All Chapters of My Parents Took Me to the Stand of Kinship: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

On the day I was brought to trial, the courtroom was packed with onlookers eager for a spectacle.Some of them even threw trash at me.When they saw my parents, Susanna Wagner and John Thompson, and my brother, Edwin Thompson, dressed in rags, while I was impeccably dressed, they immediately concluded that I was a sinner."I know this woman. I've seen her on the news before.""I heard her parents scrimped and saved to raise her. But after she became successful, she refused to acknowledge them.""Yeah. She's wearing all these designer clothes, while her parents are in such shabby outfits. How pitiful."As the crowd gossiped, a hint of triumph flashed in my parents' and Edwin's eyes.Yet, they still put on an act and said, "Patricia, don't blame us for being ruthless. If you refuse to financially support us, we honestly can't make ends meet. Otherwise, who would have the heart to sue their own daughter?"As they spoke, they wept bitterly, as if they truly cared for me so deeply.

Chapter 2

When they saw how cocky I was, the crowd became indignant once again."She must be put on trial! Since she's so eager to court death, let her die!""Yes, yes! She needs to be taught a lesson!"Judge Lambert remained silent, as if he also agreed with their sentiments. Then, he turned to look at my parents and said, "Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, although you have sufficient evidence, I still need to make something clear."If none of the three charges are proven, and the trial fails, you will suffer the consequences. Not only will you lose everything you have, but you will also be immediately sentenced to life in prison. Do you both agree to this?"My parents exchanged uneasy glances, and Edwin also looked a little hesitant. I knew they had no real footing. Instead, they were just trying to use the court of public opinion to strong-arm me.Just then, Mom stepped forward. With a hypocritical look of concern, she tried to persuade me, "Patricia, stop while you still can. We don't want to

Chapter 3

Everyone was stunned, unable to figure out what exactly went wrong.I remained calm and composed, and the lie detector next to me showed no reaction at all. This was sufficient proof of the outcome's authenticity.When she saw the light turn red, Mom was visibly flustered.I overheard her whispering to Edwin, "Are we going to be okay?"Edwin patted her hand to reassure her, then looked at me with a defiant glare."We still have more evidence. Besides, there's no way she won't be found guilty on at least one of the three charges."Soon, Judge Lambert announced that the second memory would be extracted.In the footage, I was just 12 years old. Mom and Dad were holding my hands as they took me to the mall for new clothes and all my favorite foods.Overjoyed, I hopped and skipped, then looked up and asked innocently, "Dad, Mom, what about Edwin?"A flicker of awkwardness crossed Mom's eyes. "He's a boy, so he needs to be raised strictly. We're only taking you, and we'll buy you wh

Chapter 4

Judge Lambert furrowed his brows. Though his expression was grim, he still announced, "The court finds the defendant not guilty on the second charge of refusing to acknowledge one's family."Protests immediately broke out from the audience. They questioned the fairness of the trial.But Judge Lambert dismissed them, stating that the memory extractor was based on reality and was absolutely fair and impartial.Meanwhile, Mom and Dad were beginning to panic. They had only one chance left. Otherwise, it would be them who would face punishment.Edwin, however, blustered with self-righteous indignation. "There's no way you'll have a good excuse for the last charge—standing by and doing nothing while our father was dying."This time, the scene shifted to a hospital.Dad lay on the hospital bed, his face etched with weariness. His head was wrapped in bandages, and he looked to be in critical condition.Edwin called me anxiously, "Patricia, please come quickly. Dad's been in a car accide

Chapter 5

After losing three trials in a row, Mom and Dad went completely pale. Edwin, in particular, was trembling uncontrollably.When he heard that I was about to launch my counterattack, he quickly interrupted, "Your Honor, this is impossible! You all just saw what she did. Tell me, which one of those things was something a decent person would do?"Why does she get to sit there looking all comfortable and smug? Is it just because she has money?"In an attempt to escape the punishment that was about to fall on them, Edwin began shifting the narrative, trying to imply that I'd bribed the court.His tactic worked.Soon, he whipped the audience into a frenzy, and they all started questioning the fairness of the trial."Your Honor, this is unfair! Is there no justice in the world anymore?""Everyone, we must speak up today! Otherwise, we'll be the ones getting screwed over next time!""No justice, no peace! This is unfair! We strongly demanded that Patricia be severely punished!"The cro

