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The sentimental approach failed, so they resorted to coercion and enticement. I had witnessed Adam’s ruthlessness in the business world; I didn’t want my family to get hurt, so I found an excuse to leave.
As soon as I went downstairs, I saw Adam and Noah standing in the snow. I said coldly, “What do you want?”
The coldness in my voice made Noah’s smile stiffen. He said innocently, “Sylvia, we always spent New Year’s Eve together. We’re family, aren’t we?”
I almost laughed. I didn’t understand why they were so persistent; was it only guilt over hurting
me?
“Family? Hilarious.” I retorted sarcastically.“Besides using your influence to force me, what else did you do?”
Sylvia was covered in thorns, each word piercing Adam and Noah’s hearts. It wasn’t surprising. After what she’d endured, the fact that she wasn’t attacking them with knives was the courtesy they could expect.
greatest
Adam’s face turned pale. He offered me a gift box.“Sylvia, this is your favorite jade bracelet.” Every New Year’s Eve, they sent me gifts. Are they hoping that their kindness would win me back?
I didn’t even look at it before snatching it and smashing it on the ground. The bracelet shattered. I glared at them.“So, you want my forgiveness? Unless you experience the pain I suffered, I won’t forgive you.”
I only intended to make them back down, but to my surprise, they answered in unison, “Okay.”
“If we experience your pain, will you really forgive us?” Adam asked.
I didn’t think they would actually choose to self–flagellate. They were spoiled brats, incapable of enduring such hardship.
I said casually, “Yes.”
I thought they’d leave me alone, at least for a while. But as soon as I returned home, a stranger friended me on Whatsapp.
I accepted the request and received a video call. Seeing the familiar black profile picture, I recognized it was Adam.
The call connected. The screen showed the Fowler family’s snow–covered tilted dizzyingly, framing Adam’s pale face. He stood in the blizzard wearing only a thin white
gates. Then the camera
dress shirt.
“Sylvia, if you forgive me, I’ll do anything.”
Before I could react, he knelt. His tailored suit trousers sank into the filthy slush. Noah exclaimed, “Adam! Let me do it instead.”
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Adam shook his head.“It was my sin. I’ll take the punishment.”
My heart was in turmoil. I never expected Adam to disregard his dignity and kneel before me. My eyes felt slightly watery. It wasn’t pity for him, but rather a sense of bewilderment over our
situation.
“Sylvia, we know we were wrong. Just forgive us. He’s never knelt to anyone! Have mercy…”
Noah’s plea was cut short by Adam.“Noah, shut up. I deserve this.”
Apparently feeling the cold, Adam rubbed his arms. After less than half an hour, he couldn’t take it anymore. He offered a pale smile to the camera.“Half an hour in this… and I’m breaking. Yet you endured three hours.. This… this is my apology. For the snow. For the ice. For every wound.”
Sylvia, did you hear? We experienced your pain, and we apologized.
