บททั้งหมดของ The Withered Tree Blooms Again: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 8

I jolted awake in bed, sweat soaking the sheets, while the pain of being knocked to the ground by my mother still seemed to linger in every limb.I slowed my breathing and forced myself to calm down. The memories of my family blaming me and of my mother killing me with her car replayed again and again in my mind.Then the notification sound from my phone snapped me out of my thoughts.“Charlotte, the firm has taken on a defense case for a plaintiff. The partners assigned you as her lawyer.”At the same time, just like in my previous life, the call informing us that Grandpa Arthur Bennett had been sued and needed a defense came through.I quickly began to think of a strategy. How could I change the tragic fate of my death? Before I knew it, I drifted into memories.My best friend, Sophia Lawrence, and I had grown up together.Because Sophia and my brother, Ethan Bennett, had been promised to each other since childhood, my parents had always favored her as the future daughter-

“Ethan, Mom, let’s hurry and board. I’ve been looking forward to going to Moonlake for so long…”After a clamor of background noise, Ethan finally responded.“Dad, what are you doing? What benefit is Charlotte giving you that makes you help her like this? “A ridiculous lie like this—and you’re going along with her! She has no brains, and yet you follow her lead…”Dad quickly interrupted him.“Ethan, I’m dead serious. Your Grandpa is sitting in the courthouse right now. “The trial is about to start. You need to get here immediately. Do you understand?”Ethan hesitated for a moment, about to say he would, when Sophia’s whiny voice came through.“We’re about to take off. Do we really have to get off the plane now…?“We’ve been planning this for so long. If we don’t go now, wouldn’t it be such a shame?”Mom snatched the phone from him.“We’re taking off now, don’t argue. It’s not easy for us to travel with Sophia. We can talk about it when we get back.“Honey, you’re a grown

Sophia shivered in fear, too startled to speak, and hurriedly ducked behind Mom.Mom was about to reply when she saw Aunt Linda helping Grandma slowly walk forward. The sight of Grandma was like seeing a savior, and Mom burst into tears, looking at her desperately.“Mom, you finally came! You don’t understand—Charlotte egged Daniel on! “I don’t even know what she told him, and now he wants to divorce me! He wants a clean break! He even scolded Sophia just now. “Mom, you have to make this right for me…”“That’s right. Divorce is exactly what’s needed! You ungrateful woman! “If you don’t divorce now, how will you even get through the year…”“I knew it… You still care for me…” Mom said confidently.But her words halted mid-sentence as realization struck. Her face turned as pale as a corpse.“Mom… you… What did you just say? Are you telling me I should divorce Daniel? That I’m offensive?”Mom stared at Grandma in shock, used to being the center of her world.Seeing Mom be

Mom, Ethan, and Sophia returned, hands full of shopping bags.“Mom, don’t worry. Today we’ll just relax—don’t stress about Dad.”“Oh, my sweet little Sophia, always so thoughtful. He wants a divorce, but mark my words, in a few days, he’ll be begging me to come back. “Yes, I made a mistake, but their attitude… what’s going on?”“Mom, if you ask me, Dad was just speaking in anger. Don’t worry about it…”The scene was almost laughable. I wondered if Mom, once she learned the truth, could still stroll through the streets so cheerfully with the very people who had caused Grandpa’s death.Looking at my gentle, composed Mom, I felt a pang of sadness. She had always been this way—warm and generous to everyone except me.A tear slipped down my cheek, dripping onto my hand. I shook myself, picked up my bag, and continued on my way.…Back home, Dad’s divorce agreement lay on the table.“Dad… you and Mom…”“I’ve already signed it. Someone will deliver it to her soon. After all th