â On the way back to the office, Clarissa called Kathryn.
As soon as Kathryn answered, Clarissa asked, âKathryn, where are you right now?â
âResting at home,â Kathryn replied. âThanks to you, Mom, I spent a few days in the hospital. I just
got back home, and you told me to keep resting, so thatâs what Iâm doing.â
Clarissaâs voice trembled as she asked, âHave you done something behind my back to hurt me
again?â
âMom, what exactly are you talking about?â Kathryn asked calmly.
Clarissa was furious, barely containing her anger. What was she referring to? Kathryn had betrayed
her countless times. Audrey once said this was karma, but Clarissa didnât believe in retribution.
Yet, her life was far from easy. Outwardly, it looked glamorous, but in reality, she was the one
holding everything together. Her husband and sons lived off her money, and while they were
dependent on her, they didnât contribute much. Her daughter, Kathryn, had the ability to help, but
they werenât on the same page, and Kathryn had betrayed her numerous times.
âYouâve hurt me plenty,â Clarissa said weakly, frustration and exhaustion in her voice. âKathryn, even
though you didnât grow up with me, I carried you for nine months. I gave you life. Doesnât our
mother-daughter bond mean anything to you?â
Kathryn was silent for a moment before responding, âHow much of a mother-daughter bond do you
think we really have?â
She was already 26 or 27 years old when she reunited with her biological parents. When she first
returned, she was treated unfairly. Her relatives were polite, but their affection was reserved for
Shiloh. In their eyes, Shiloh was their true daughter (sister). Kathrynâs return disrupted their perfect
family dynamic, and they resented her for it.
Shiloh had taken her place, enjoying everything that should have been Kathrynâs, yet the family
blamed Kathryn. It wasnât her fault that she had been switched with Shiloh.
Feelings grow over time, but Kathryn hadnât had much time to build those feelings with her biological
family. She felt a little attachment to her mother, but it wasnât deep. Her values and way of life were
formed long before she reunited with her biological family and werenât going to change just because
she came back.
Clarissa struggled to speak. After a long pause, she said, âNo matter what you think of me, my love
for you as your mother is real and pure.
Even if I were to die, Iâd still make sure to pave the way for you. If Iâm trying to protect you, canât you
stand by my side? Even if you donât, at least donât betray me or hold me back.â
Clarissa suspected that Kathryn had uncovered her plot involving the cemetery and tipped off
Liberty, who then set everything in motion. If her plan failed, not only would it be exposed, but sheâd
be caught by the police, with all the evidence pointing to her crime.
So far, these were just rumors; nothing had been confirmed. Years ago, she had two sistersâone
older, one younger. Both were dead, leaving Clarissa as the sole survivor who successfully took
over the Farrell family. Only a fool wouldnât suspect her.
She had ignored these rumors for 40 to 50 years. When a family member acted against her, she
dealt with them harshly to set an example.
Those who knew even a little bit about the situation either disappeared, died of illness, or had fatal
accidents. None survived more than three years after the incident.
âMom, why donât you tell me what happened?â Kathryn asked calmly. âLetâs see if Iâm really the one
who betrayed you.â