Chapter 57: Why Did You Try to Escape?

Waverly, as usual, brought up a sensitive topic. "Consider my injured leg a gift. Are you satisfied?" Raylee glared at her coldly. "No need for gifts. Your presence is enough," Harriet interjected smoothly. "I already heard from Waverly that Ms. Sutherland accidentally hit you with her car a few days ago. It was an unfortunate mishap. Let's not dwell on it. Everyone is in good spirits today."

Alaric, eager to mend his relationship with Raylee, greeted her enthusiastically. "Regardless, it's wonderful you're here! It's been four years since our family last gathered—a precious occasion! Samuel, help your sister to a seat."

Samuel, only then breaking his silence, avoided Kaylee's gaze. His steps felt heavy, making even assisting Raylee arduous.

"No need," Raylee declared icily. Limping into the private room with her crutch, she threw a blood test report at Samuel's face.

"Raylee, what are you doing? What is this?" Harriet cried, utterly bewildered, picking up the report.

"Ask your son!" Raylee roared, raising her crutch. "This proves I nearly lost my sanity!"

Waverly rushed forward, shielding Samuel and taking the blow. Her scream echoed through the room.

Waverly's manipulative tactic—self-imposed suffering—had the Goodridge family wrapped around her finger. They unfailingly supported her hardships and grievances. Kaylee, feeling no guilt for hitting the wrong person, regretted not striking Waverly harder. The siblings were equally culpable.

Samuel, however, instantly became enraged at seeing his sister bullied. "Take your anger out on me! Why did you hit Waverly? Apologize!" he shouted.

"I aimed for you," Kaylee retorted fiercely. "She jumped in the way. Tell her to back off. You deserve a beating!"

Alaric snapped, "Raylee, have you lost your mind? What has Samuel done to offend you?"

Harriet pleaded, "Raylee, it's my birthday. Please stop this arguing!"

Waverly's eyes welled up. "Raylee, it's Mom's birthday. Please stop this commotion," she pleaded, her voice choked with emotion. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't returned...Raylee, if you stay, I'll leave."

She started to leave, but Harriet stopped her. "Wavy, this isn't your fault. If you leave, I won't celebrate!"

Upon witnessing his wife and daughter being bullied, Alaric reproached Raylee. "What's so urgent? Do you enjoy disrupting everyone's mood?"

Observing the nauseating family dynamic and accusations, Raylee laughed sarcastically. "Your son, Samuel, committed me to a psychiatric hospital. I jumped from the third floor trying to escape, nearly losing my life. Is that trivial, Mr. and Mrs. Goodridge?"

Alaric and Harriet were stunned. They couldn't believe their son's actions.

Before they could get a denial from Samuel, he exclaimed anxiously, "Why did you try to escape? Couldn't you have just stayed?"

Alaric, furious, questioned Samuel, "You scoundrel! Why did you confine Raylee? Have you lost your mind?"

Samuel, believing he was justified, argued, "Dad, I did it for our family. I didn't let anyone hurt Raylee, only confined her."

Raylee slapped the blood test report onto his face again. "Open your eyes! This shows the drugs the psychiatrist injected—drugs that cause hallucinations and cloud one's mind. I'd become a fool!"