Chapter 6

After the video ended, the audience fell into silence. Even those who'd been shouting the loudest earlier now said nothing.I picked up the microphone and said sarcastically, "Oh, and I forgot to mention that I've been allergic to mangoes since I was a kid. One bite and I break out in hives."But sure, my parents care about me so much that they brought fresh mangoes all the way here when they came to visit me."As soon as I finished speaking, everyone in the courtroom fell silent.Seeing the tide beginning to turn against them, Mom and Dad panicked and tried to change the subject."We're old, and our memory isn't what it used to be. It just slipped our mind, that's all. After all, who would intentionally try to harm their own daughter?""Besides, even if she didn't want to contribute to Edwin's wedding expenses, she still should've given us money."They spoke with such earnestness, and the weak always seemed to evoke pity.Seeing their tattered clothes and frail bodies, most of

Chapter 7

After being brutally beaten for four days, I finally learned that Mom and Dad hadn't just sold me, but had done so in the cruelest way imaginable.It turned out that rather than a living person, the people who bought me wanted a burial offering. Their son had died young, so they wanted a bride to join him in the afterlife.The trafficker, seeing my battered body, couldn't help but sigh as he finally told me the whole truth.Clicking his tongue, he said, "Your parents are truly heartless. How could they bear to sell a daughter so grown-up? I could never do that. Little girl, don't blame me for beating you so harshly."We all just do what we're paid to do. In a couple of days, when the buyer comes to pick you up, just accept your fate."In that moment, all the strength drained from my body. I lost any will to escape. After all, where would I even go? My own parents had abandoned me, so perhaps death would be more of a release.By the time the video ended, many in the audience had t

Chapter 8

"Mom, do you really have to be this heartless?"I let out a bitter laugh, gripping the iron gate tightly.But Mom simply pried my fingers off one by one, her voice cold and unfeeling."Just leave! We have nothing to do with you anymore! If you need something, go talk to your adoptive parents. Don't come looking for me. From now on, we'll go our separate ways. Even if you die out there, it's none of my business."Right as Mom was talking, Edwin came out of the house and threw a bucket of cold water on me.He then spat and said, "You sickly wretch! What terrible luck you bring! Get lost! You're about to die anyway, so why drag us into it?"Shivering, I pulled my hand back, my gaze growing resolute."Fine. From now on, don't come to me for anything. Even if you're dying, I won't lift a finger."With that, I turned and walked away without a moment's hesitation.Later, my adoptive parents, Vince Duffy and Joanne Riley, pulled every string they could to find me a suitable bone marro

Chapter 9

As soon as this memory was played, the entire courtroom unsurprisingly erupted. The audience was filled with a collective sense of anger at having been deceived."What? It was all an act? And here I was trusting them so much!""I take back everything I said against Patricia! The Thompsons are utterly inhumane! Why, they're even worse than animals!""Exactly! How dare they deceive us? They sold their own daughter, refused to save her, and then tried to twist it around like it was their daughter's fault!""Your Honor, I strongly demand that these three be sentenced to death immediately!"I had to admit that the power of the mob was undeniable.Dad, Mom, and Edwin suffered a fierce backlash. The very audience members who'd once supported and sympathized with them now wished for their deaths with equal intensity.Flustered and frantic, my parents tried to explain themselves. But the facts were already laid bare before everyone. Their feeble defenses were drowned out by the crowd's o

Chapter 10

Later, my parents and Edwin were taken away by the police and locked up in an isolated, exclusive prison.I heard the conditions there were terrible. They were given only one meal a day, just enough to keep them suspended in that gray space between life and death.It was a place specifically designed to punish the most heinous criminals. Personally, I couldn't have asked for anything better. It was like the place was tailor-made for them.I, on the other hand, received all their assets. It wasn't much, just that rundown house in the countryside and a few fruit trees.Feeling it was bad luck, I gave it all away on the spot as a raffle prize to the audience. That really made my parents and Edwin seethe with fury.When I walked out of the courthouse, my adoptive parents were already waiting outside.They hugged me tightly and handed me a bouquet of flowers."It's all over now, Patricia. They'll never bother you again."My nose tingled with emotion as I struggled to hold back my te

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