novelraw Chapter 392 - 393: A Minor Victory in a Direct Confrontation with Master Leland
Chapter 392 - 393: A Minor Victory in a Direct Confrontation with Master Leland
Chapter 392: Chapter 393: A Minor Victory in a Direct Confrontation with Master Leland
"Pauline, how can you think like that? You still have your mom. You’re Mom’s precious baby, and Mom will always love you."
Pauline Briggs looked at her mother and smiled gently. "Mom, I’m an unfilial daughter who has always made you worry. In my next life, I still want to be your daughter. But I want to be a sensible, good daughter who will no longer make you worry."
"Mom is happy to worry about you. I gave birth to three children, and you’re the one I love most. You have to live well and not make your dad and me worry.
As we get older, you’re the one we worry about most.
Back then, because you were a girl, we pampered you endlessly. We even found you a husband with a good temperament. Who would have expected Dexter to pass away so young, leaving you alone? You don’t have a son to rely on, and Sienna isn’t on your side..." Agnes Bush sighed.
"What will you do when your dad and I are gone?"
Agnes Bush’s eyes grew dim and clouded as she looked at her daughter with heartache. Her daughter was all grown up, but her temperament hadn’t changed.
"After Dexter passed away, Sienna didn’t mistreat me. The life I had when Dexter was alive is the same life I have now.
Mom, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m doing fine."
She was born into a wealthy family and, from a young age, never understood the importance of money. She would buy clothes endlessly, sometimes throwing them away after a single wear, while Sienna lived a remarkably simple life. Apart from a few presentable outfits for important occasions, her usual clothes were unbranded, and she would even wear items from several years ago. Yet this same Sienna, so strict with herself, never stopped Pauline from her extravagant spending. Thinking about it now, Sienna actually hadn’t treated her badly at all.
"Silly girl, when you get older, you’ll know the importance of children. You have to get along with Sienna."
"After Dexter is gone and you’re older, who can you rely on? You’ll still have to rely on Sienna."
"That Adrian Desmond, at first glance, you can tell he’s not easy to deal with. Luckily, Sienna can handle him."
"Child, did you even hear what I was saying to you?"
"Yes." However, this wasn’t something she could change just by wanting to. Sienna was hard-hearted. She remembered the kindness others showed her, but she remembered their offenses even more. She was very clear about who she loved and who she hated!
「」
Outside the courtroom, reporters, onlookers, and a dense crowd of people filled the area. The moment Sienna Johnson’s car arrived at the courthouse entrance, it was swarmed by the crowd, making it impossible to open the car doors.
"President Johnson, do you have any thoughts on this public trial?"
"Will President Johnson show leniency towards Sabrina Johnson in this trial, considering their sisterly bond?"
Bodyguards pushed through to disperse the crowd, allowing Sienna Johnson and Pauline Briggs to finally get out of the car.
Adrian Desmond stood beside Sienna Johnson, carefully shielding her, afraid someone might jostle her.
Adrian Desmond hadn’t wanted Sienna Johnson to come. However, he knew she would insist on attending an event like this, so he said nothing and simply focused on ensuring her safety by arranging security.
Another group, also escorted by bodyguards, was alighting from a car—it was Master Leland.
The two groups met at the courtroom entrance, and Master Leland approached Sienna Johnson to greet her.
"You must be President Johnson?" Master Leland asked, looking at the young and beautiful Sienna Johnson. His gaze seemed quite gentle.
"I am."
This was the first time Sienna Johnson had met Master Leland in person. He was old but still looked vigorous and tall, though his age showed in his slightly stooped posture.
"My name is Marc Leland. Everyone calls me Master Leland, and you can too," Master Leland said amicably, like an elder speaking to a junior.
Sienna Johnson readily replied, "Hello, Master Leland."
Master Leland then looked at Pauline Briggs. She was wearing sunglasses, a black hat, and was dressed entirely in black, as if attending a funeral. He greeted her with a smile, "This must be Madam Johnson, correct?"
Pauline Briggs was in a foul mood and merely nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"Sabrina is carrying my child, so that makes you my mother-in-law. You look so young, though. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you and Sabrina were sisters."
Master Leland was clearly trying to ingratiate himself with Pauline Briggs. But upon hearing his words, her expression changed drastically.
"Who is your mother-in-law?" Pauline Briggs retorted angrily.
"Madam Johnson, please don’t be angry. After all, we’re practically family now."
Sienna Johnson patted Pauline Briggs’ hand reassuringly and answered for her, "Master Leland, you should be aware of Sabrina Johnson’s relationship with our Johnson family. Since you’re so close to Sabrina, it means we are destined never to be friends!"
"Such a young lady, yet so quick to act on emotion," Master Leland chuckled.
"I, Sienna Johnson, will never let my father’s murderer go! Showing mercy to my father’s killer would be a betrayal of my father! I presume, Master Leland, if someone killed your father, you wouldn’t just smile and forget the enmity, would you?" Sienna Johnson retorted sharply.
She and Master Leland were destined not to be friends, so there was no need for politeness.
"President Johnson, you have quite a sharp tongue. It’s been many years since anyone dared to speak to me like this..." A dangerous glint flashed in Master Leland’s eyes. Those familiar with him knew this was not the time to provoke him.
"Sabrina is young and made a mistake. As her elder sister, can’t you forgive her this once? Besides, your father did indeed suffer a relapse of his heart condition. Sabrina didn’t murder him; she merely failed to save him."
"There are fewer good people in society these days, and fewer still who act heroically for justice. But you can’t convict someone just because they didn’t act heroically, can you?"
"Master Leland, with such eloquence, it’s a pity you didn’t become a lawyer."
"When I was young, my family was too poor, so I didn’t attend much school. However, if I had become a lawyer, perhaps the Master Leland of today wouldn’t exist."
"It’s fortunate Master Leland didn’t become a lawyer; otherwise, there might be far more miscarriages of justice in this world," Sienna Johnson said, her words laced with insinuation.
"Let’s go." Sienna Johnson had nothing more to say to Master Leland.
Pauline Briggs followed Sienna Johnson into the courtroom. Adrian Desmond glanced back at Master Leland. The two men were cut from the same cloth, one young, the other old...
「」
In the courtroom, Sabrina Johnson stood in the dock. She wore a small orange prison vest, revealing her haggard face. At that moment, Sienna Johnson felt a surge of satisfaction, as if a long-held resentment was finally being vented. Ever since arriving at the Johnson household at the age of thirteen, Sienna Johnson had lived in this woman’s shadow. She hated Sabrina Johnson; she had hated her since childhood!
The audio recording, presented as evidence, began to play. Sienna Johnson herself had recorded it years ago. She had preserved this evidence for many years, and now it was finally seeing the light of day.
Sabrina Johnson, in this lifetime, you will do nothing but rot in jail!