They were focused on something behind him.
Greg turned.
Three security guards were walking toward him.
Not casually.
Not cautiously.
Purposefully.
Like men who already knew exactly who they were looking for.
The lead guard stopped several feet away.
"Sir."
Greg tightened his grip on the car seat.
"What?"
"Put the box down."
A nervous laugh escaped Greg's mouth.
"Are you serious?"
The guard didn't blink.
"Put it down."
"This belongs to me."
"No," another voice said.
Everyone turned.
The crowd instantly separated.
A woman wearing a white medical coat emerged from the aisle.
She walked with calm authority.
Her silver hair was neatly tied back.
A hospital ID badge hung from her neck.
The words on the badge caught everyone's attention.
CHIEF OF OBSTETRICS
DR. ELENA ARIS
Behind her came two nurses pushing emergency equipment.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Dr. Aris ignored Greg completely.
She walked directly toward Clara.
The doctor knelt beside the injured woman.
For several seconds she simply examined her.
Then her face darkened.
"Clara."
Clara looked up weakly.
"I'm sorry."
The words barely escaped her lips.
Dr. Aris shook her head.
"No."
Her voice softened.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
One nurse checked Clara's pulse.
The other measured her blood pressure.
The results appeared on the monitor.
Both nurses immediately exchanged worried looks.
Dr. Aris saw them.
Her jaw tightened.
"Get a wheelchair now."
One nurse hurried away.
The doctor carefully lifted Clara's sleeve.
Dark bruises were already forming.
A collective gasp spread through the crowd.
Then Dr. Aris slowly stood.
And finally looked at Greg.
The expression in her eyes made his stomach twist.
"Did you push her?"
Greg swallowed.
"It wasn't like that."
"Did you push her?"
"It was an accident."
The doctor stepped closer.
"Answer the question."
Greg suddenly felt small.
For the first time all day, he looked away.
"Yes."
Silence filled the store.
Then Dr. Aris spoke.
Three simple words.
"You're unbelievable."
Greg frowned.
"What?"
The doctor pointed toward Clara.
"Three days ago she nearly died."
The crowd gasped.
Greg's face drained of color.
Dr. Aris continued.
"She lost almost half her blood during childbirth."
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
"She required emergency surgery."
A woman near the register covered her mouth.
An older man shook his head in disbelief.
The doctor pointed at the car seat.
"And you assaulted her over that?"
Greg opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because there was no excuse.
No explanation.
No defense.
Then another figure appeared.
Chief Miller.
The veteran security officer walked forward carrying a tablet.
His face was cold.
Expressionless.
Without speaking, he turned the screen around.
The security footage began playing.
Everyone watched.
The giant monitor above customer service displayed every second.
Greg shoving Clara.
The display rack falling.
The terrified look on her face.
The stolen car seat.
The entire truth.
When the video ended, the silence felt unbearable.
Greg felt dozens of eyes staring at him.
Judging him.
Condemning him.
Then came the sound that destroyed whatever confidence he had left.
Police sirens.
Close.
Very close.
His heart stopped.
Outside the locked entrance, red and blue lights flashed against the glass.
Police officers entered through a side security access door.
Four officers.
Then six.
Then more.
And every one of them was walking directly toward him.
May you like
For the first time in years...
Greg felt genuine fear.
