“She said that you tried to force her out of the house you both paid for by threatening her. And she asked for protection. That’s why she was taken to a safe place. As for the fire…”

She looked at the charred walls and the firefighters working.

“The fire started because of an electrical short circuit. An old wire overheated and caught fire. It wasn’t arson.”

The man collapsed to his knees — unable to speak.

The officer leaned slightly closer and added:

“So don’t try to blame the woman you abandoned pregnant on the street. You destroyed your own life — not her.”