Silence fell over the hall.

Esther began to cry, winking at Lorie to encourage her to speak. But Lorie ignored her, her gaze fixed on Miguel with weary, burning eyes. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, Miguel knew he could resist no longer. Despite her past treatment of him, his dying father had urged tolerance; blood was thicker than water, after all.

He sighed heavily. "All right," he said. "I'll do my best to help. He embezzled company secrets, but they were our secrets. If we forgive him and intercede in court, a one-year sentence should be possible. I'll have my lawyer review the case thoroughly."

Esther relaxed, her expectations confirmed. They were compassionate, she knew, and would help. Yet, her scheming nature remained. If things went well, she wouldn't show Hannah and her parents any mercy, she mused.

Then, with a show of gratitude, she exclaimed, "Miguel, Michelle, Hannah, thank you! When Wayne gets out, I'll ensure he changes and behaves himself."

"I disagree!" Lorie's sharp voice cut through the air.

Esther was stunned, then turned. Lorie's eyes were red and swollen; her expression grave.

"Mum, what's wrong?" Esther urged. "Miguel agreed to help Wayne."

Lorie stared coldly. "Esther, did you really think I'd help you this far?"

"What are you talking about? You always told me to bring you here to plead for Wayne! He's your only grandson. You couldn't bear to see him imprisoned. But Miguel promised to help, so don't worry."

"Shut up!" Lorie's face hardened.

Esther recoiled at her mother's harsh tone. Miguel, Michelle, and Hannah were equally surprised by Lorie's outburst. All eyes were on Lorie as she stood abruptly from the sofa and approached Miguel, then knelt before him.

Miguel paled. His mother kneeling before him? He quickly supported her, kneeling beside her.

"Mum, what are you doing? Please get up! I promised. If a one-year sentence isn't sufficient, I'll do everything I can to get him a reprieve. He won't suffer unduly in prison. Please, stand up." Miguel was clearly shaken.

Tears streamed down Lorie's face. "Miguel," she said, "I treated you badly because I wrongly believed you stole the family fortune. I favored your brother, thinking his family treated me best and that you were heartless. Now I know the truth of their brutality."

"Mum," Miguel stammered, bewildered by her outburst.

"I was wrong. I've finally seen their true colors. Your brother and his family used me to get the Cooper Group from you, but they never treated me well. Now that I'm useless, they beat and abuse me. Miguel, you don't know how Esther has treated me. I wish I were dead..." She sobbed uncontrollably.

Esther, her face ashen, knelt beside them. "Mum, how can you say that? We didn't live well because we had no money. How could I give you the luxury you crave without money? I could only offer simple meals! Sometimes, when you demanded expensive food we couldn't afford, I only spoke a few words. But I couldn't help it..."

"Beast!" Lorie cried. "Thankfully, I'm not senile. If I were, no one would ever know what you've done!"

"Mum, I knew you wanted to return. You could come back anytime. I won't stop you from living with them. I'll visit you often, with Wayne..."

"Stop your nonsense!" Lorie's anger flared at Esther's manipulative words.

Lorie rolled up her sleeves, revealing badly bruised arms. The sight was horrifying.

Miguel's anger ignited. Michelle and Hannah were equally shocked by Lorie's suffering.

Hannah knew Lorie hadn't lived well with Roger's family, but hadn't realized the extent of her mistreatment. She'd assumed it was verbal abuse, nothing like this. Yet, she remained a passive observer; it was hard to feel compassion for them.

"Did you see, Miguel? Esther abused me! My whole body is bruised, not just my arms. She pinched me every day in countless ways. I wasn't allowed to cry out, or she'd pinch harder." Tears flowed freely. "And they made me cook for them every day. If I didn't cook well, they threw the food at me. She made me wash her feet, her face, mop the floor. I was a slave, tortured relentlessly by their family!"

Lorie's voice grew stronger, fueled by the release of long-pent-up anger.