The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 22

The most urgent task was to assess Yvonne’s specific condition. Leilani took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions churning inside her. She reached out and gently placed her fingers on Yvonne’s wrist to check her pulse.

The pulse was weak and erratic. There were signs of liver stagnation and heart damage-classic symptoms of severe physical depletion caused by long-term mental trauma. Even more serious

was…

Leilani’s gaze shifted to Yvonne’s lower body. Under the blanket, her legs were completely motionless, as if devoid of all sensation.

It was only then that Leilani realized Yvonne wasn’t just suffering from memory loss; she was paralyzed from the waist down. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Yvonne’s injuries to be this severe. No wonder Milford and Yvonne’s mother had such a hostile attitude toward her.

“Yvonne,” Leilani asked softly, “do you remember how you got hurt?”

Yvonne shook her head blankly. “I don’t remember… Mom said I accidentally fell down the stairs myself.”

Fell by herself? Just as she was about to ask more, the ward door was violently thrown open.

“Who let you in?” A shrill voice exploded from behind.

Leilani turned to see a face twisted with rage. It was Yvonne’s mother, Gloria. She looked much older than she had a few years ago. Her temples were graying, and she was glaring at Leilani as if looking at a mortal enemy.

Gloria stared daggers at Leilani, looking ready to tear her apart. “Leilani! You have the nerve to come here? Get out!”

Gloria rushed over like a protective lioness, shoving Leilani aside. “Who allowed you near my daughter? You murderer!”

Leilani stumbled back a step.

Yvonne, seemingly frightened by Gloria’s outburst, struggled to sit up. “Mom… don’t be like this…”

“Yvonne! Don’t move!”

Seeing Yvonne struggling, Gloria panic-strickenly held her daughter down, then turned to scream at Leilani, “Haven’t you hurt her enough? She’s like this because of you!”

Leilani wanted to defend herself. Before she went to prison, Gloria had been one of the few elders who treated her with kindness because of her friendship with Yvonne. In the end, even that had been destroyed by Tamara.

Facing Gloria’s hatred, Leilani broke her usual silence. She wanted to reason with Gloria and explain. “Mrs. Sherwood, I didn’t-”

“I said get out! Did you hear me?!” Gloria didn’t want to hear Leilani’s explanation. She grabbed Leilani’s arm, her nails digging into the flesh. “I don’t want to hear your excuses, you murderer!

11:22

Yvonne is in this state because of you. You should disappear from the Sherwood family’s sight!”

Leilani stumbled from the force but didn’t fight back. She looked at her calmly. “Mrs. Sherwood, Yvonne’s injuries were not caused by me.”

“Bullshit! Tamara and your family all testified that you pushed her! You spent four years inside, and you still want to deny it?” Gloria pointed at her nose, screaming hysterically.

But who would imagine that Leilani’s own parents, Hackett and Zadie, had pushed her forward to take the fall for a fake daughter? Even if she said it, no one would believe it.

Leilani pursed her lips. Seeing Yvonne cowering in fear on the bed, she decided not to explain further.

Gloria was too emotional. When it came to Yvonne, she had no reason or patience to listen to the truth. She only knew that Leilani was the culprit who hurt her daughter.

Leilani looked silently at Yvonne’s confused and anxious expression. In the end, she said nothing and

turned to leave the ward.

11:23

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