After Nolan said that, the people in the courtroom started chattering. The judge pounded his gravel. “Silence in court.”After that, he looked questionably toward the plaintiff. “Pretending to have multiple personalities?”Nolan looked toward the lawyer, who nodded, then opened the folder they received just now. “Judging from this case, if the second personality committed the crime, which she could not control, then in principle, she could indeed be exempted from criminal responsibility.“However, in essence, the exemption is only applicable when the person has totally lost consciousness and had been taken over by the second personality because the second personality had taken full control and she could no longer control her actions.”The plaintiff's lawyer looked toward Maxine. “However, the defendant was clearly aware that her second personality exists and was even using the identity of Cecile Wolfsbane, so there is only one possibility. That’s that she acted out the disorder's
When the judge spoke to the defendant’s lawyer, the lawyer gave up on the defense. The moment Maxine heard the sentencing, she looked as if her soul had left her body, and when she was taken away, she couldn’t walk by herself. Maisie and Nolan left the court. “How did you find the evidence?” She was surprised. Nolan touched her nose. “It’s all thanks to your son.”Waylon had found evidence in Maxine’s home, a pocket watch. There was a picture of Tyson Reynolds and a woman who was the mother of the twins. It showed the reason that Tyson had left the family for a few years.On the way back, Maisie guessed that Tyson had met Sue and Maxine’s mother and had fallen in love. However, they could not be together even when they loved each other because Tyson was married, and even if he didn’t love his wife, he felt sorry for her. The traditional ideology of marriage just tied them down. Since Lorraine Wolfsbane was Tyson’s cousin, he hadn’t been very keen on marrying her but was for
After a few days, Maxine was given a life sentence. Maisie went to see her one last time. When the warden brought her to the visitation room, she still looked calm as ever, not showing signs that she was a person on death row.She sat down and put the receiver to her ear, then smiled. “It’s ironic that you’re the last person I see.”Maisie looked at her. “Do you not regret your actions?”“Regret?” She laughed, but her eyes were cold. “There’s nothing to regret about. I’m not the one at fault. The world is at fault for not being fair to me.”Maisie’s eyes darted. “I sympathize with you, but this isn’t a good reason to kill someone for revenge.”“What do you know? Have you gone through what I have?”Maxine’s expression was dark. “I was six when I had to go through such an ugly experience, but the man who assaulted me was perceived as a good man because he was enthusiastic and had so-called good behavior. He easily convinced the police and neighbors, and even my mother. What I sai
Maisie got in the car. “I’m done.”Nolan put his hand across her back and leaned in. “What’s wrong?”She frowned. “I didn’t know that she was so far gone.”Nolan hugged her. “She got what she deserved.”Maisie looked down, holding back what she wanted to say.Nolan noticed that and then held her face up. “Did you want to say something?”“I still have a question. How did Maxine find out about us?” Maisie looked at him.Maxine didn’t know them, but how could she know so much about Pearl and Linda?Nolan rested his chin on the top of her head. “Imitating someone, playing a character, then getting too far into character. That’s why she looked into our past. That’s not unusual.”Maisie didn’t reply. Even if she had a troubled life, and what happened to her was terrible, she lost all sympathy when choosing such an extreme path. Lisa had to go through life with trauma because of her madness. At the hospital…Lisa’s legs were bandaged after two rounds of surgery. Her bones had
“Yes, Ma’am, my name is Daisie Vanderbilt.” Daisie answered politely.Mrs. Fraiser walked to Lisa’s bed and said to her, “You should bring your friends home. We thought you didn’t have friends from school.”Lisa was still quiet.Daisie smiled and said, “I’ll visit after this then.”Mrs. Fraiser couldn’t stop smiling. “Great, you’re very much welcomed. Hey, how’s Lisa’s performance in school? I hope you can help her in the future.”“Yes, I will.” Daisie nodded.Lisa bit her lips and turned to her side. “I’m tired. I need to rest.”Mrs. Fraser was annoyed. “You stupid girl, we’ve come all the way to visit you, but you’re throwing a tantrum. Are you ashamed of your parents?”“Honey, Lisa is in bad condition. Just let it go.” Mr. Fraiser felt helpless but couldn't say much. His wife was the one who made most of the decisions at home.“Was I wrong? She never brings her friends home and won’t even let us go for the parent-teacher conference. Why would she be ashamed of us?” Mrs. Fra
Pearl froze.Tanner hugged her tightly and lowered his head. He pressed his lips on the top of her head and said in a soft voice, “You’ve become thinner.”Before coming to her, he had imagined many different kinds of reunion scenarios. Would he go crazy and express his longing for her? Or would he try to stop at nothing to trap her by his side again? Countless thoughts flitted across his mind, but he was scared when he saw her.He was afraid of her rejection. He was afraid that she would hate him. Pearl stayed frozen stiff in his arms for a long while. She pressed her lips thin and pulled his arms away.“Tanner,” she said without turning her head back, “What are you doing here? There's no way we can return to how things were.”His heart skipped a beat, and he froze. “Do you still hate me?”“Not anymore.” Pearl turned around to look at him. She forced herself to stay calm and said, “I’ve already let go of everything between us.” Tanner walked up to her and said, “But I can’t
“Tanner—”At Bassburgh’s Private Middle and High School…Just as Daisie stepped into the classroom with her backpack, Leah and a few other seniors approached her."Daisie," Leah called her out.She turned her head around and frowned. "What do you want?"Leah had been bullying Lisa, so Daisie did not like them. She did not know how she became the vice-president of the student council.Standing with her arms crossed, Leah said, "There is something I want to tell you."Daisie looked at her. "What is it?""Of course, it's about Lisa.""If it's about Lisa, then you can save your breath."Daisie turned around and walked into her classroom. Suddenly, Leah's voice erupted. "What if Lisa has been lying to you?"Daisie was stumped. She stopped in her tracks and turned her head around to look at Leah. "What are you talking about?"'Lisa has been lying to me? How is that possible?'Leah knew Daisie wouldn't believe her. She pulled her phone out and logged into her Kontact account."S
Daisie remained petrified on the spot. She lowered her head and fell into deep thought. Even though she did not believe in everything Leah had said, she found her words difficult to digest.‘Is Lisa materialistic?’She had known Lisa for years, so she knew her inside out. She was the one who willingly gave those things to Lisa, and Lisa had never asked for anything from her.‘Yes! That’s right. Lisa is certainly not materialistic!’In the evening, at the Goldmann mansion…Daisie had been absent-minded during dinner. Maisie noticed something and asked, “What’s wrong, Daisie?”Nolan and Colton looked at her as well. Daisie came around to her senses and shook her head. “Lisa will be discharged from the hospital in half a month.”Maisie chuckled. “Shouldn’t you be happy that Lisa is finally discharged from the hospital? You can play with your friend again.”Daisie did not say anything and buried her face in her plate.Colton looked at Daisie for a while but did not say anythin