Graham paused, seemingly taken aback by her quick assumption of his motives.
Eventually, he spoke.
âCould you return to Peace Mountain? Thereâs something I need to discuss with you in person.
â
âOkay,â Lucinda responded, then promptly ended the call.
She requested a copy of Nalaâs confession from Sonny and drove directly to Peace Mountain.
In the grandeur of Grahamâs master bedroom, he sat at the bedâs edge, a box clutched in his hands, gazing out the window in deep contemplation.
Lucinda, maintaining her politeness, rapped on the frame of the already open door and entered, her high heels clicking on the floor.
âIs this about Valerie? I recall her mother sacrificed her life for yours.
Are you expecting me to convince Nathan to be lenient under these circumstances?â she inquired.
Graham met her gaze, silent, offering no denial to her speculation.
With a disdainful smile, Lucinda withdrew Nalaâs statement from her bag and tossed it to Graham.
âOur mother may have been ill, but her death wasnât natural.
Valerie removed her oxygen mask in secret.
Our father was aware and yet he chose to turn a blind eye.
See for yourself the true nature of the person youâve shielded,â she declared.
Graham stared at her, his expression one of sheer disbelief.
Struggling to process the revelations, Grahamâs face was a mix of deep suspicion and shock.
Without hesitation, he began to pore over the document, searching for understanding.
Lucinda, meanwhile, didnât simply stand by idly.
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She hissed, âValerieâs arrogance was palpable when she brought me to the island villa recently.
She boasted about removing our motherâs oxygen mask, relishing in the terror she saw in our motherâs eyes as she died.
For years, not an ounce of guilt troubled her.
Instead, she resented not being acknowledged as a legitimate Simmons, craving the status of a recognized daughter.
All your efforts to aid her, yet to Valerie, youâre merely a means to an end.
Graham, does it not weigh on you, supporting such a ruthless person while your own sister suffers?â
With each word, Lucindaâs anger intensified.
Her fists tightened, her eyes blazing with a desire for justice, as if she wished Valerie would vanish into thin air.
Graham, haunted by the words in the confession, could barely whisper, âHow is this possibleâ¦â
Lucinda observed his disbelief, inhaling deeply to regain her composure.
âWhether you believe it or not is your choice.
But be assured, as a Simmons, she wonât face death.
This saga is too old, and she was too young.
Execution is off the table, but I yearn for her to endure life behind bars, longing for the end, paying for her sins lifelong.
â
With those chilling words, Lucinda turned and departed.
Graham, still engrossed in the confession, hardly noticed.
The box resting on his lap, filled with mementos of their mother, remained unshared, as Lucinda left without seeing them.
Graham sat there, lost in thought, long after Lucinda had left.
Valerieâs confession implicated his motherâs distress, suggesting she was driven to madness upon discovering their fatherâs affair with his mistress.
However, at that time, Graham was old enough to remember things clearly.