Later that day, the situation became even more serious.
Nicholas remained at the hospital, waiting for news about Jennie.
Every minute that passed seemed to make his anger worse.
He couldn't stop seeing the image of his wife lying unconscious at the bottom of the stairs.
Eventually, he stepped away from Cherry and pulled out his phone.
He called the police station.
"Hello."
His voice was cold.
"I don't want Elian released."
The officer on the other end asked him several questions.
Nicholas answered without hesitation.
"I want him questioned until he tells the truth."
There was a pause.
Nicholas's anger boiled over.
"He hurt my wife. He needs to admit what he did."
Meanwhile, at the station, Elian sat inside an interrogation room.
His clothes were disheveled, and the bandage around his head from his previous injury was still visible.
He had already explained the same thing several times.
"I didn't push her."
An officer stood across from him.
"Then explain why you were there."
"I went there to see Cherry."
Elian's voice was exhausted.
"I walked through the door and found Mrs. Jennie at the bottom of the stairs. I immediately went to help her."
"You expect us to believe that?"
"It's the truth."
Another officer entered the room.
"Mr. Nicholas wants answers."
Elian looked up.
"I've already given you the truth."
The questioning became increasingly aggressive.
Elian continued denying the accusation.
"I didn't hurt her."
But the officers refused to accept his answer.
The situation escalated.
They assaulted him repeatedly, demanding that he confess to something he hadn't done.
Elian tried to protect himself, but he was restrained.
"I didn't do it!"
His voice cracked.
"Please, I'm telling you the truth!"
The officers continued until Elian could barely keep himself upright.
"I didn't push her..."
His breathing became uneven.
"I swear..."
He lowered his head.
"I just found her."
Despite everything they did to him, Elian refused to confess to something he hadn't done.
Eventually, one of the officers stepped back.
"He's still refusing."
The other looked at Elian.
"He won't say anything different."
Elian slowly lifted his head.
His face was bruised, but his eyes remained clear.
"I can't tell you something that isn't true."
He swallowed painfully.
"I didn't hurt Mrs. Jennie."
The room fell silent.
For the first time, even the officers seemed uncertain.
Elian's statement had never changed.
Not once.
He had said the same thing from the moment they arrested him.
He had just arrived.
He had found Jennie unconscious.
And he had tried to help her.
Yet outside that interrogation room, Nicholas was still convinced that Elian was responsible.
At the hospital, Cherry sat beside her mother's bed, anxiously watching the doctors work.
She had no idea that while she was waiting for her mother to wake up, Elian was being punished for something he swore he hadn't done.
That afternoon, Nicklaus arrived at the hospital.
He walked through the corridor quietly, his expression carefully controlled.
When he reached the waiting area, he saw Nicholas sitting beside Cherry.
"How is Mom?" Nicklaus asked.
Nicholas looked up at him.
"She's still unconscious."
Nicklaus nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry."
Cherry looked at her brother.
"Where were you when it happened?"
Nicklaus's expression briefly changed.
"I wasn't here."
He lowered his gaze.
"I had stepped out."
Cherry didn't question him further.
Nicholas looked at Nicklaus for a moment before turning his attention back toward the emergency room.
Nicklaus sat down.
Nobody asked him what had happened inside the house.
Nobody knew that he had been there.
Nobody knew that he had pushed Jennie.
And Nicklaus didn't volunteer the truth.
When a nurse came out to give them an update, Nicklaus listened silently.
Then Nicholas received another call from the police.
He was told that Elian was still being held.
Nicklaus said nothing.
He didn't correct them.
He didn't tell them that Elian hadn't been responsible.
He simply allowed the accusation to remain.
Cherry glanced at him.
"Nicklaus?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you know anything about what happened?"
Nicklaus looked at her.
"No."
The lie came easily.
Cherry nodded, still worried about their mother.
Nicklaus looked away.
He knew exactly what had happened.
But he had no intention of telling anyone.
As far as everyone else was concerned, Elian remained the person responsible.
By evening, the doctor finally came out of Jennie's room.
Nicholas immediately stood.
"Doctor?"
Cherry and Nicklaus also looked toward him anxiously.
The doctor gave them a reassuring smile.
"Mrs. Jennie is out of danger."
Cherry released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Thank God."
Nicholas closed his eyes briefly, visibly relieved.
"When will she wake up?"
"She's still unconscious from the injury and the medication we've given her, but there's no immediate danger."
The doctor continued calmly.
"Her recovery will take some time. She may regain consciousness within the next few days, though it could take up to a week."
Nicholas nodded.
"Is there anything we need to worry about?"
"Not at the moment. She'll need plenty of rest and close observation."
Cherry's eyes filled with tears of relief.
"Can we see her?"
"One at a time. She's resting."
Nicholas thanked the doctor before turning toward the others.
Nicklaus remained unusually quiet.
Cherry looked at him.
"She's going to be okay."
Nicklaus nodded.
"Yeah."
His eyes drifted toward the room where his mother lay.
For a brief moment, guilt flickered across his face.
Then he quickly looked away.
That evening, Mrs. Anna was in the kitchen preparing dinner when one of Elian's trusted men arrived at the house.
The moment she saw his worried expression, she stopped what she was doing.
"What happened?"
The man hesitated.
"It's about Elian."
Mrs. Anna's heart immediately sank.
"What about him?"
"He was arrested."
The spoon slipped slightly in her hand.
"What?"
"He was arrested earlier today."
Mrs. Anna stared at him in disbelief.
"Why?"
"He was accused of pushing Mrs. Jennie down the stairs."
Her face went pale.
"That's impossible."
The man nodded.
"Elian keeps saying he didn't do it."
Mrs. Anna immediately reached for her bag.
"Take me to the station."
"Ma'am, it's already late."
"I don't care."
She hurried toward the door.
"I need to see him."
The man gently stopped her.
"I understand, but the station won't be easy to deal with at this hour. Please wait until morning. I'll take you there myself."
Mrs. Anna looked at him anxiously.
"But he's alone."
"He's not completely alone. I'll make sure someone keeps an eye on the situation tonight."
She hesitated.
Her hands trembled slightly.
"Did they hurt him?"
The man went quiet.
That silence frightened her more than anything.
"Tell me."
He finally spoke.
"He's been questioned aggressively."
Mrs. Anna's eyes filled with worry.
"My boy..."
She quickly wiped her tears.
"We're going first thing in the morning."
"Yes, ma'am."
Mrs. Anna looked toward the door, her mind racing.
She couldn't understand how Elian could have done such a thing.
She knew him.
And something inside her told her there was much more to this than what everyone was saying.
She turned off the stove and walked toward the living room.
"I won't let them keep him there for something he didn't do."