My eyes were raw and red.
I smiled at him. "Sure. I'll take you to her."
Mildred froze.
Clement hesitated for a beat, then reached out and took my hand. "I knew you'd come around."
The car stopped at the edge of a cliff.
Clement spotted the small figure standing on the precipice.
His face lit up. "Camille!"
He had barely stepped out of the car when Mildred's trembling voice came from behind him.
"Clement..."
He turned.
My knife was already pressed against Mildred's throat.
...
Police swarmed the clifftop within minutes.
I held Mildred by the neck, standing at the edge with Camille beside me.
Cold sweat rolled down Clement's temple.
"Mary, I won't take Camille. I'm not fighting you for her anymore.
"Let Mildred go. Do you want Camille's mother to become a murderer? Can you really make your daughter watch you kill someone?"
Every live-stream camera was trained on me.
The police negotiator stood beside Clement, talking me down in tandem.
I felt Mildred trembling in the crook of my arm.
I lowered my gaze.
Glanced at Camille in her little hat.
She looked up and met my eyes.
Mildred's shaking grew worse.
I curled my lips into a smile.
"No. Camille is going to be my greatest heir."