were made.


    The officer poised with a pen asked, “Mrs.


    Payne, you’ve imed that confining N in the basement was a domestic discipline, not abduction or uwful detention.


    Could you provide us with concrete evidence?”


    “Certainly.


    ”


    Lucinda reached for the hem of her dress, her hands returning empty.


    It was at this moment she realized her oversight.


    She had intended to visit the babies but had left in such a rush she forgot her designer bag and even her phone at the Paynes’ house.


    Amidst the chaos of recent days, such an error seemed almost forgivable.


    “I hadmissioned a paternity test through my brother, Hilliard.


    The results, which were to support my im, are in my bag.


    Unfortunately, in my haste to apany you, I left without it, along with my phone.


    May I retrieve them from the Paynes’ house?”


    The officers exchanged nces.


    Once in the interview room, the protocol dictated that Lucinda couldn’t leave without providing the requested information.


    Yet, she was asking to return home.


    This situation was outside their standard procedure, and they couldn’t easily grant such a request.


    “Mrs.


    Payne, can you recall exactly where you left your bag and phone?”


    Lucinda pondered briefly, attempting to retrace her steps.


    “Maybe… they might be in my grandpa’s bedroom.


    That’s the only ce I went.


    I believe I left them on the nightstand, quite carelessly, in fact.


    ”


    The officer nodded, acknowledging Lucinda’s statement.


    “We understand your situation.


    I’ll have someone dispatched to retrieve your bag and phone from the Paynes’ house.


    ”This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Given her current inability to leave the station, Lucinda acquiesced, instructing them to proceed with discretion.


    “Please, do so quietly.


    It’s imperative not to draw attention.


    ”


    The vi was crowded.


    Should the officers be spotted entering Norton’s bedroom, it could lead to family members suspecting Norton’s condition, potentially alerting adversaries to the chaos within the Payne family.


    The officer assured Lucinda, “Understood, Mrs.


    Payne.


    Please make yourselffortable here in the meantime.


    Would you like us to bring you some coffee or perhaps some fruit?”


    Lucinda agreed, settling in for the wait.


    She calcted the round trip to the Paynes’ house would take over an hour, leaving her with time to spare, feeling the drag of boredom and fatigue.


    Despite her desire for rest, Lucinda resisted the urge to sleep.


    Her condition was unpredictable, and any unintended disy could ignite unwee media frenzy.


    Being at the helm of the Simmons family and CEO of their conglomerate, thest thing she needed was public scrutiny over her mental health.


    Lucinda was determined not to let her guard down, wary of theplications that disclosure could bring, especially with her te already full.