Chapter 4

Mom was still in shock as they pushed her out of the room.

Hearing the doctor list my injuries one by one, she seemed unable to process it. After all, she thought that this was all just an act to deceive her. She couldn''t understand how I could be this badly hurt.

Charlene immediately rushed over and hugged Mom. Then, she started sobbing loudly.

"Mom, it''s all my fault. I''m the one to blame. I kept your love all to myself for too long—so much so that Matilda had to hurt herself just to get your attention. She must be in so much pain. Mom, once she''s stable, please let me apologize to her, okay?"

Charlene''s words suddenly snapped Mom out of her daze. She shifted her gaze away from the hospital room. The hesitation and uncertainty that had been in her eyes vanished instantly.

At the sight of my injuries, she was suddenly reminded of Charlene''s horrific corpse from her last life. I might be in pain now, but Charlene had suffered far worse than me.

Tears of grief spilled from Mom''s eyes as she pulled Charlene into a crushing embrace.

"Charlene, I swear I''ll never let anyone hurt you again. Why should you apologize to Matilda? She owes you! She was the one who got you killed! She should be on her knees begging for your forgiveness!"

When she looked back at my hospital room, there was nothing left in her gaze but hatred.

"Peggy, stop wasting your time here. Check her phone and dig up everything you can! Don''t try to reason with me. I don''t believe for a second that she''s innocent. She''s a devil, through and through.

"Life-threatening injuries? Ha! She did that to herself so that she wouldn''t get into trouble for killing those men!"

Ms. Madden tried repeatedly to reason with Mom, but it was useless. In the end, she could only sigh and leave.

Mom had already made up her mind that I was guilty, and no argument would change that.

"The patient is in critical condition and needs immediate surgery!"

I was still semi-conscious when they wheeled me out of the hospital room. I looked toward Mom and saw her hugging Charlene tightly, tears pooling in her eyes.

When she noticed me, she didn''t even spare me a glance. There was no sorrow greater than a heart that had died.

After two lifetimes of torment and suffering, the last shred of hope I held for maternal love vanished entirely in that moment. Not wanting to pay them any more attention, I closed my eyes.

The surgery lasted for a really long time. When I woke again, it was to the sound of chaos and shouting outside my door.

"Is the female college student who killed four people in this room? Can we get an interview?"

"I don''t understand why you''re protecting a murderer. Even if they had abducted her, she still shouldn''t have killed them. I heard they didn''t even threaten her life!"

"No! I refuse to stay in the same hospital as a killer! I don''t feel safe! Ask her to get out the hell out of here!"

The shouts ebbed and flowed in waves. Slowly, I opened my eyes.

Every inch of my body felt like it had been torn apart and reassembled. The pain was so excruciating that I couldn''t help but frown.

The commotion at the door continued.

A sharp-eyed reporter suddenly spotted me through the window and realized that I was awake.

Someone yelled, "The murderer is awake! Hurry, get in there for the big scoop!"

The lone officer guarding the door couldn''t withstand the onslaught of reporters. In the end, the door was forced open. Then, the swarm of reporters—armed with cameras and microphones—rushed in without a second thought for the medical equipment surrounding me.

Still groggy from surgery, I could only manage one weak sentence under their relentless questioning.

"I-I''m not—"

The lead reporter smirked. "Your mother and sister are out there feeling guilty and repenting for the murders you committed, yet you still dare to be this stubborn! Do you have no conscience at all?"

"Please, stop attacking my sister! I''m sure she''s also in pain for what she did!" Charlene stood off to the side, a flicker of cunning and amusement flashing through her eyes as she looked at me.

But with Mom standing beside her, gripping her hand tightly, her expression icy, she couldn''t let her true emotions show too much.

Mom looked at me as if I were a complete stranger.

"You''re nothing but a murderer. No matter how much you deny it, you can''t change the fact that you''ve killed four people. You''re a monster soaked in sin. I regret ever giving birth to you, Matilda. These reporters, this media storm, are here to teach you a lesson.

"Now, stop being stubborn and just admit to your crimes. I''ll still be your mother as long as you willingly take responsibility for your mistakes."

I suddenly laughed, finally free of any illusions.

"Mom, if I''m convicted, will I get life in prison or the death penalty? Either way, I''d never be able to hurt your precious adopted daughter again, right?"

The brief flicker of shock in her eyes told me everything. I felt that there was no need to ask further.

I didn''t even need to read the news, as I could imagine how the public would judge me with my own mother and sister fueling the narrative. I was probably already being trashed everywhere.

"But I really didn''t—"

Mom didn''t let me finish. She suddenly lost control of her emotions and slapped me across the face. Then, she clamped a hand over my mouth and gritted her teeth as if she wanted to tear me apart.

"You''re still trying to talk your way out of it? Nurse! Bring a wheelchair over here! I''m taking her to turn herself in now!"