The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 321
Yvonne couldn’t hold it back any longer and broke down sobbing in her
arms.
He
‘Why… why is my dad doing this to me. Tamara almost killed me. <nows I’m not lying, yet he still protects her. Does an outsider really mean more to him than I do?”
Her voice was broken and intermittent, her tears quickly soaking the front of Leilani’s shirt. Leilani gently patted her back, letting her vent her
emotions.
Yvonne trembled violently as she cried, her breathing coming in short, apid gasps. She had run from the hospital the moment she regained her memories. Her body was already weak, and the intense emotional upheaval was taking its toll. Dark spots danced before her eyes, and she nearly fainted.
Leilani noticed something was wrong. She quickly pulled a small bottle rom her pocket, took out a pill, and held it to Yvonne’s lips. “Take this. t’ll make you feel better.”
(vonne obediently swallowed the medicine. A moment later, her ›reathing steadied, and some color returned to her face.
Frustration and guilt washed over her simultaneously. For the first time in her life, she felt like a complete failure. She had wanted to stand up for
erself and Leilani, but instead, she had been driven away in anger.
(vonne leaned against Leilani’s shoulder, her voice hoarse as she apologized, feeling utterly useless. “Leilani, I’m sorry. I wanted to get ustice for you today, to clear your name, but…”
She let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I didn’t get justice, and I let them run ne off. I’m such a mess…”
Leilani chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Who said you’re a
mess?”
Her voice was gentle but firm, like a soft moonlight cutting through the gloom in Yvonne’s heart.
Leilani could see that Yvonne was turning her anger inward because of Fitch, so she guided her thoughts in a different direction.
“In my eyes, the fact that you stood up and exposed Tamara in front of all those people was incredibly brave. Anyone else might not have had the courage to confront them at all.”
After all, not everyone had the resolve to face down their entire family and risk cutting ties. Even if Yvonne hadn’t stepped forward, Leilani wouldn’t have blamed her.
But she had stepped forward, and for that, Leilani felt only gratitude and
respect.
Yvonne looked up at Leilani, her eyes still red and swollen, tears clinging to her lashes. She looked so pitiful that Leilani felt a mix of heartache
and amusement.
“Really?”
“Really.” Leilani nodded.
She considered the situation. Today’s events had likely been too much of a shock for Yvonne. Fitch was her father, and Tamara-the person who tried to kill her-had ended up becoming her sister-in-law. That was a reality no one could easily accept. If Yvonne didn’t adjust her mindset and let the resentment fester, it would eventually destroy her.
Leilani didn’t want Yvonne to turn into a tool for revenge. She paused, looked at Yvonne seriously, and spoke softly. “Yvonne, I understand how you feel. I’ve been exactly where you are. But listen to me. Revenge isn’t something you can rush. Tamara humiliated herself today. Her good days are numbered. So pull yourself together. You need to live your best life so you can enjoy watching Tamara’s downfall when it happens,
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right?”
After a good cry and Leilani’s comforting words, the heavy weight in Yvonne’s chest began to lift, and her emotions gradually settled.
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