Chapter 158
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The entire Clark family stood stunned as if struck by lightning.
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Shawn said, “You feel guilty toward Emilia, who happened to save your daughter, which made you feel even worse. So, you cherished Emilia’s daughter as a gem to find comfort. At the same time, you used your daughter’s suffering to commemorate the deceased and atone for your sins.”
Shawn clapped. “Mrs. Clark, what a clever scheme!
“However, your daughter endured seventeen years of torment in your stead. Yet you, the root of this evil, have ever knelt before Emilia or repented even once in those seventeen years?
Madeline was unable to answer, trembling all over.
People said, “Oh, my goodness, Madeline is actually like that! I used to think Natasha was a bit heartless for breaking ties with them and even disowning her mother.”
“For her own comfort, she made her daughter’s life miserable. How outrageous! She might as well not have given birth.”
“When family turns vicious, they can be far more ruthless than outsiders.”
“Natasha is unlucky. If it were me, I would also make a huge fuss with this family.”
“One can know a person’s face, but not their heart.”
*****
The blunt remarks cut deep, like daggers piercing the flesh.
What distressed Madeline even more was the shocked and suspicious look in her two sons‘ eyes.
They couldn’t believe that their kind and perfect mother had such a despicable side.
“No, no,” Madeline cried, shaking her head. “It’s because Natasha’s recklessness
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Chapter 158
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killed Emilia. That’s why I’m like this. Yes, it’s all because of that accident. I didn’t want this, and I love Natasha, too.”
“An accident?” Shawn raised an eyebrow. “Yes, that accident completely changed Olivia’s and Miss Clark’s destinies. Was it really an accident?”
He looked at the smiling black and white photo. “It seems Emilia had become a perfect victim now, hadn’t she?”
Andrew understood the deeper meaning. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he looked at Shawn. “What do you mean?”
Shawn raised his chin. “Take the gift to our birthday person.”
The bodyguard handed a box full of photos to Madeline.
Madeline’s eyes were filled with disbelief. She almost dropped the box as her hands went weak, but Thomas steadied her.
‘Impossible. Is there more to Emilia’s death? Then, what have I done for all these years amounts to?‘ thought Madeline.
Madeline stared intently at the box in her hands, but couldn’t bring herself to open it.
Ryan, an onlooker nearby, could no longer hold back, saying, “How about I open it for you?”
He received a warning glance from Thomas.
Ryan pursed his lips and looked at Shawn. “Come on, you can’t give people half the story, Shawn, share whatever it is with everyone.”
Other guests nodded silently, their eyes full of anticipation.
Shawn smiled. “Of course. Since we’re going to set the record straight about the past, there’s nothing to hide
He clapped his hands and said, ‘Open it‘
The projection screen in the venue suddenly lit up. A person in a white lab coat with white hair, who looked like a doctor, adjusted the glasses and looked at the
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Chapter 158
camera.
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He said, “Emilia Sutton? I remember her. I was the one who diagnosed her back then.
“Yes, it was breast cancer. If she had received proper treatment, she would have had over a year to live. But when only seven or eight months remained, she suddenly stopped treatment and left without even taking painkillers. I still feel quite regretful.
“Why such a deep impression?” The old doctor frowned, appearing somewhat confused. “Perhaps it’s because no patient, upon learning they had cancer, cried in fear. Instead, she laughed freely.
“She refused hospitalization, stating she had more important things to do than her life, and she wanted her remaining life to be worthwhile.”
Then, the scene shifted to an ordinary–looking woman in her sixties.
The Clark family recognized her as the woman who used to work next door. Later, they heard she had returned to her hometown.
“Miss Natasha from next door? I remember her. That little girl was pretty and kind–hearted. She often shared her candy and snacks with us.
“Her 6th birthday? I remember that day. The window of the house where I worked faced their yard. I saw the little girl from their relatives‘ family poking the stray cat that Miss Natasha picked up with a small knife, and she was scratched when the kitten resisted.
“Later, when I went out to buy groceries, I saw the woman she called ‘Aunt‘ holding her hand and guiding her to find the runaway kitten. She also told her to hide the kitten well, otherwise her parents would kill the kitten that scratched
someone.
“Anyway, I didn’t like that mother and daughter. They seemed to have ill intentions.
“But something major happened next door on that day. The girl’s aunt died, and the girl who abused the kitten seemed to have been adopted.
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