My Parents Took Me to the Stand of Kinship

Everyone was stunned, unable to figure out what exactly went wrong.

I remained calm and composed, and the lie detector next to me showed no reaction at all. This was sufficient proof of the outcome's authenticity.

When she saw the light turn red, Mom was visibly flustered.

I overheard her whispering to Edwin, "Are we going to be okay?"

Edwin patted her hand to reassure her, then looked at me with a defiant glare.

"We still have more evidence. Besides, there's no way she won't be found guilty on at least one of the three charges."

Soon, Judge Lambert announced that the second memory would be extracted.

In the footage, I was just 12 years old. Mom and Dad were holding my hands as they took me to the mall for new clothes and all my favorite foods.

Overjoyed, I hopped and skipped, then looked up and asked innocently, "Dad, Mom, what about Edwin?"

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Mom's eyes. "He's a boy, so he needs to be raised strictly. We're only taking you, and we'll buy you whatever you want."

When Edwin heard that from behind, he started wailing and threw himself on the ground in a full-blown tantrum. Yet, Mom and Dad didn't waver in the slightest.

The clothes at the mall were very expensive. A single outfit would cost my parents half a year's wages.

But seeing how much I liked it, they gritted their teeth and bought it anyway.

"As long as you like it, I don't think it's expensive," Mom said.

Even when it came to food, my parents just watched me eat with longing looks.

"I'm not hungry. As long as you're full, that's all that matters."

Deeply touched by the scene, the audience was moved to tears.

"What selfless parents. They deny themselves food and clothing just to give everything to their daughter."

"Pfft! A heartless wretch like Patricia doesn't deserve parents like this!"

However, I scoffed at all this chatter. These people were all fooled by appearances. None of them had any idea of the truth behind it.

Judge Lambert struck the gavel, signaling for everyone to be silent.

Soon, the memory continued playing. This time, the scene shifted to when I was grown up.

Edwin looked at me with a sheepish, uneasy expression.

"Patricia, I'm about to get married. Can you help out with the expenses? When we were kids, Mom and Dad played favorites and only took you to the mall. Yet, I never complained about it. Now that you've made it big, can you take pity on me—"

I let out a cold snort and slapped him across the face.

"Shut up, you crazy mutt. Do I know you? Who are you to ask me to contribute to the expenses?"

With that, I laughed as if I'd just heard the most ridiculous joke.

I looked him up and down and continued, "Not to be harsh, but are you even worthy? Get out of my sight and never show your face in front of me again. I have nothing to do with the Thompson family anymore."

But Edwin refused to let it go. He stood his ground stubbornly and said, "Patricia, if it weren't for Mom and Dad favoring you back then, maybe I would've had a good future too. Don't you bear some responsibility for how things turned out for me?"

Meanwhile, Mom and Dad also emerged from the corner. They latched onto my legs and began playing the victim.

"Patricia, please take pity on Edwin. I heard you make millions of dollars a month. Edwin only needs 200 thousand dollars for the wedding. That's practically chump change to you.

"If it weren't for us favoring you back then, maybe Edwin would've been the successful one now."

With that, they brought up the old story about taking me to the mall when I was little.

It would've been one thing if they'd let it go, but the mention of that only pissed me off more.

Blowing up right there and then, I kicked them all out and shouted harshly, "Get lost, all of you! No matter what you say, it's useless! I cut ties with you a long time ago. Edwin has nothing to do with me. Even if he dies out there, I won't feel a shred of sympathy or pity for him!"

The audience watching the scene erupted, defending Edwin and accusing me of being ungrateful.

"Patricia is way out of line! Her parents favored her since she was a child, while Edwin got nothing!"

"Now he's just asking for some money, and she wants to cut off all ties!"

"Exactly! She makes a bit of money, and suddenly she's too good for her family. Just sentence her to death already. I can't stand watching this."

Their words didn't stir a single emotion in me.

Sure enough, when the trial light lit up, the entire room erupted again.

Of all things, it was another red light.