"Your son is about to be executed, and yet you're here, enjoying a good meal. It seems like he doesn't mean much to you," I said, turning back to Annie before leaving. "If I were in your shoes, having raised a son like that, I would be too ashamed to show my face in public.""If she had any shame, she wouldn't have conspired with her son to drug you and harm your child," Wendy chimed in. "Not only do they refuse to apologize to the victim, but they're also trying to attack her. What is this world coming to?" She looked at Ms. Lawson as if she were crazy. "You better wake up, Ms. Lawyer, or you might find yourself with no one to turn to.""Please, stop! Annie hasn't had much of an appetite lately. It was my idea to bring her here!" Ms. Lawson pleaded.Annie leaned on Ms. Lawson, sobbing pitifully. Her age was showing, and after the beating, her hair was disheveled, and her face was swollen, making her look utterly miserable.Ms. Lawson, filled with sympathy, continued to wipe Annie'
"Jen, why are you so stubborn? Max has repented, that's why he signed the organ donation agreement! Do you know how many people his decision could help?" Ms. Lawson pleaded."The number of people he helps has nothing to do with me! I only remember how he destroyed my family and almost cost me my life! I won't allow him to be buried near my parents!" I retorted."Jen, you can't be so domineering!""That's because you've crossed my bottom line!""People need to learn to let go. You're being...""When you've been through what I have, then you can talk to me about letting go!"Unable to tolerate Ms. Lawson's self-righteous attitude any longer, I stormed off and called Wendy, telling her about Ms. Lawson's plan to bury Max in the same cemetery as my parents."She's buying a plot for that scumbag Max and taking care of his mother? What kind of spell did he cast on her?" Wendy exclaimed."Was I as unreasonable as Ms. Lawson is now when I was with Max before?" I asked, recalling my fat
"Max is dead now. Annie is a pitiful old woman who lost her son. Since you're so compassionate, why don't you give her your house for her retirement? You're still young and a lawyer. In a few years, you can buy another house.""You make it sound so easy! A house costs over a million. I'm still paying the mortgage. Where am I supposed to get money for another house?" Ms. Lawson retorted, flustered.I replied sarcastically, "Weren't you always telling me to let go? It's just a house. Compared to losing my parents and child, it's nothing. Should be easy to let go of.""I..." Ms. Lawson was at a loss for words, looking ashamed."How come when it's your turn, you can't convince yourself to let go?" I mocked."I... I misunderstood you before. I apologize," Ms. Lawson said sincerely. "Every time I visited Max, he'd tell me about his childhood and school days. His stories made me empathize strongly. Gradually, I started feeling sorry for him and his mother, thinking they had it tough and
"Don't be ridiculous, I'm not protecting her!" Mandy gave me a disdainful look. "I just said a few words for her so I could get a ride."I was speechless. Mandy was certainly direct!We left Ms. Lawson standing there as we entered the elevator.Inside, Mandy asked, "Didn't your jerk ex-husband die? Why is she still bothering you?""Max's family is harassing her, squatting in her house. She wants my help to get rid of them," I explained, not hiding anything since Mandy had stood up for me against Ms. Lawson."Are Max's family that difficult to deal with?""You like to look up stuff about me online, don't you? You should know what his family did to me."I'd once caught Mandy browsing posts about me at Starbucks. When I spotted her, she'd put her phone away, looking uncomfortable."I was just slacking off at work, scrolling through my phone! I don't follow you!" she protested."If I could help her get rid of Max's family, would she pay me?" Mandy asked eagerly."Have you gone ma
"Don't miss me too much!" Mandy said."We wish you success in your new venture!" Wendy and I replied, raising our glasses of warm water to toast her. We didn't feel it was our place to interfere with Mandy's decision.That night, Mandy drank a lot. On the way back, she rambled about her experiences over the years."I once dreamed of having a loving relationship based on mutual feelings, but I never had the chance. Ever since I entered university, my parents made it clear that I had the opportunity to change my fate," she slurred."They gathered information on wealthy people, arranged for me to meet them, and forced me to follow their instructions. I felt like a puppet being controlled by them. People only saw me as someone scheming to marry into wealth. They had no idea how much I was suffering inside. It was miserable!""Are you just letting life happen to you? Couldn't you have resisted their pressure?" Wendy, who valued independence and clear thinking, couldn't stand people who
"Can you repeat that?" I asked, reaching for my phone to record Mandy. People often speak the truth when they're drunk, and Mandy had always acted superior to me."I'm tired. Going to sleep," Mandy mumbled, then promptly passed out on the table."Hey, Mandy, that's not fair!" I protested, shaking her arm. I had the recorder ready, but she was completely unconscious.After waiting for a while with no sign of her waking up, Wendy and I had to half-carry Mandy out of the restaurant and take her home.It was almost dawn when I arrived home. As I opened the gate, I remembered that my dog was still at Luke's place.My dog always had a lot of energy when Goofy was around, keeping him up all night, so I decided to pick it up.The living room light was on. Was Luke still awake?My dog, with its sharp hearing, ran out as soon as I entered the yard, pawing at my legs. It had grown quite a bit. I picked it up, nuzzling its head, wondering whether to leave immediately or go inside to tell Lu
"You drive. I'll change clothes," Luke said, putting away his phone and turning back into the living room.I was bewildered. Was he expecting me to come along and be a third wheel?I wanted to knock some sense into Luke's head and figure out what he was thinking!...Twenty minutes later, we drove into Joey's neighborhood.After years of work, Joey had a good salary. While her apartment complex wasn't top-tier, owning a place in downtown Johnsonville and supporting Jon showed her capability.Luke called Stephen to ask for Joey's exact address.I was puzzled. Luke was usually meticulous, thoroughly vetting potential partners before collaboration. He cared so much about business associates, yet didn't know his crush's exact address?This confirmed he was a good boss but not a good boyfriend or husband material.I parked the car and said, "I'll wait for you downstairs."Luke opened the door. "Come up with me. She's a woman, some things might be easier for you to handle."Was he
"Still no response?" Luke asked the property manager."And you are?" The manager quickly sized up Luke."I'm her friend. We spoke earlier.""We've rung the doorbell several times with no answer. The locksmith will be here soon."Noting Luke's distinguished air, the manager spoke respectfully."Have you checked the security footage to confirm she hasn't left?""Ms. Parker called the police half an hour ago. She's been in her apartment since they left." The manager showed Luke the copied footage. "We've reviewed it carefully.""Has anyone entered her home since the police left?" Luke was checking if Joey had been harmed."No one has entered or left the building during that time," the manager said confidently.As they talked, the locksmith arrived.Just as he prepared to open the door, Joey's voice came from inside: "Who... who's there? Why are you at my door? I'll call the police if you don't leave!""Ms. Parker, we're from property management. We knocked several times with no