“What else is there? Cynthia has been angling to get acquitted, which is why she’s so insistent on lodging an appeal in the first place. That being said, the appeal wouldn’t make a difference, and the sentences would still run anyway. Her mom probably rushed over here to convince you to drop the charges,” Charles said as he leaned close to Sonia’s ear.

He spoke softly, but Carmen heard it nonetheless, and she winced in embarrassment as she interjected, “Well, Miss Reed, Mr. Lane is right. I am indeed here to convince you to drop the charges.”

 

“See? Told you so,” Charles mused, shrugging dismissively.

Sonia rolled her eyes at him in mild exasperation before addressing Carmen with a distant smile. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Stone, but I won’t be dropping the charges.”

Carmen stiffened when she heard her words and grew a little uneasy; she had not expected such an outright rejection from the other woman. However, she was quick to regain her composure as she pleaded, “Please, Miss Reed. I know Cynthia has completely crossed the line this time, but she’s been repentant ever since. Could you please—”

“No!” Sonia was expressionless as she cut Carmen off mid-sentence. “Mrs. Stone, you said she’s been repentant ever since, so why is it that she has yet to apologize to me? More to the point, why didn’t you apologize to me on her part? Don’t you think that’s the least you could do as a parent after realizing your daughter’s in the wrong?”

 

“That’s right,” Charles chimed. He put his hands on the back of his head as he added insouciantly, “It seems rather insincere on your part to show up—without gifts, might I add—and ask my darling for a favor now that the ruling is about to be given and Cynthia is going to be pronounced guilty. It’s almost like a bad joke.”

Carmen tightened her grip on her purse, growing flustered after the two persons in front of her had put her down without much decorum. The humiliation left her speechless. She thought she might be able to persuade Sonia to relent on the charges. I didn’t know how cold-hearted these two could be, she thought grimly.

 

any longer, Sonia glanced at Charles meaningfully and declared, “Well

to leave, Carmen stepped forward and grabbed Sonia by the hand abruptly. “I’m begging you, Miss

heard this and tried to pull away from the older woman’s grasp, but the latter’s vise-like grip prevented this from happening. “Won’t you please just drop the charges for my sake, Miss Reed? If

made myself very clear just now that I will not drop the charges, so begging me won’t

words fell upon deaf ears as Carmen gazed at her

to admit that Cynthia deserves what she got,” Charles pointed out in dark amusement as he scoffed, only

you then, Miss Reed?” With that, she promptly let go of Sonia and dropped to

and when they finally registered

Mrs. Stone!” Sonia sighed tiredly, rubbing

this turn of events.

was virtually no different from running away from responsibilities. Besides, this was far more than just emotional blackmailing;

Cynthia’s. It

Upon seeing Sonia’s expression soften, she gazed at her hopefully and seized the chance to ask, “Does this mean you’ve agreed

started to say, “I’m sorry, Mrs.

her knees once more. This time, however, someone stopped her. It was neither Charles nor Sonia who kept her from

could you let someone older get down on their knees before you, Miss Reed? You’re taking things a little too

are you blind? When did my darling ever ask Mrs. Stone to get down on her knees? The woman did that out

skeptical. “Right. As

other hand, merely patted the back of Tina’s hand as she

Mrs. Stone?” Tina stared at Carmen in

will be freed as soon as Miss Reed drops the charges,

on your

Sonia, she dabbed at her tears. “Unfortunately, Miss Reed has yet

“Miss Reed, it’s rather cruel of you to reject

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