Chapter 382 Being Forced By The Family
“Anna, I have made a grave mistake. I didn’t expect that something like this could happen. Initially, I went to your house, hoping to ask you to apologize to Yvette. Then, I planned to discuss buying a car with you. However, you weren’t there, and Michael’s mom ridiculed and picked on me the moment she saw me. I was too furious and accidentally…”
Steven began to explain it to me, his face filled with regrets. Although I understood that he was afraid, it couldn’t justify his attempt to hide the truth.
“Steven, no matter what Mrs. Shaw said to you, you are in the wrong. Do you know you’ve committed a crime and can go to prison? Michael will do everything to search and punish the culprit once he nails the culprit!”
Michael could be cold and heartless toward any outsider. Even though Steven was my brother, Michael didn’t have a good impression of him. Hence, I didn’t know what Michael would do to Steven once he found out.
At that time, my mind was a mess. Apart from Steven, I was also affected by the incident. After all, he was my brother, and everything happened because of me.
“Anna, please… I beg you. Please don’t tell Michael about it. I know that it’s my fault. I didn’t mean to do it. It was really an accident.”
Upon hearing my warning, Steven was terrified. He immediately pulled my hands to beg me.
“I can’t help you on this. I have to tell Michael the truth. Steven, I have helped you a lot in the past, and I’m sorry that I can’t help you this time. Besides, I don’t even know how I can face Michael now. How can I stay in the Shaw residence since you made such a terrible mistake?”
I could barely save myself now and had no idea how to face the Shaw family. Apart from my anger toward Steven, I suffered such feelings of guilt toward Michael. I didn’t know if Michael would blame me for the incident and regret choosing to be with me.
As I was flustered, I even thought about dragging Steven to see Michael and letting Michael kill him.
“Anna, Steven can’t go to prison. He is the only son in our family. What should your dad and I do if he is jailed?”
At that time, Mom also came up to me and begged me.
Before coming here, I had foreseen that Mom would say so and protect Steven. However, I really couldn’t do much about it.
“Mom, it’s not that I refuse to deal with the situation. Do you realize I can’t do anything about it because we can never hide the truth!”
Once the Shaw family knew the truth, Steven would go to prison. Although I couldn’t bear to see my brother suffering, there was nothing I could do to salvage the situation.
“Anna, I beg you. You can’t sit idly and watch as your brother goes to jail.”
Mom got emotional after I said that I couldn’t do anything. Besides, her grip on my arms became tighter.
I remained silent, yet my mind didn’t change because of what she said.
“Anna, I beg you!” With that, Mom kneeled before me to plead subserviently.
“Mom, what are you doing? Please get up!”
Initially, I had told myself not to change my mind regardless of what Mom said. Nevertheless, I felt nervous once she kneeled before me.
When I pulled Mom up, she said, “Anna, please promise me that you’ll not expose Steven. If you don’t agree to help him, I’ll not get up.”
Mom was determined to protect Steven and refused to stand up as long as I didn’t agree to her request.
“Mom, please get up. I can’t do anything even if you kneel. You have to understand this. Whether I say it or not, the Shaw family will figure it out sooner or later.”
Gazing at Mom, I was surprised and sad about how much she was willing to sacrifice for Steven.
“Anna, there must be a way to solve it. Since Michael loves you so much, you can surely find a perfect solution.”
Mom grabbed my hand nervously and gazed at me in anticipation.
“Mom, what do you mean by that?”
At that time, I couldn’t help but feel a bad premonition.
“Anna, Michael loves you so much, and you’re carrying his baby. If you say that you accidentally pushed Mrs. Shaw, I believe the Shaw family won’t make things difficult for you. Besides, they surely won’t bring you to the police station. Am I right?”
When Mom finally spoke her mind, I felt that my heart wrenched as if a knife had plunged into my heart.
Does Mom want me to take the blame by admitting that I was the one who did it?
“Mom, what did you say?”
I stared at Mom in disbelief. Although what she said was clear, I couldn’t believe my ears that Mom chose to sacrifice me for the sake of Steven.
Although I knew my parents always favored Steven over me, I didn’t expect that Mom would ask me to be his scapegoat.
Since I’m her daughter, how could she do this to me? Both Steven and I are her children. Doesn’t she feel guilty at all? Besides, this accident has nothing to do with me. Why must I take the blame?
“Anna, I understand that this is unfair to you, but there are no other options. I’ll never let you do it if I can find another way. Besides, Steven is your brother. I think you can’t bear to see him go to jail, can you?”
“What about me? Have you thought about the consequences that can happen to me if I admit to it? How can I live with Michael if he knew that I was the one who hurt Mrs. Shaw?”
Heart-wrenching despair surged from the depth of my heart, for I felt my closest and beloved family wanted to throw me to the wolves.
“You’re carrying the baby of the Shaw family. Hence, the Shaw family won’t make things difficult for you because of that. Anna, can you help your brother for one last time?”
“No, I won’t agree to it. I’ll never do it!”
As my body shivered, I took a few steps back. I stared at Mom with my pale face. At that moment, I felt that every word she said was like a needle that pricked my heart.
“Anna, please help Steven. I beg you too!” my father chimed in.