Chapter 50:

Outside the police station, Mabel threw herself into Glenda’s arms. “Mom! You finally came to get me! I missed you so much,” she whined. “I was miserable in there. I couldn’t eat or sleep properly.”

Glenda held her tightly, her eyes welling up. “All right, all right, that’s enough,” Lanny called out. “Stop embarrassing me and get in the car, or I’ll leave without you.” He muttered a curse and quickly rolled up the car window, ashamed that his daughter had received detention.

Noticing her father’s short temper, Mabel glanced at her mother and asked in a quiet, wary voice, “Did Dad find out you took his money? Did he beat you?”

“No, no, your father loves you,” Glenda replied, her face serious. “He did everything to bail you out. Your only mistake was attending that orgy. You were influenced by those rascals.”

Mabel pursed her lips. “I just wanted to find someone powerful to sponsor me. I couldn’t get any good resources in the entertainment industry. I was worried. Jeff Burke invited me, saying I’d meet big shots. That’s why I went.”

Glenda clicked her tongue in frustration and disappointment. “You foolish girl, use your brain.”

Lanny rolled down the car window. “Are you getting in or not? Do you want to make a bigger spectacle?”

Glenda grabbed Mabel and ushered her into the car. Mabel felt the tension as she settled into the backseat. She knew Lanny was furious and wisely kept quiet.

When they arrived home, Lanny disappeared into his study. Mabel breathed a sigh of relief, but her next words were laced with discontent. “Why is he so angry, Mom? I used his money, but only a little. He has plenty more.”

Glenda shook her head. “He isn’t mad about the money. It’s something else.”

“What, then?” Glenda wasn’t sure, but suspected it involved an incident from twenty-two years ago. Meanwhile, Lanny paced anxiously, talking on the phone. “How’s it going? Found her yet? Why did she escape your hospital? Explain yourself!”

The other party replied, prompting Lanny’s enraged outburst. “You worthless piece of shit! You can’t find one person! If she contacts my daughter, I’ll shut down your hospital.” He hung up and slammed the phone on his desk. Glenda entered just then and witnessed the outburst.

“What are you doing here?” Lanny asked crossly. Glenda placed the tea service on the table. “I wanted to check on you. You’ve been very upset lately. I’m worried about your health. What about Mabel and me? Who will we rely on if something happens to you?”

Lanny calmed at the sound of her voice and took the teacup. “Is this about that old woman in the mental hospital?” Glenda’s question earned a cold glance. “Don’t ask what doesn’t concern you.”

She complied; she’d gotten her answer. Her suspicions were correct. Lanny didn’t want her to know the details, but the incident haunted him. “Elyse is married now,” Glenda remarked. “Do you think we did right by her?”

Lanny sneered. “What are you saying? It’s been twenty-two years. Are you finally feeling guilty? Or scared of justice?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Glenda said, realizing her mistake. She changed the subject. “Elyse has settled down. Shouldn’t we arrange Mabel’s marriage? She wants to marry Theo Ward.”

Lanny scoffed. “The Wards despise us. If you care about Mabel, advise her to give up.”

Glenda bristled. “Then why did you let Elyse marry him?”

“Do you think I did it for her? It was for the Wards’ power and influence. Besides, Elyse isn’t my daughter. Why would I care?”

The ellipses at the end are unnecessary since the excerpt concludes. I removed the website reference as it's irrelevant to the text cleanup. I also made a few minor word choice changes for clarity and flow.