Alyssa didn''t question why Maggie was crying nor pressured her.


    "I-I just never expected that you guys would be s-so nice to me..." Maggie choked out, her eyes swollen


    red. "I know. you guys are only doing this because I can. can testify against David Schmidt. But I''m. still


    so thankful to you all. for respecting me."


    Maggie''s tear-stained faces and stuttering words broke both Alyssa and Jasper''s hearts. Their breaths


    stuck in their throats as if caught in a vice.


    Xavier''s brows knitted together. He had to hold himself back from releasing his fury.


    At just 17 years old, Maggie had already suffered wounds of pain that seemed impossible to heal. It


    was all David Schmidt''s fault!


    If David didn''t pay for this, who else could?


    "We''re not being kind to you nor respecting you all because you''re a witness to the case, Maggie.


    Every kind-hearted young girl in this world deserves respect." Alyssa embraced Maggie into her arms,


    her own eyes reddening. "Tragedy led us to one another, but please believe me when I say I will never


    allow this tragedy to repeat itself."


    Maggie''s sobs slowly quietened while Alyssa consoled her. She slowly recovered after sipping warm


    tea proffered to her by Jasper.


    "Have you thought things through, Maggie?" Alyssa asked, an arm wrapped around Maggie''s shoulder.


    "Once you stand against David Schmidt, there''s no turning back. You''ll be going head-on against the


    Schmidt family until the very end. Mr. Jasper and I will do our best to protect you, but this will still affect


    you and your mother''s life.


    "So if you feel like this is too much for you or if you chose to do this on a whim, I''d advise you."


    "Ms. Alyssa, do you know who was the one who gave me the courage to face all this?" Maggie''s eyes


    were clear even though she was still in thest throes of crying. "It was Ms. Tatiana, your sister."


    "Taty?" Alyssa''s eyes widened in surprise. Her heart skipped a beat.


    Meanwhile, there was no change in Jasper''s expression, as if he had long expected this—as if Jasper


    had expected that Tatiana''s selfless act of stepping forward wouldn''t be a meaningless sacrifice.


    Women knew women best, after all.


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "Ms. Tatiana''s bravado moved me."


    Though Maggie wasn''t even 18 yet, she was still far more mature than her peers of her age. "A lot of


    people might think that Ms. Tatiana only had the courage to step forth because she''s from a rich family


    and isn''t afraid of being retaliated against.


    "But I know the stress she''s under is far greater than any of us ordinary people have. This incident will


    have a great impact on Ms. Tatiana throughout the rest of her life.


    "Ordinary folk like us will be forgotten in a minute, but the pain she went through will be a


    permanent mark of shame for her. It will never stop being brought up, nor will the pain that follows.


    "I watched her livestream from start to finish, crying throughout... I wept for my own misfortune but for


    my cowardice too. That''s why I want to step forward to support Ms. Tatiana and give myself what I


    deserve."


    Maggie''s speech was awe-inspiring.


    Xavier''s breathing deepened as he gazed at her. Guilt filled his chest.