AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“At first. Yes.”
“Why?"
“It was confusing. Disorienting. The drugs I was on. Being semi-conscious and finding his hand between my legs, my gym tights cut just so he could slip them down and get access to me. Was it just a medical treatment I didn’t understand? Was I broken, in need of fixing?"
"Why did you finally come forward?"
"Because, ultimately, I found my answer. I’m not evil. I’m not broken. Neither are the others at risk of going through what I went through. Other families will send people to him for something that can’t be cured. And even though I know I can’t protect everyone, I need to know that I tried.”
“The defence calls Patricia Beckinsale.”
William gave Ava's arm a squeeze in support, which was appreciated, but seeing her mother walk past her, nose in the air, before taking the stand was a tough pill to swallow. She was the last witness the defence had scheduled before closing their case. And that couldn't have happened soon enough for Ava even though the actual trial itself had taken less than a week by the time her mom was called to testify.
“Mrs Beckinsale, do you know my client Dr. Van Gould?”
“Yes, I do.”
“How so?”
“My ex-husband and I went to him over two years ago, hoping he could help our daughter.”
“What do you mean by help?”
“She was sick. He was recommended to us.”
“I’m sorry to hear that she was sick. Can you tell the court if the treatment was successful?”
“No. It wasn’t. She didn’t see it through. In spite of doing all we could to persuade her.”
"You said the treatment didn't work. So, is your daughter still sick?"
"Very much so."
"With all of these heinous accusations being thrown at my client, his reputation is taking quite a batterning. And the prosecution would have us believe your daughter's mental faculties have been impacted by the supposed trauma she endured at the hands of the good doctor. Do you blame my client?"
“Not in the slightest.”
“But you said the treatment didn’t work. She is still sick as you said. You don’t blame him at all?”
“Dr. Van Gould is a good, decent and honourable man. He did everything he could to help our daughter, and if she had continued the treatments she would be back living with us. Happy and healthy. It was her choice not to, and she has suffered all she has at the hands of God for turning away from him. I truly believe that.”
“No further questions.”
The prosecution lawyer replaced the defence at the lectern. “Mrs Beckinsale can you please tell the court what the treatments Dr. Van Gould provided were for? What was your daughter suffering from?”
“A mental illness.”
“Does that mental illness have a name?”
Patricia held a breath. “She was running wild behind our backs. It was as if she was living an entire separate life. Caught having sexual relations with another girl. The daughter of a former family friend. There was disgusting, pornographic material on her phone. It was out of control. It was horrifying.”
“This pornographic material you mentioned, what content are you talking about?”
“Pornographic is pornographic. It’s all sickening.”
“Well, with respect Mrs Beckinsale, experts agree that looking at pornography is a healthy expression of sexuality. Can you please elaborate what about these images was so shocking? Why you felt so enraged and desperate that you engaged Dr. Van Gould in the first place?”
“They were of underage children.”
