Chapter 65
Adah looked at Claire with eager anticipation. “Claire, just tell me what you want,” she said. “I’ll do anything to earn your forgiveness.”
Her words were resolute, her eyes filled with determination.
Anyone looking at her would easily be convinced of her sincerity
But Claire wasn’t one of them S
“Oh, really?” Claire replied, her face expressionless.
Adah nodded emphatically. “Trust me this time. Claire. I promise you won’t be disappointed,” she pleaded.
Claire regarded her, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes.
“Alright.”
Seeing Claire agree, Adah couldn’t help but smile, but her smile quickly froze.)
Claire continued, “All you have to do is ask Vanessa to leave the house and sever all ties with her. Then I forgive you.”
Adah clenched the hem of her shirt, trapped between a rock and a hard place.
She looked at Claire with pleading eyes, only to meet Claire’s unyielding, cold gaze !!
The room fell into a heavy silence.
After what seemed like an eternity, Adah finally spoke in a dry voice, “Claire, Vanessa… she’s been with our family for many years. Your father and I have always treated her like our own daughter. To suddenly ask her to leave and sever ties… what would people say about our family? And she hasn’t done anything terribly wrong. It’s just that…”
Claire let out a cold laugh. “If she hasn’t done anything wrong, Mrs. Linwood, then why did you delete that surveillance footage?“%
Adah was speechless, unable to muster a rebuttal
“Don’t make excuses, Mrs. Linwood. You don’t really care about what people say about the Linwood family. After all, five years ago, when the police took me away in front of all the elite of Cresthaven at the graduation party, you never cared about the family’s reputation.“2
“In the end, you’re just biased.”
*Admit it, Vanessa is the apple of your eye, while I’m just a weed“X
Adah’s heart twisted in pain. She clutched her chest, her eyes filled with sorrow. “Claire, 1.8
Claire watched Adah’s pained expression and felt nothing but disdain. She spoke softly. “If you can’t do it, forget it. I expected this outcome and never really thought you’d do anything for me“%
Tears streamed down Adah’s face as she shook her head 8
A voice inside her warned that if she didn’t make things right with Claire this time, their mother–daughter relationship would be over
She stepped forward abruptly, grasping Claire’s hands tightly, her voice trembling with urgency. “Claire, don’t say that Give me one more chance. As long as Vanessa can stay, I’ll do anything you ask.“!!
Claire remained silent!
Adah grew more desperate as Claire stayed silent. “Claire, I know you’ve suffered a lot. But I do love you. I just… I’m just not good at expressing it.
Not good at expressing 117%
Vanessa had the biggest and best room in the Linwood family home, a hundred thousand dollars in monthly allowance, birthday dresses that started at a million dollars, everything custom–made, and even a cup of coffee had to be four figures…
Her love for Vanessa was expressed so extravagantly
But when it carne to Claire, it was suddenly hard to express?
How laughable!
The truth was, Adah had never valued her
Neither chenshed nor willing to let go
But it didn’t matter to her anymore.)
Five years in prison had shown her the truth.
Claire looked at Adah for a long time, her gaze heavy and unwavering.K
Finally, she spoke, “Alright, I give you another chance. Vanessa can stay with the Linwood family, but only if Mrs. Linwood climbs the 999 steps of the Temple of Serenity and brings back a blessing from Father Benedict for me. Then I forgive you. How about that??
Adah’s face turned even paler, her lips trembling, eyes filled with fear and hesitation.
The 999 steps of the Temple of Serenity were steep and treacherous. Even young people found it a challenge, let alone someone in their fifties, regardless of how well she maintained her health.
