What sin had she committed in her past life for her to have a father who could not distinguish right from wrong.
However, Marvin didn't seem to think that what he said would break Vanessa’s heart. "Vaness, I'm here today to discuss the recent matter. Those incidents happened in the past. It's been so many years, let's not talk about it anymore," he responded evasively.
Vanessa sneered. "You're right. Let bygones be bygones. Fiona was locked up for her crimes. After a few years, it would also become an incident in the past. You can all forget it and pretend that nothing has happened."
"Vanessa Love, my blood flows in yours, and I'm the one who gave you your life!" Marvin was enraged by Vanessa's words. "What right do you have to object to a small matter like this? Let me say this once. If you don't let your stepmother off, then you don't deserve to be part of the family."
"Huh..." Vanessa laughed incredulously. He had hit a raw nerve. "Do you think I want to be part of the family? If I had a choice, I would not choose to be your daughter. Marvin, ever since you chose to sit on the fence and allowed Fiona to hurt me, I don't owe you anymore. Now my life belongs to me and it has nothing to do with you."
Marvin's fingers trembled as he pointed at Vanessa. "You, you... what a traitor! Back then, I really shouldn't have allowed you to be born, then nothing would have happened today."
Vanessa said in the blandest voice, "Have you finished talking? Can I go now?"
Marvin demanded, "Tell me, what do you want me to do so that you can let your mother go?"
Marvin repeating the words "your mother" triggered her. It was ear-piercing indeed.
"Vanessa, my dear sister..." Leslie suddenly knelt in front of Vanessa. "Vanessa, I beg you, please let my mother go. I promise you, as long as you let her go, I will persuade her. I will not allow her to cause havoc anymore in the future."
"Your mother committed a crime, and there is irrefutable evidence to prove that she is guilty of her crimes. I can't let her go just because I want to." Although Vanessa was not willing to admit that this thirteen-year-old boy was her younger brother, the child was innocent after all. He was not responsible for Fiona’ s actions, so she softened her tone when she spoke to him.
"Please, I beg you, please let go of my mother. Just this once. It will be the last time. In the future, we will go far away and never appear in front of you again. You will never see us again." After all, Leslie was only a child. His mother had been caught in a crime. He was afraid and terrified. He thought that as long as he begged Vanessa, his mother could be saved.
Vanessa did not look at him. "Get up."
He hugged Vanessa's leg. "Sis, I'm begging you. I'm begging you. Please let her go. Please spare her life."
Vanessa wanted to step back, but Leslie held on too tightly. She couldn't pull back her leg. "I asked you to get up, can’t you hear me? You are a boy. What a scene you are making by kneeling on the ground."
Leslie wept and tears coursed down his cheeks. ", how can you bear to see me lose my mother at such a young age? You know how it felt like to have lost your mother. You must understand my feelings, right?"
Yes, Vanessa had experienced the anguish of losing her mother. She did not want any child to experience that feeling, ever. However, Fiona did commit a crime, and it was only right that she faced legal actions.
Vanessa let out a deep sigh. "Leslie, it's not that I don't want to help you, nor is it that I want you to lose your mother. I just want to tell you that this is how the world is. If you commit a crime, you have to pay for your mistakes. No one can override the law."
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