Mabel was dumbfounded and quickly waved her hands, saying, "No, I...I was just joking. Didn’t you say before that we should date...Let’s date first, and then consider marriage once we have a foundation of feelings..." Oh God, what was she saying? At this moment, Mabel felt a deep sense of helplessness.
Fortunately, Kyle didn’t continue on this topic but said, "I’ll have someone pick you up and drop you off for work during this period to avoid the same thing happening again."
Mabel thought about it and didn’t object, especially after the previous day’s broad daylight kidnapping near the school left her jittery.
But since Kyle’s shoulder injury required a few days of rest, Mabel specifically took a leave from work and went to the police station to give a statement. She stayed at the Kinston residence to take care of Kyle. Although the servants handled Kyle’s daily needs, she wasn’t sure how much help she could be. At most, she assisted when the doctor came to change his bandage and reminded Kyle to take his medicine on time.
In the evening, Mabel received a call from her mother, who began scolding her as soon as the call connected, "Do you want to get your brother killed to be satisfied? You actually let the police arrest your brother. What did I do in a past life to deserve a daughter like you!"
When Mabel was giving her statement, the police asked about her brother’s involvement. She didn’t hide anything and told the truth. Besides, her statement wasn’t the only determining factor. Several of the thugs caught at the time consistently stated that her brother, Cecil Quinn, had "given" her to Brother Biao.
"Mom, do you know what my brother did to me?" Mabel asked in return.
"Isn’t it because you messed up the house deal? You owe your brother in the first place. If you’d just gotten the house, would he have treated you like that? You come to the police station right now and tell them you went with those people voluntarily, that it has nothing to do with your brother!" Evelina said.
Mabel’s nose tingled with emotion. Even though she knew her mother’s bias toward her brother was extreme, hearing such words still hurt deeply, "Mom, you’re a woman too. Do you know what kind of situation my brother put me in? I could have lost my life. How can you say such things? Is only my brother your child and not me?"
"Don’t give me that nonsense. You come here immediately, or I won’t recognize you as my daughter," Evelina warned harshly.
Mabel took a deep breath, "Mom, I won’t change my statement at the police station. I’m taking your words as heat of the moment. I gave the statement truthfully, not out of lack of familial affection, but because I don’t want my brother to make bigger mistakes. If you hadn’t always indulged him, how could he have done such absurd things without a care for family ties?"
"Oh, so you’re all grown up now and don’t listen to me anymore? Just wait!"
Ending the call, Mabel felt exhausted. Turning around, she realized Kyle had been standing behind her at some point.
She wanted to smile to show she was fine, but as soon as she tried, tears began to fall.