My Mother and Husband Both Chose Her Over Me Chapter 10
“Iany of this is true, why didn’t Noelle report it to the police?” Adrian demanded.
“First, survivors do not always have the strength to expose the most humiliating parts of their lives to strangers,” Dr. Bennett said.
“Second, what would a report have changed? Even now, the people closest to her are protecting the person
who hurt her.”
No one answered. The question left each of them facing the protection they had given Serena only minutes
earlier.
“Is anyone here authorized to sign for Noelle Hart?” a nurse called from the doorway.
They all turned.
The nurse’s expression was grave. “We need someone to acknowledge the death notification.”
My mother’s knees gave way, and she collapsed. Talia covered her mouth.
Adrian was the only one still able to stand. “Can’t you try again?”
he asked, his voice shaking.
The nurse shook her head. “It was too late.
“By the time you found her, she had been bleeding for almost two hours.”
His hand trembled so badly that his signature wandered across the acknowledgment form.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” the nurse said before leaving.
Every eye turned toward Serena. Her body began to shake.
“You don’t have to look at me like that,” she whispered. “I know what I should do.”
She ran to the window and threw it open.
“What are you doing?”
“Let me go. I should die too.”
They reached her at once, reacting more quickly than any of them had when my life was in danger.
Adrian locked both arms around her waist while Talia and my mother pulled her back by the arms.
“Let me go. I owe her my life,” Serena sobbed.
“I did this to her.”
Adrian’s eyes were red. “Will your death bring her back?”
“But I hurt all of you. You were her family.”
My mother closed her eyes in pain. “Come down.
“I don’t blame you.”
“Diane…”
“Please come down. I know you never wanted it to end this way.
“Noelle would forgive you.”
Serena broke into louder sobs.
Adrian swallowed hard. His voice came out hoarse.
“I’ve already lost her. Are you going to make me lose you too?”
“Adrian…”
Talia sighed. “You truly regret it.
“Come down. None of us blames you.”
Dr. Bennett stared at them in disbelief. “What is wrong with all of you?”
