The Withered Tree Blooms Again

“Ethan, Mom, let’s hurry and board. I’ve been looking forward to going to Moonlake for so long…”

After a clamor of background noise, Ethan finally responded.

“Dad, what are you doing? What benefit is Charlotte giving you that makes you help her like this?

“A ridiculous lie like this—and you’re going along with her! She has no brains, and yet you follow her lead…”

Dad quickly interrupted him.

“Ethan, I’m dead serious. Your Grandpa is sitting in the courthouse right now.

“The trial is about to start. You need to get here immediately. Do you understand?”

Ethan hesitated for a moment, about to say he would, when Sophia’s whiny voice came through.

“We’re about to take off. Do we really have to get off the plane now…?

“We’ve been planning this for so long. If we don’t go now, wouldn’t it be such a shame?”

Mom snatched the phone from him.

“We’re taking off now, don’t argue. It’s not easy for us to travel with Sophia. We can talk about it when we get back.

“Honey, you’re a grown man. You need to use your judgment—don’t believe everything you hear…

“To hell with your judgment! I’m telling you, if you don’t come back now, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life…”

“What are you doing? Step aside, let me talk…”

Seeing Dad and Aunt Linda crowding around the phone, Grandma snatched it.

“Rebecca, I don’t have time for your games!

“Can you stop messing around? Right now, we really need Ethan to help Arthur.

“I’ve never begged you in my life. Now, I’m begging you—please, just once, trust me. If I lie to you, may I never find peace in this life!”

I could hear Mom sigh.

“Pah! Mom, what are you saying? Is it worth it for the lies of a useless girl?

“Oh, I really can’t with you. You just can’t stand me and Ethan taking Sophia out for a trip? Fine, I believe you!

“Now tell Dad. In two days, after our trip, we’ll come back and deal with whatever lawsuit or defense.

“That’s settled. We’re taking off. Bye.”

As the call ended again, Grandma threw the phone to the ground.

Aunt Linda sighed, picked up the phone helplessly, and handed it to Dad.

Seeing Grandma begin to collapse into despair once more, everyone froze.

No one had expected that in Mom and Ethan’s eyes, a trip with Sophia mattered more than Grandpa’s immediate imprisonment.

I calmly steadied Grandma, watching as each of them fell into helpless despair.

I felt an almost thrilling satisfaction.

In my previous life, when I had tried my best to help Grandpa, no one understood.

All I received were accusations and scolding, and in the end, Mom had run me over with her car.

So in this life, I would stand aside and watch.

How would this situation unfold now?

“Court is now in session! The defense lawyer for the defendant, please speak.

“The defense lawyer must arrive at the podium within three minutes to present their statement!

“Defense lawyer?”

With the judge’s repeated prompts, Grandma frantically dialed Mom and Ethan on her phone.

Time and again, no one answered.

Grandma’s despair reached its peak.

Tears streamed uncontrollably from Dad and Aunt Linda. Emotions in the room soared to a fever pitch.

“Pick up the phone! Answer me! What are you doing? Why aren’t you answering? Why…?”

Everyone kept calling and messaging Ethan and Mom, hoping for a break, a chance, any change.

“If the defense lawyer fails to appear, the plaintiff will be deemed the winner.”

With the judge’s countdown, the minutes began to slip away.

Grandma clutched her chest, sobbing. “I regret it! I regret having a thankless daughter and a thankless grandson!

“How could they act like this at such a critical moment? This is their own family!”

In the courthouse gallery, everyone watched helplessly as Grandpa sat in the defendant’s seat.

“Three!

“Two!

“One!

“The defense lawyer did not appear. I hereby uphold the judgment against the defendant.”