397\u2013We Are Comered\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
397\u2013We Are Cornered\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeline:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Being in the hospital had been difficult. Before leaving, I stood outside Baxter\u2019s room to get a glimpse of him, but the doctor asked me to leave for now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could not see his face at that moment, but they promised that I would be able to see him tomorrow, so I held on to that hope.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I returned to the motel, I slipped into bed with my children and hugged them as they slept.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, Yuvonne arrived. She had come late at night and told me that she had arranged for Ron\u2019s grandmother, Lady Riva, to be transferred to the funeral home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her body was kept in refrigeration, and the burial was put on hold until Ron could be released.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Today was a big day for us, with too much happening at once. I wondered how Yuvonne would prepare herself for the hearing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKids, go and play with Grandpa Jonah,\u201d I told my children. \u201cBut please don\u2019t bother him, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sent them away so I could speak with Yuvonne in peace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d I asked her as I stood in the parking lot beside her car, which had come to pick her up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked anxious ever since she woke up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she uttered, rubbing her hands together and turning her face away. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I can do this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to,\u201d I replied. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. We\u2019re already going through so much. What happened, happened. The public shaming was punishment enough for them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reassured her that I was not going to push her. It was okay if she did not want to go through with it. I truly meant it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That night had hurt me too, but now they were no longer on my mind. I was only thinking about Baxter, Ron, and Lady Riva.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d she asked, looking hopeful, but guilty as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, Yuvonne. It\u2019s okay,\u201d I told her with a wide smile. \u201cWe need to focus on getting Ron out and making sure Baxter gets proper treatment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stepped forward and hugged me, and I patted her back gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, a warrior\u2019s car pulled in urgently, and we both stepped apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The warrior stepped out, glancing at Yuvonne as he put his call on speaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Ron wants to speak with you,\u201d he informed her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We both knew Ron was calling about the court hearing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
174\u00a0<\/p>\n
397\u2013We Are Cornered\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRon,\u201d Yuvonne replied into the phone while the warrior held it out for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you ready for it?\u201d Ron asked. \u201cI hope you know that I am with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even from prison, he sounded determined.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yuvonne looked at me, as if asking for help.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRon,\u201d I began slowly, \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking. We\u2019re already struggling so much. I don\u2019t want to pursue this court case. Making enemies right now would be dangerous for us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about, Madeline?\u201d Ron demanded. \u201cDid you forget what they did to you? How they treated Baxter?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was anger in his voice. He was clearly shaken by our decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRon, Graham and Elgin were at the hospital last night,\u201d Yuvonne said. \u201cThey hinted that if I go through with this court case, they might cause us more trouble. We\u2019ll lose the only vote we have to help Baxter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She finally said what had been bothering her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had felt that something happened after I left the hospital, but I did not know those two had frightened her like this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s why you\u2019re stepping back?\u201d Ron demanded. \u201cThey\u2019ve already caused enough trouble. I\u2019m already in jail. Do you really think that if you deny the court hearing and forgive them, they\u2019ll just step away?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ron\u2019s voice was filled with anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could only imagine how he must have felt. He was being accused of killing his own grandmother, locked away, unable to be by her side or attend her funeral. He was suffering, but he was not giving up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least they\u2019ll let Baxter be treated in the hospital,\u201d Yuvonne urged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you kidding me?\u201d Ron snapped. \u201cDo you seriously think that\u2019s what they\u2019ll do? No, Yuvonne. This court hearing is only part of it. They\u2019ll use this moment to control Madeline, force her into taking care of sick children, and then ask for more.\u201d 2\u00a0<\/p>\n
His words made my chest tighten.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo whether you go or not, it won\u2019t matter,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe control will still be in their hands.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ron\u2019s tone was sharp, and as I listened, I realized he might be right. The thought frightened me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Would they really use this to control me? 2\u00a0<\/p>\n
I would help sick children if that was what they asked. I would do it without hesitation. I would do anything for\u00a0<\/p>\n
Baxter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyway, the driver is here,\u201d Ron said. \u201cHe\u2019ll take you to court. Trust me, even if you don\u2019t go, they\u2019re already thinking of summoning you.\u00a0<\/p>\n
}}\u00a0<\/p>\n
His words made both of us look at each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
397\u2013We Are Comeredi\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d I asked. \u201cWhat do you know?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lawyer told me that if Yuvonne steps back, they\u2019ll counterattack,\u201d Ron explained. \u201cThey\u2019ll accuse her of lying about their character. They\u2019ll paint themselves as victims, gain public sympathy, and prove their innocence again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That changed everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was relieved we had spoken to him. Without this conversation, we would have walked straight into their trap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if you don\u2019t want to go, that\u2019s fine,\u201d Ron continued. \u201cBut they\u2019ll summon you anyway. You\u2019ll still have to prove the same things you would today. Either way, we\u2019re cornered.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice steadied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we might as well fight. We\u2019ve done nothing wrong, and we have nothing to hide. Let\u2019s face it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ron\u2019s words gave us strength.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yuvonne and I looked at each other again. This time, we both nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was nothing else to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We would fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ron ended the call, and we got into the car, ready to go and face them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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