"Get this into your head! I have no intention of turning myself in!"
Pauline Briggs looked at Sabrina Johnson in shock, completely taken aback by the hysterical woman before her. This was the first ti Sabrina had shown such a ferocious side to Pauline. Seeing Pauline’s surprised expression, Sabrina knew her behavior had just frightened the woman. In Pauline’s eyes, Sabrina was always gentle, well-behaved, understanding, and so kind-hearted she wouldn’t even step on an ant, let alone behave hysterically like a shrew.
"Sabrina?"
The Second Sister-in-law was the first to react. Her voice was shrill as she said, "Oh my, so this is the Adopted Daughter you often praised? You said she was the epito of a lady from a reputable family, but from what I just saw, she looks more like a shrew from the marketplace?"
The Second Sister-in-law’s piercing eyes seed to have seen through Sabrina’s facade, leaving her with nowhere to hide.
"Sabrina, how could you say such things?"
Of the three people present, no one trusted Sabrina more than Pauline. Sabrina’s heavy accusations pierced Pauline’s heart like a sharp blade, making her feel incredibly bitter. She quickly turned her face away, unwilling to look at Sabrina.
Only after her outburst did Sabrina realize she had been overly harsh. She imdiately threw herself into Pauline’s arms, acting like a spoiled child as before. "Mom, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have vented at you. I just..."
Sabrina covered her face and burst into tears. "SOB SOB... Mom, Frederick doesn’t care about anymore! You can’t abandon . You’re my mother; you’re all I have now!"
Pauline was soft-hearted, but Sabrina’s words had deeply hurt her. Because of this Adopted Daughter, her relationship with Sienna was worse than that of strangers, yet Sabrina dared to complain that Pauline hadn’t treated her well?
"Sabrina, you should turn yourself in," Pauline insisted, genuinely concerned for Sabrina’s well-being. "The Second Sister-in-law is right. If you didn’t do it, they won’t do anything to you." Hiding like this wasn’t a long-term solution, after all, but Sabrina didn’t see it that way at all.
"Mom, can you really bear to see go to jail?"
The Second Sister-in-law couldn’t stand it anymore. She retorted sharply, "What’s wrong with you? You keep saying you’re innocent. If you’re innocent, what are you afraid of? Or did you really steal the formula, and that’s why you’re so scared?"
"No, it’s not true! I didn’t do it..." Sabrina covered her face, sobbing pitifully, looking utterly wretched.
The Second Sister-in-law was growing impatient. "Then what do you an by this? Are you planning to hide in the Briggs Family forever?"
"I..." Sabrina didn’t know how to respond.
When Sabrina first learned the police were coming to arrest her, she had imdiately sought out Pauline. Sienna disliked Pauline, but Pauline was, after all, Sienna’s biological mother. Sabrina believed Sienna wouldn’t dare to harm Pauline, so she planned to use Pauline to restrain Sienna.
"Mom, can you ask Sister Sienna to let go? Please? You’re Sienna’s real mother; she has to show you so respect."
So, that’s what she’s up to?
The Second Sister-in-law laughed coldly. Now she was sure Sabrina had stolen the formula from the Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory and that Sienna must have solid evidence. Desperate, Sabrina wanted to use the easy-going Pauline to deal with Sienna. The extrely strained relationship between Pauline and her biological daughter, Sienna, was undoubtedly connected to this Adopted Daughter. Although the Second Sister-in-law didn’t like Pauline, she couldn’t let this Adopted Daughter manipulate the Briggs Family.
Hiding the shrewdness in her eyes, the Second Sister-in-law grabbed Sabrina’s hand, affecting the air of a kindly elder. "Sabrina, you silly child, what exactly are you worried about? You and Sienna are sisters, and Sienna isn’t a cold-hearted person. You said yourself that you didn’t do it. As the old saying goes, ’A clear conscience fears no accusation.’ Look at how scared you are. What exactly are you afraid of?"
"My sister hates ! She hates that I took away the motherly love that belonged to her, so she wants to destroy !"
The Second Sister-in-law’s face darkened. She let go of Sabrina’s hand and said sternly, "Sabrina, how can you be so ignorant? Who is Sienna? She is your adoptive mother’s biological daughter, our Briggs Family’s own granddaughter! You keep saying Sienna wants to harm you, but why would Sienna want to do that?"
"Because I took away everything that originally belonged to her!"
The Second Sister-in-law laughed coldly. "Sabrina Johnson, the Johnson Family belongs to Sienna; it’s hers. You haven’t taken anything. In the future, don’t say such heartbreaking things in front of your adoptive mother and Sienna. What do you an, you took away Sienna’s motherly love? Sienna is your adoptive mother’s biological daughter. How could you possibly take away the love that belongs to her? Blood is thicker than water."
Who does she think she is?
She’s just so illegitimate child whose birth mother is unknown, yet she acts so important.
"Pauline, you haven’t been resting well lately, and you must be tired. Let take you to rest," the Second Sister-in-law said, not wanting to leave Pauline alone with Sabrina.
Pauline’s migraines had been flaring up, and the pain was particularly severe at that mont, so she nodded. "Alright."
Sabrina wouldn’t let Pauline go. She clung to her adoptive mother and cried, "Mom, don’t go..."
The Second Sister-in-law snapped, "Sabrina Johnson, what do you think you’re doing?"
"Mom, please help ! Sabrina is begging you!"
Pauline’s headache was intense. "Sabrina, the Second Sister-in-law is right. If you didn’t do it, you have nothing to fear. I’ll ask her to find the best lawyer for you. You’ll be fine."
"Mom, can you call my sister and ask her not to press charges against , please?"
Pauline was silent, her gaze slowly sweeping over Sabrina’s hands clutching her sleeve. After a mont, she reached out and gently pushed Sabrina’s hands away. Then, looking up at her with a complex expression, she said, "Sabrina, you should be aware of the kind of relationship your sister and I have had over the years. In your sister’s heart, I’m less than a stranger. If I were to speak to her, not only would it have no effect, but it would likely make her even more resentful."
Sabrina had clutched Pauline’s linen sleeve so tightly that it was now a mass of wrinkles.
Finally, a bitter smile twisted Sabrina’s lips. "Is Mother planning to abandon then?"
"I’ve already made myself clear. If that’s what you choose to believe, there’s nothing more I can do."
Pauline was truly exhausted; she had never felt this weary in her entire life. The Servant from the Johnson Family had told her that Sienna had indeed moved out with Curly, and they were now staying with Rose Collins.
Indeed, a child is closest to whoever raises them. In Sienna’s heart, her own birth mother could never compare to her adoptive mother.
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