Chapter 714 A Son’s Reckoning
Lily’s sentence was lighter than Owen’s. She would be out in three years.
But she couldn’t stand prison life. When she saw Oscar, she cried and raged, begging him to find her a lawyer, to get her out. If not a full release, then at least a reduced sentence. Anything – she just couldn’t bear to stay here.
The place was barren, lifeless. Prison uniforms instead of designer clothes, no cosmetic injections or skincare, no fancy food — only scraps. To Lily, it wasn’t living at all.
And wasn’t Oscar her son? Didn’t he owe her filial duty?
“Your brother Owen’s money was all cheated away by Yunice. You’ve always been close to her, haven’t you? She must have given you some of it. You’ve got so much, can’t you spare a little to save me? Right now you don’t need me, but one day you’ll have a girlfriend, you’ll have a career. Do you want people laughing at you at the peak of your life because you’ve got a mother in prison? Fine, I know Yunice brainwashed you. You resent me. Even if you won’t help me out, at least tell me, how’s Elsie?”
Finally, Oscar answered. “She’s in a mental institution.”
Lily’s eyes widened with outrage. “How could you let her be sent there? She’s your sister!”
Oscar’s gaze hardened, anger flaring. “And you think you have the right to question me? From the moment I stepped in here, all you’ve done is complain – for yourself, for Elsie! Have you thought once about us three siblings?”
Lily sobbed and railed. “You’re doing fine, you’ve got nothing to worry about! What about Owen? He’s got liver cancer and he’s rotting in prison. Why aren’t you asking me about his condition?”
“When Yunice was thrown into the asylum, where were you as her mother? Did you care?”
“They’re all ungrateful!” Lily snapped. “White-eyed wolves! Owen wanted part of my liver, and Yunice—she’s worse than nothing, she’s the one who sent me here!”
Oscar’s eyes burned red, but his expression stayed icy. “We barely received a shred of motherly love. You gave it all to Elsie. Yunice hates me, and Owen…I too know the truth. Owen was just another child starved of love.
“When you walked out, I was ten, Owen was eight, and Yunice was three days old. As the eldest, I knew even then you favored Owen from the start. All the good things went to him. Every time we fought, you took his side. I was hurt, but I accepted it. I told myself I’d grow up fast and get away from this family.
“When you had Yunice, I thought maybe your favoritism would shift. But she was worse off than me. You gave her life, but never a day of love.
“You left us behind. I could take it—you never cared for me anyway. But Owen was different. He was a spoiled child, suddenly motherless, dangling off a cliff edge every day in fear. He loved Yunice most. He looked after her more than anyone. Do you know what he told me?
“He said Yunice was your gift to him. He would take good care of her, so when you came back, you’d be proud. You’d praise him.
“He waited for you, always. He wanted the mother who loved him most to come back and hold him again.
“And when you finally did, you drowned yourself in tears for Elsie. Owen saw it. He went and bought Elsie back with money, just to see you smile again. But he felt it – your coldness toward him. So he twisted himself inside out, doing anything to earn your attention.
“And he realized something: whenever he was good to Elsie, you’d praise him, you’d smile, you’d make his favorite dishes. But whenever he spoke up for Yunice, you scowled, punished him with silence.
“You twisted him, bit by bit, until that desperate, unloved boy became the man he is now.”
Lily snapped back, “And that’s supposed to be my fault? A mother loves all her children, but the palm and the back of the hand aren’t the same! You’re telling me you never played favorites?”
Oscar’s voice was sharp as a blade. “Elsie? She’s nothing! Do you believe me if I say I could march into that asylum right now and kick her to the ground?”
He laughed bitterly at himself. “I’m sick too. Thinking you’d ever feel guilty. But your morals are broken beyond repair. A selfish woman like you can’t feel remorse.”
He rose to his feet. “But don’t feel too pleased with yourself. Three years may sound short, but do you think you’ll be walking free when your term is up?”
Lily froze, wariness flickering in her eyes.
Oscar sneered. “Yunice is gone. Wyatt’s boiling with rage. Who do you think he’ll take it out on?”