Echoes of a Misjudged Life

I had just returned home when my phone rang.

My manager at the office said with a distant voice, "Miles, the company is reorganizing its structure. Your position has been eliminated. Are you free to come in this afternoon? Come in and complete the exit paperwork."

I had been fired.

I would not believe it if I were told that Gemma was not involved in this. She was a powerful and famous attorney; it was too easy for her to destroy someone's livelihood.

That afternoon, I calmly finished the paperwork and received my final month's pay.

Before I left the building, the receptionist secretly handed me a box of biscuits. She said, "Miles, take care."

On the way back, I bought my grandmother's favorite strawberries and clutched them in my hands.

I had just entered the house when she walked over to me. She did not ask me where Zack was, as usual. She merely opened up her arms and pulled me into her arms, hugging me tightly.

She patted me on the back, just like when she was putting me to bed when I was young.

"Miles, don't be afraid. I'm here. I'll always be here for you."

I stiffened as the bag of strawberries fell to the ground. The emotions I had been holding back all afternoon finally broke at her words. Tears kept falling.

I never expected that Howard would show up before Gemma did.

He blocked me in an alley outside the neighborhood. The bandage on his temple had not even been removed yet, but the smile on his face was unbearable.

"Your brother's grave must be covered with moss by now, huh?"

He went in closer and said, "You still want to fight me? Your brother is a rapist. He should have died earlier!"

I raised my hand, but he retreated as if he had prepared that. He chuckled smugly.

Right at this moment, a tiny, frail figure stumbled into view.

My grandmother stood in front of me, raising a knife and shielding me.

"Don't you dare bully Miles! You evil man!"

"Get lost, you crazy old woman!" Howard was about to push her aside.

Everything that happened next happened too quickly.

My grandmother somehow found strength and pounced on Howard.

Howard screamed as he was pinned to the ground. A knife slashed across his face from his ear to his mouth.

"Ah! My face!" Howard wailed.

My grandmother was still on top of him. She raised the knife, covered in blood, and turned to look at me.

"Miles, don't worry. I'll protect you."

Howard looked at someone behind me and yelled, "Gemma, save me! Help me!"

Without missing a single beat, Gemma kicked my grandmother in the waist. Her frail figure fell over just like that and knocked against the wall. She let out a muffled grunt.

The knife fell to the ground with a clang.

"Grandma!" I rushed over.

Grandma curled up, but she held my wrist. Her forehead had a gash. Blood was seeping through her white hair, but she still smiled at me.

"Miles, no one will dare to bully you anymore."

Gemma helped the almost unconscious Howard up. When she passed me by, she said, "This isn't over."

In court, Gemma's expression was ice cold.

"My client has suffered permanent facial nerve damage, classified as a level six disability. Even if the defendant suffers from severe mental illness and lacks full criminal responsibility, the danger she poses to society cannot be ignored.

"I recommend she be transferred to Serenity Care Nursing Home. I'm confident the doctors there will take good care of her."

Others might not know, but Serenity Care belonged to Gemma. If my grandmother were sent there, I would no longer be able to see her in this life.

I clenched my fists tightly.

My attorney argued desperately, but it was useless. Gemma was at the top of her game for a reason.

In just a few words, she rendered my attorney speechless.

Gemma sneered and said, "Miles, I regret showing Zack any mercy. I should have let him rot in prison."

The judge banged his gavel.

"The defendant, Iris Leigh, due to severe mental illness, is to be transferred to Serenity Care Nursing Home for mandatory treatment and supervision."

My sight went black as I dug my nails into my palm. It hurt me so much that I felt numb.

Gemma had a look of victory, accompanied by Howard's smug face.

It felt like all the strength had been drained from my body.

At that moment, Gemma's phone vibrated. She looked at it, and her indifferent expression instantly changed into shock.

"Miles, why is my assistant saying that Zack had died three years ago?"