Chapter 244: How Many Years Are You Prepared to Have Them Sentenced To?

Justin and Joanna chatted leisurely over breakfast, taking more than half an hour before finally emerging from the dining room.

Karen and Elizabeth sat facing the television in the living room, though their eyes kept darting toward the couple.

Hazel's gaze also flickered between them.

Just then, a servant entered from outside, followed by another figure.

"Mrs. Elizabeth, Mrs. Karen, Miss Scott is here."

Everyone's expressions immediately soured as they turned toward the woman entering.

Lillian wore a white cashmere sweater dress, her long hair styled in soft waves cascading over her shoulders, her face adorned with impeccable makeup.

She looked stunning.

Hazel instinctively glanced at Joanna.

Joanna had just stepped out of the dining room and hadn't yet sat down.

She stood there, looking at Lillian with an expression that betrayed neither pleasure nor anger—only eyes that radiated a cool detachment.

"Show her out!"

A cold male voice rang out, startling Hazel.

She turned belatedly toward Justin, who was regarding Lillian with eyes devoid of any warmth.

Given her brother's usual composure, even if he wanted to maintain proper boundaries, this seemed excessive.

Hazel was still puzzling over this when Justin's eyes filled with intense disgust. "Notify everyone—she is never to set foot in the Lawson estate again. No one is to have any private contact with her. Anyone who disobeys will be terminated immediately."

"Justin, you..."

Lillian couldn't comprehend why she was suddenly being treated this way, her face a mask of disbelief.

Karen and Elizabeth were also taken aback by Justin's harshness, though considering he wouldn't act this way without reason, they remained silent.

The servant who had escorted Lillian in was terrified by Justin's outburst.

Without time to think, she quickly gestured to Lillian. "Miss Scott, please leave."

"Why?"

Lillian had never been so humiliated.

She refused to accept being cast out so undignifiedly in front of Joanna.

Shaking off the servant trying to escort her out, she looked at Justin in confusion. "I only came to see how you were doing, you..."

"You should think about what you and your mother have done first!"

Justin cut her off, glancing at his watch before continuing, "Or perhaps you'd prefer to wait for the police to summon you, so you and your mother can explain your actions at the station together."

Lillian told herself Justin couldn't possibly have traced anything back to her—she mustn't panic.

But hearing him mention her mother and the police... Lillian's mind went blank.

Karen was the first to react. "Justin, what are you talking about?"

Justin glanced down at Karen, then looked at Joanna, pressing his lips together.

Seeing the guilt in Justin's eyes, something flashed through Joanna's mind.

She stepped forward, about to speak, when Lillian's voice interrupted again. "Justin, what are you saying? My mother and I haven't broken any laws. You can't just..."

Lillian had intended to continue playing dumb, but suddenly meeting the icy glare in Justin's eyes, she lost her nerve.

She was panicking, unwilling to admit anything yet unsure how to refute him.

Not knowing what to do, her phone suddenly rang.

An unknown number.

She answered frantically, trying to do something—anything—to calm herself down.

"Is this Lillian?" A man's voice came through.

"Yes."

"Your mother Laura has suffered a heart attack. She's being transported to the hospital now."

"What? Which hospital? I'll be right there!"

Hanging up, Lillian grew even more frantic.

Out of habit, she tried once more to use Laura's illness to gain Justin's sympathy.

"Justin, you must have misunderstood. My mother's had a heart attack. Please come to the hospital with me, can you?"

Lillian moved toward Justin.

Justin sidestepped, avoiding her outstretched hand.

Lillian's hands hung awkwardly in mid-air, her guilt and anxiety making her voice rise. "You promised my grandfather you'd look after me!"

Tears of grievance streamed down Lillian's face.

Justin continued to regard her coldly. "Then first tell me what you've done that caused her to have a heart attack when the police summoned her?"

"Summoned?"

Lillian finally grasped the severity of the situation.

Justin had already reported them to the police.

Laura had suffered a heart attack at the police station. How could this be happening?

Lillian felt as if she'd been struck by a hammer. She staggered back half a step, her body trembling, her eyes unfocused.

"Was it you who drugged Joanna?" Karen had figured it out now. She strode forward, glaring at Lillian with fury. "Answer me!"

Lillian hastily denied it. "I didn't! I don't know what you're talking about. My mother's had a heart attack, and you won't help. I'll go see her myself."

Still speaking, Lillian backed away, turning to leave.

"Stop right there!"

Hazel blocked Lillian's path. "Explain yourself!"

Karen grabbed Justin's arm, demanding again, "It really was her?"

Apart from drugging Joanna, Karen couldn't think of anything else that would make Justin involve the police.

Joanna also looked at Justin, waiting for his answer.

Justin didn't answer Karen. He took a step closer to Joanna, the answer already written on his face.

"I'm sorry."

Justin's voice was hoarse. "I was planning to tell you after I'd handled everything..."

Handled?

How exactly?

Realizing that the harm she'd suffered had been caused by Lillian, Joanna clenched her fists, her expression growing colder. "So? Are you planning to let the law deal with her?"

Given the debt the Lawson family owed to Lillian's grandfather, would Justin really go through with it?

At that thought, Joanna stared intently at Justin.

She'd already made up her mind.

If Justin defended Lillian again, nothing she'd said before would matter anymore.

She would leave the Lawson estate immediately and cut all ties with Justin!

"I will make sure you get justice." Justin promised.

Joanna looked at him skeptically. "So, how many years in prison are you planning for them?"

Joanna smiled bitterly before continuing, "How many years could possibly make up for what I've been through?"

They couldn't.

Even if they spent their entire lives in prison, nothing could undo what had happened to her.

"I know it can't make up for it, but please stay calm. I'll handle this properly."

Justin hastened to reassure her.

Before he could finish, a sharp slap echoed through the living room.

"It was you all along!"

Hazel had slapped Lillian hard across the face, then shoved her violently to the floor.

She pointed at Lillian, her voice filled with hatred. "I never wanted to believe you manipulated me into targeting Joanna. Turns out you're this vicious!"

"It wasn't me! I don't know what you're talking about..." Lillian shook her head frantically, scrambling up from the floor in disgrace.

Seeing Lillian still lying, Hazel raised her hand again.

"Hazel!"

Karen stopped her. "Don't dirty your hands."

"It really wasn't me. You've misunderstood." Lillian's psychological defenses had completely crumbled. Taking advantage of Karen restraining Hazel, she rushed toward the exit. "My mother's had a heart attack. I need to see her. I won't waste time with your nonsense."

Watching Lillian run out, Hazel stamped her feet in fury.

She was about to ask Justin how he planned to handle this when she turned to see Elizabeth clutching her chest, collapsing onto the sofa, struggling to breathe.