“Our young lady is Ms. Eleanor Vance’s only daughter. Do you even deserve to be her mother–in–law?”
“Ms. Eleanor Vance? What Ms. Eleanor Vance?”
Brenda looked utterly bewildered.
The bodyguard pointed to the giant display screen on the tall building opposite.
“See that? One of the country’s top ten outstanding entrepreneurs – Eleanor Vance.”
Brenda followed the bodyguard’s finger.
On the display, my mother’s photo was clear and bright – exactly the image of the successful businesswoman often seen in
financial news.
Her mouth clamped shut, her face blank with disbelief.
“Eleanor… Eleanor Vance?”
Brenda’s face instantly turned white.
She finally understood that I was not just “slightly better off” than Liam’s family, as he had claimed.
There was a massive, chasm–like difference between the Vance family and the Liam family.
Brenda tried to say something, but the bodyguards mercilessly dragged her away.
Back in my hospital room.
Mom saw me enter and put down the documents in her hand.
“What happened outside?”
7:39 AM P
<
I briefly explained Brenda’s visit.
Mom sneered:
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Liam’s despicable nature is clearly inherited.”
Then, Mom took my hand.
“Don’t let these people affect your mood. You need to rest well; the court hearing is next month.”
“If you
don’t want to see them, you can-”
I cut Mom off.
“No, I want to see them.”
In the ten–plus days leading up to the trial.
The families of those people kept trying to find me.
But after the incident with Brenda, Mom had reinforced my protection.
Not even a fly could get in.
Chloe’s case was the most severe; she had already been detained.
She repeatedly demanded to see me.
Of course, I wouldn’t humor her.
Chloe’s parents were arrogant, even having Liam and my mutual friends relay messages to me.
They claimed they knew the judge,
And that if I insisted on pursuing the case to the end, I wouldn’t have a good outcome.
They also said that even if something *did* happen to me, their family could afford the compensation.
I smiled and replied.
“Alright, then please tell them, I’ll see this through to the very end.”
8
The day of the trial, the weather was overcast.
I sat at the plaintiff’s table.
The Vance Group’s lawyer quietly reviewed documents with me.
7:39 AM P P
<
On the defendant’s side, a group of people were escorted in by bailiffs.
Each of them looked like a deflated balloon after a heavy rain.
Brenda wasn’t there.
