Chapter 355

Against my better judgment, I found myself standing outside the imposing walls of the jail, my heart pounding in my chest as I prepared to face the woman who had once been my mother. Mia was waiting for me, her expression carefully composed as she put on a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I'm so happy to see you, Evie," she said, her voice tinged with false warmth.

I fought to keep my emotions in check, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. "I'm happy to see you too," I retorted, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "Especially without a gun being pointed at my head."

Mia's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "You know I never meant to hurt you, Evie," she said, her voice softening. "You provoked the violence."

I scoffed, disbelief coursing through me like a tidal wave. "I provoked the violence?" I repeated incredulously. "You're the one who pulled the trigger, Mia. You're the one who put everyone's lives in danger."

But Mia brushed off my accusations with a wave of her hand, deflecting the blame as she shifted the conversation to more mundane matters. "How are you, Evie?" she asked, her voice casual.

I took a deep breath, trying to reign in my emotions. "I'm better than ever," I replied, my voice steady. "Surprised to see you back overseas so soon."

Mia shrugged, a nonchalant expression on her face. "We thought it would be easier to handle things this way," she said cryptically. "Especially since I have an offer for you."

My heart skipped a beat, a sense of dread settling over me like a dark cloud. I knew where this was going, and I braced myself for the inevitable.

Mia's gaze bore into mine, her eyes searching for any sign of weakness. "I want you to be my lawyer, Evie," she said, her voice low and urgent. "I trust no one else."

My stomach churned at her words, a sickening feeling rising up within me. "I can't," I said firmly, shaking my head. "It would be a conflict of interest."

Mia's expression darkened, her frustration evident. "A conflict of interest?" she echoed, her voice rising with anger. "And what about when you acted as Timothy's pseudo-lawyer? That didn't seem to bother you then."

I felt a surge of anger rising within me, my patience wearing thin. "That's different," I snapped, my voice sharp with frustration. "Timothy was innocent. You... you're a criminal."

Mia's eyes flashed with indignation, her jaw clenched in anger. "You think you're so much better than me, don't you?" she spat, her words dripping with venom.

I took a step back, the weight of her accusations pressing down on me like a lead weight. "I'm not trying to be better than anyone," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "I'm just trying to do what's right."

But Mia scoffed, her expression filled with disdain. "Right," she scoffed. "You're always so righteous, aren't you, Evie? Always playing the hero."

I shook my head, unable to comprehend the depth of her bitterness. "I'm not a hero," I said quietly. "I'm just trying to make sense of all this."

The stained walls seemed to close in around us as Mia leered at me through the glass. She leaned back in her chair, her expression suddenly shifting into a look of faux innocence.

"Remember that time when you were little?" she began, her voice soft and cloying. "The neighbors accused you of maiming their dog, but I went out of my way to protect you. I took the blame, Evie. I protected you."

I felt a surge of anger rise up within me. "That’s because YOU hurt that dog, Mom!" I spat, the words bitter on my tongue. "And then you framed me for it. You used me as your scapegoat, the child who 'didn't know any better'."

Mia's expression remained unchanged, her features a mask of indifference as she shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't recall that," she replied, her voice smooth as silk. "But does it really matter now? We're family, Evie. Flesh and blood."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You expect me to help you after everything you've done?" I demanded, my voice tinged with incredulity. "You expect me to turn a blind eye to your crimes, just because we share the same blood?"

Mia's gaze never wavered, her eyes dark and inscrutable as she regarded me with a look of cold calculation. "I expect you to do what's right, Evie," she stated flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. "To stand by your family, no matter what."

I didn’t know why I even bothered. There was no fixing her. She’d shown her true self multiple times, but it never ceased to amaze me.

The air in the jail felt heavy with tension as my mother’s words hung between us like a thick fog, choking the space between mother and daughter. I stood my ground, my resolve firm as I faced the woman who had once been my mother.

"Timothy never killed anyone," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil roiling within me. "I can't represent a serial killer like you, Mia. It goes against everything I believe in."

Mia's eyes flashed with anger, her fists clenching at her sides. "You coward," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "Ignoring the wishes of your poor mother. Just like you ignored me when you left our awful home."

Her words cut deep, slicing through the fragile threads of my resolve. But I refused to let her words break me, standing tall in the face of her accusations.

"I left because I couldn't bear to be around you anymore," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "Because I couldn't stand to watch you destroy everything in your path."

Mia's lip curled in a sneer, her expression filled with contempt. "You think you're better than me, don't you?" she taunted, her voice laced with bitterness. "Well, you're not. You're just like me, Evie. Just as selfish and cowardly."

I felt a surge of anger rising within me, my patience wearing thin. "I'm tired of your antics, Mia," I snapped, my voice sharp with frustration. "I have had enough. You can figure things out from here on your own. I'll be focusing my energy on Timothy's side of the case before the next trial."

As I turned to leave, Mia's voice cut through the air like a knife. "Your father would be very disappointed in you," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

I paused, my heart lurching in my chest at the mention of my father. "If he had been able to rehabilitate himself, he would've been proud," I retorted, my voice filled with conviction.

With that, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving Mia behind and the echoes of our confrontation ringing in my ears. As I reached the door, I heard Mia's voice cry out behind me, begging me not to abandon her.

But I couldn't bear to listen any longer. With a heavy heart, I pushed open the door and stepped out into the harsh light of day, leaving Mia and the weight of our shared past behind me. And as the door slammed shut between us, I felt a sense of closure wash over me, knowing that I had finally drawn the line.

Outside the jail, I took a deep breath, the cool air filling my lungs as I tried to shake off the lingering heaviness of the encounter. I couldn't afford to dwell on the past. There were still battles to fight, and I needed to focus all of my energy on supporting Timothy and ensuring that justice was served.