Chapter 3 - The Doctor's Verdict
The master bedroom was bathed in the soft glow of warm lamps. Arthur sat on the edge of the king-sized bed, gently rocking Lily, who had finally stopped sobbing but remained tightly coiled against his chest, refusing to let go of his coat.
The door opened softly, and Dr. Harrison, the Sterling family’s trusted physician for over twenty years, walked in carrying a leather medical bag. Maria followed closely behind, carrying a tray of warm tea and a bowl of fresh, warm soup.
"Arthur," Dr. Harrison said, his face grave as he set his bag on the nightstand. "Maria told me what happened on my way over. I came as fast as I could."
"Examine her, Thomas," Arthur said, his voice ragged. "Please. Tell me she’s okay."
Dr. Harrison knelt beside the bed, offering Lily a warm, gentle smile. "Hi there, little princess. Do you mind if I check your heart?"
Lily shrank back into Arthur’s chest, hiding her face. "No... doctor hurt..."
"Dr. Harrison is a good friend, baby," Arthur murmured, kissing the top of her head. "He’s here to help us."
Slowly, with utmost patience, Dr. Harrison performed a thorough examination. He checked her lungs, her throat, and her little abdomen. But as he pulled back the collar of her shirt, his hands froze.
Arthur’s eyes followed the doctor’s gaze, and his blood ran cold.
Across Lily’s small shoulders and upper arms were faint, dark purple bruises—the unmistakable shape of adult fingers pinching and gripping tight. Her knees were scraped and inflamed from being forced to kneel on the cold, hard floor.
"How long has this been going on, Thomas?" Arthur asked, his voice barely a whisper, though the rage beneath it was palpable.
Dr. Harrison sighed heavily, pulling the blanket back up over Lily's shoulders. "These bruises are at different stages of healing, Arthur. Some are fresh—maybe a few hours old—but others are at least two weeks old. She’s also showing signs of mild dehydration and malnutrition. She hasn't been eating properly for a while."
Arthur covered his face with one hand, his chest heaving as silent, painful tears finally broke through his tough exterior. He had been so consumed with saving the family’s international shipping company after his first wife's death, traveling to overseas offices for weeks at a time, that he had left his precious daughter in the hands of a monster.
"It’s not just physical trauma, Arthur," Dr. Harrison added quietly, stepping away from the bed so Lily wouldn't hear. "The psychological impact of this kind of cruelty on a three-year-old child is severe. She was forced to eat like an animal. Her trust has been shattered. She will need intensive pediatric therapy, absolute stability, and constant love to heal from this."
"She will have everything she needs," Arthur vowed, looking toward the window as the sound of raised voices echoed from the driveway below.
Maria stepped toward the window and looked down. "Mr. Sterling... Jackson and security are escorting Mrs. Sterling—Evelyn—out to her car. But she’s causing a scene."
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Arthur stood up, carefully laying Lily down on the plush pillows. Maria immediately sat beside the child, holding her tiny hand.
"Stay with her, Maria," Arthur said, stepping toward the door. "I’m going to make sure Evelyn understands that her nightmare has just begun."
