Iris‘ face twisted in shock and pain. “Mom! I’m your daughter. How could you pick your legitimate son over me?”
Chapter 24
Thelma remained silent
Overcome with despair, Irls screamed, her voice thick with grief, “Mom, you always said I was the one you loved most! Me
pilier watched her fall apart, her face unreadable as she used “How does it feel to be thrown aside by the mother you thought loved you, Iris? I’m going to take everything from
piece by piece, just like you did to me!”
Iris wept uncontrollably. “Mom, how could you do this? I’m the daughter you’ve always loved the most.”
Thelma tumed her face away, her volce–cold as she said, “You’ve done too many terrible things. You should’ve been dead a long time ago. I regret giving in and letting Gerald get involved in those things for you. Because of you, he’s been hiding for years, never able to rest easy.”
She then turned to an officer and asked, “Will you reduce Gerald’s sentence if I tell you where to find the other six victims?
The officer’s face remained grave. “If the offender cooperates and confesses, we might take that into account. But considering the seriousness of this serial murder case, the brutality involved, and the lasting effect on the community, he will most likely face the harshest penalty.”
Thelma’s face drained of color, her body swaying as if she might collapse. “But Iris is the one behind all of it! And those six women are still alive!”
Juliet’s voice was key. “It doesn’t matter. Gerald’s as good as finished. He killed Flona and Juliet. He’s responsible for two deaths!
Thelma was so angry she couldn’t find her words.
**You just told me I could save one of them! Were you playing games with me? You bitch, I’ll make sure you pay for this!” she shouted.
In a flash, Norman lunged forward and grabbed Thelma’s wrist. “Who do you think you are? How dare you try to hurt Juliet?”
Thelmacried out in pain, “Ris, please, talk to Norman for me! He’s going to break my hand!”
his face hardened, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Mom, didn’t you already write me off? Now you suddenly remember I’m your daughter?”
Fed up with the back–and–forth between the two, Juliet turned on her heel and walked away.
Norman stepped in her way. “Don’t worry, Juliet. I’ll make sure Iris and Gerald are treated ‘properly behind bars. They’ll pay for every day they have left”
Seth moved forward, his face heavy with sorrow. “That’s right. They don’t deserve an easy way out. They need to face what they’ve done and pay the price! Iris didn’t just take Juliet’s life. She purposely set Lenny free, knowing he’d get hit by a car. That’s another crime she’ll have to answer for!”
Norman’s eyes widened in disbelief. “She’s the one who caused Lenny’s death, too? I never thought she’d be so cruel. She couldn’t even show mercy to a cat!
Juliet didn’t respond. She said into her car and started the engine
Norman stepped in front of the vehicle, blocking her way with his arms stretched out, “pallet, now that everything’s out in the open, can you come back to me, please? I’ll back your music career, help you make it big, and make your dreams come true!”
Juliet frowned. “I’ll make my dreams happen on my own. I don’t need your help. Now step aside, I’m going home.”
He stood there, motionless “Juliet, life without you has been nothing but empty and draining, Please, come back to me. I’m begging you!”
Sex chimed in, “Juliet, please give Mr. Walsh another chance to make things right. He’s been through so many rebirths, and the toll it’s taken on him is beyond anything you can imagine
“The pain’s gotten so bad that he can’t even sleep. He’s been relying on injecting pollsidine just to get through the day. You loved him so much. How can you just stand by and watch him sulter like this?”
