Chapter 5
1 point to a butterfly shaped burn scar below my collarbone.
This is from when I was five. She burned this into me with her cigarette, over and over again.”
The whole courtroom explodes.
Camera flashes go crazy, reporters acting like they just won the lottery.
darlena goes white as a ghost instantly, her lips trembling, panic flashing in her eyes.
ut she recovers fast, even managing a mocking smile: “You’re lying! You did that to yourself! You’re trying to frame me!”
ter voice is still sweet, but you can hear it shaking if you listen close.
look calmly at the judge: “This kind of old burn can be forensically analyzed to determine when it happened and how it was made.”
he judge nods, suddenly looking serious.
Iarlena’s gripping the table so hard her knuckles are white.
he’s trying to keep up the loving mother act, but the terror in her eyes is getting more obvious.
turn toward my stepfather Garrett in the gallery and say, word by word: “I also know she has an identical butterfly tattoo on her right side. She got it to cover p an old scar.”
arrett’s face goes dark.
is expression shifts from trust to suspicion to complete scrutiny.
larlena feels her husband’s stare. Her breathing gets rapid, sweat beading on her forehead.
he wants to explain but can’t find the words.
the said this way, we’d always have a secret just between mother and daughter.” My voice is quiet, but it carries perfectly in the silent courtroom.
hat sentence is like lighting a fuse–Marlena’s panic explodes.
er mask finally starts cracking.
No! That’s not true!”
he’s lying! She doesn’t know anything!”
Leriena’s voice isn’t sweet anymore–it’s sharp and hysterical.
be judge bangs the gavel: “Order! Court is now in recess. The defendant will submit to physical examination.”
hat sentence completely destroys Marlena’s last line of defense,
he has a total artdown right there in court, thrashing around like a toddler having a tantrum: “I don’t consent! This violates my privacy! Im the victim here!
Viry should I be examined
burs showing her true colors now–nothing like the perfect mother she pretends to be.
wars and snot all over her face, vuire hoarse like a wild animal
ter fans look at each other, confused, starting to whisper
‘rom shock to confusion to doutd
What’s wrong with Mama Mary
Why won’t she just get examined?”
22:22 O
From Beloved Daughter to Dead Hunden? Now Watch Your Perfect Kamil BURNI
27.39
Chapter 3
It it’s fake, wouldn’t an exam prove she’s innocent?”
ublic opinion starts shifting for the first time.
The endless hate comments slow down, replaced by more and more questions.
righton looks sick, rushing over to calm Marlena down: “Mom, you need to chill.”
Chill? Marlena shoves him away, eyes full of despair and rage. “Do you have any idea what her accusations mean?!”
arrett slowly stands up.
its expression goes from confusion to anger to complete disappointment: “Marlena, you better explain this to me.”
reing his face, Marlena suddenly goes soft, voice getting weak again: “Garrett, please trust me. I really don’t know her.”
Then how does she know about your tattoo?” Garrett’s voice is low and dangerous. “I didn’t even know about that tattoo until after we got married.”
[arlena opens her mouth to defend herself, but any explanation sounds pathetic now.
burt officers step forward to enforce the examination.
acing the truth that’s about to come out, Marlena completely loses it.
he points at me and screams: “It’s all you! All you, you little bitch! I should never have given birth to you! Should’ve strangled you the day you were born!”
he whole room gasps.
hose words completely expose who she really is and seal her fate.
she really didn’t know me, how could she say “given birth to you“?
ae fans start getting restless, some already ripping up their banners.
rom crazy support to confused doubt to furious betrayal–the mood shifts in seconds.
Why would Mama Mar say something like that?”
hid she just say ‘given birth?”
ire they actually mother and daughter?”
he played us!”
arrett’s face changes completely
es looking at Marlena with pure disgust and anger.
fter the recess, Garrett approaches me for the first time.
expassion is complicated–guilty and angry at the same time: “Tell me everything you know.”
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