Chapter 29
As soon as Lucy walked out of City Hall, she had Jane drive her to the prison.
Harland’s sentence for attempted murder had already been finalized: life imprisonment, stripped of parole eligibility. This was more torturous for him than the death penalty because he refused to give up, filing appeals over and over, unwilling to accept the result.
But his path to appeal had long been blocked. After Kingsley put the word out, no lawyer dared to take his case or defend him.
When the guard informed Harland that Lucy was there to visit, light suddenly flared in his eyes, as if he had grabbed onto a final life preserver.
In the visitation room, Lucy faced her father alone. He was gaunt now, his hair gone mostly white. A strange calm settled over her—not a single ripple of emotion stirred within.
Since her mother passed away and Irma and Aria entered the Lynwood family, the cracks between her and Harland had only widened.
Her heart had gone from disappointment to numbness, to a final, flat calm.
As soon as she sat down, Harland pressed his hands eagerly against the glass, his voice trembling.
“Lucy, you finally came to see me! I was framed. You have to find a way to get me out. I don’t want to stay in this hellhole for another day p>
Lucy looked up, meeting his gaze calmly, her tone devoid of fluctuation.
“The evidence is irrefutable. How can I save you p>
She paused, then added faintly, “If you knew this would happen, why did you act as you did p>
“Lucy, I know I was wrong! Give me another chance, I’ll definitely change p>
Harland’s eyes turned pleading, like a helpless child.
“Only you can save me now. Hire the best lawyer for me. I really don’t want to be in prison p>
Lucy’s gaze locked onto him, her tone turning colder. “I don’t have that ability, nor the spare money. Don’t you have a most filial eldest daughter? Why doesn’t she save you p>
Harland’s face turned instantly pale. His hands gripped the glass tightly, knuckles white.
If not for the barrier, he would have knelt before Lucy right there. This straw before him was his only hope.
“Didn’t Irma tell you? Right now in the entire capital, no one dares to take your defense case. Didn’t you know p>
Lucy’s eyes were cold as ice as they rested on Harland’s face.
A very faint, ironic smile touched the corner of her lips. Her tone was full of mockery.
“Harland, when you ‘sold’ me to the Sherwood family, did you consider for ever a moment that I was your
daughter? Did you think of me at all p>
IMS
Seeing that her attitude hadn’t softened, Harland panicked, his voice tight as he scrambled to justify himself. No, Lucy! The Sherwood family is prestigious. I agreed so you could enjoy endless glory and wealth for a lifetime p>
He raised his wrinkled hand and gently pressed it against the visitation glass, as if touching the last shred of hope.
“Lucy, just beg Kingsley. Only he can save me now p>
“Should I say thank you?” Lucy laughed coldly and slapped the divorce decree against the glass.
“Kingsley and I are divorced. Do you think he will still help you p>
She watched the color drain from Harland’s face and spoke word by word.
“You ended up in this state today entirely because he planned it. Harland, aren’t you being too naive p>
“No… impossible! There must be a way p>
Harland stared at the divorce decree, his fingers trembling. Suddenly, as if
remembering something, he grasped at another hope.
“Lucy, you can’t abandon me! Don’t
you have a friend named Jane? She’s from the Shaw family. Ask her to help me, even if it’s just rectioing the sentence to a fixed term…just** give me some hope p>
Looking at the light in his eyes—both naive and greedy—Lucy felt a wave of
nausea. Her tone turned completely cold.