“Nicholas,” I asked coldly, “tell me–how could a two–year–old walk three kilometers to the side of the road?“W
“Verena is the same age as me. How could she remember such a detail for eighteen years?”
“You studied psychology, didn’t you? Always bragging you can read people. Couldn’t you tell she was lying?”
“Only a rehearsed lie can survive that long.”
His face stiffened. Irritation bled through.
“Enough! Verena was only two. How could a child that age think so deeply?”
expect me to believe that?”
I stared at him. “And you ”
He sneered. “Miranda, I thought you were different. Even though you never went to school, I still chose you. But now–I see your heart is more poisonous than a snake’s. Verena gave you her first paycheck as soon as she started working. Isn’t that enough? If she really got you lost, why would she be so good to you?”
My lips curled into a bitter smile. “Paycheck?”
I remembered Verena sobbing last month about not being paid–then immediately buying a bag worth twenty thousand.
I didn’t waste another word. I turned and stepped into the elevator.E
As the doors began to close, Nicholas’s expression darkened.E
“I’ll hire the best lawyer. Keep pushing this, and you’ll end up in prison.”
The absurdity of it–all almost made me laugh.
When the elevator shut him out, my strength drained away. I crouched down slowly, phone clutched tight, but my contacts list held no one I could turn to–only colleagues.
1 went to seven law firms. Each one shook their head after hearing me out
“It’s all over the internet. Your sister was pushed down the stairs and badly injured. Your parents testified against you. Public opinion is already against you.“I
“Sorry. We can’t take this case. It’ll ruin our réputation.”
By the time I sat at the courthouse steps, tears streaming, I felt utterly abandoned.
A hand suddenly reached out, offering a tissue.ll
“Do you need help?”
The man wore a faded shirt, but his eyes were kind.”
“My name is Gareth Holt. I’m a lawyer. Not officially employed yet, but I can help you.”
I studied him. “Why? Why help me?”
His eyes glistened,
“When I was eight, I was kidnapped. By the time I found my way back, my parents had already emigrated with my younger brother. The house was sold. There was nothing left of me in their lives.”
He took a shaky breath. “I tried everything–police, orphanages, years of searching–until I finally met them again. Do you know what they said?”
I shook my head, though my heart strangely steadied, as if his pain gave me an anchor.ll
“They told me my brother had already grown up, taken business courses, and was the rightful heir. If I came back, I’d only complicate things–divide the inheritance. So they gave me a 150,000 dollars to disappear. I refused.”
He looked at me almost pleadingly. Tell me, am I stupid?”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “No. You’re right. We don’t need what was never meant for us.”
A hollow laugh escaped me. “So I’m not the only extra person in this world.”
“Thank you… for helping me.”
That night, I posted to IG story: “May justice prevail.”
Attached was a photo of my lawsuit documents, signed with Gareth’s name.”
The next morning, my parents appeared at my door!!
Mom clutched a thermos, smiling as if nothing had ever happened.
