Chapter 1528

Sophia's heart quivered in the face of Lauren's painful accusations.

She hated Jasper, but she admitted that he was good to Lauren, better than she'd ever treated

Lauren

Thinking back, Jasper didn't seem as despicable as he had seemed. Too bad there could only be one

Mrs. Beckett. Javier had made Anne her rival

After a pause, she finally confessed, "I... I was pregnant with Betty at that time. All I wanted was a

recognition to give her a better life and future...”

"Well, you got your recognition, didn't you? Dad acknowledged you, so you had achieved your goal.

Why did you have to kill Jasper's mom?

"Jasper never hated me or treated me badly even though I'm your daughter. He and Alyssa treat me

like their sister. They show me love and care that I would otherwise never have the chance to

experience. I owe them a lot. How could you be so cruel to him?"

Lauren was no fool. She understood that Sophia was a selfish woman, and she knew how coldly

Sophia had treated her. For that, she had grappled with self-blame and low self-esteem.

She despised herself for not being as healthy as Betty. She even blamed herself for not being a son,

thinking that Newton might acknowledge Sophia if that was the case

Lauren thought that if she was male, Sophia might not need to tread carefully in the family and

worry about consolidating her power or faking and scheming her way to a better life.

She had never thought that Sophia would kill for personal gain.

"If my life now is built on others’ death, I would rather never have been born. I'd rather not be a

Beckett!" Lauren growled with tears in her eyes.

She clenched her fists tightly and trembled violently in Landon's hold.

"Darling, calm down. No need to be angry.” Landon panicked at Lauren's emotional outburst and

held her tight. He rested his chin on her head and gently coaxed her, "Darling, we agreed not to be

angry no matter how the conversation went, didn't we? It will only hurt you and affect your

condition.”

Lauren gritted her teeth. She finally stabilized from a near-breakdown when she leaned in his

comforting embrace.

Sophia did not blink at all. She wore a dim and remorseful expression as tears rolled down her

cheeks. "I walked down the wrong path. I was obsessed with raising my status.

"I suffered enough from poverty when I was young. I'd been eating expired food and wearing old

clothes. Because of that, I felt ashamed of myself. Later, I was scouted into the entertainment

industry. There, I poured in all my effort to climb up the ranks, all because I couldn't stand a poor

life anymore.”

"Did you know how Jasper's mom suffered?" Landon was infuriated in the face of Sophia's whining.

He had no sympathy for her at all. "Anne spent five years in the slums with Jasper when the Beckett

family refused to acknowledge him.

"She couldn't work since she was weak. Jasper was only five when he had to support himself and

Anne so that they wouldn't starve to death.

"All she wanted was a hot meal. Even if Javier took her back to the Beckett family, and even if he had

you as a mistress, she never thought of fighting you for the title of Mrs. Beckett. You were the selfish

and greedy one, killing an innocent woman just to achieve your goal. You nearly killed Jasper too,

you know?

"Sophia Kirkman, I know you're Lauren's mom, but I need to say this aloud—you deserve the death

sentence!”

Lauren watched Sophia cry as she fought the feelings of pain and resentment. She choked on her

tears as she struggled to speak.

"I know it's too late for me to say anything. I'll pay for the crimes I committed and for Anne's death.”

Sophia's tear-streaked face was nearly pressing against the glass window.

She stared at Lauren with widened eyes. "Lauren, this is all my fault. You have nothing to do with it.

So, please don't do anything silly.

"Live well. You're still young. Besides, Landon loves you so much. You will have a bright, happy

future ahead...”

Then, Sophia cast a worried glance at Landon. "Landon, you'll treat Lauren well, won't you? You'll

marry her, right?"

Landon tightened his grip on Lauren's shoulder. He fixed a determined gaze on Sophia. "I will marry

no one but Lauren Beckett."

"Good... That's good..." Sophia smiled in relief and wiped away her tears. "Lauren, you'll need some

wedding gifts in the future. I have a few pieces of halcyon gemstones that I keep in my bedside safe.

The password is 0814. Take them with you. That's all I can give you."

The password was the date she married into the Beckett family. She had been proud of what she

had accomplished, but now, it all meant nothing.

"That's fine..." Lauren shook her head with tears in her eyes.

"Indeed. Lauren doesn't need anything when she marries me,” Landon turned down Sophia's offer

with a frosty look.

"Kirkman, time's up!" the warden's cold voice echoed in the air.

Upon hearing that, Sophia's heart sank. Her fingers, pressed against the glass, curled up like she was

attempting to clutch onto something.

"Mom, goodbye." Lauren slowly rose from her seat. Landon wrapped an arm around her waist as the

couple wandered toward the metal gate.

"Lauren!"

The couple halted in their tracks when Sophia called out to Lauren.

"Beware of your sister.” Sophia wanted to say "I love you" to Lauren, but she felt that she didn't have

the right to say that as a convicted felon.

Lauren did not turn around to look at her. From that moment onward, she would neither get to see

Sophia again nor wish to do so.

As the metal gates swung shut, Sophia cried her heart out. Sophia recalled carrying baby Lauren,

repeatedly singing lullabies, and telling stories to Lauren. That was a wonderful time in her life.

If Sophia had a chance, she'd like to restart her life. Given the chance, she'd like to be a good

mother.