Chapter 598

Liora was the forbidden fruit of the Pendletons, but what had Mandy done wrong?

“I apologize for asking you to come to the nursing home,” Mandy said, her face reflecting unease. “I received an urgent call from the nursing staff about my mom’s worsening condition. So, I had no choice but to move our meeting here.”

Jasper spoke gently. “Your mother is quite concerned about you.”

Mandy responded cynically. “She and I are merely pawns in the Pendletons’ game.

“Mrs. Pendleton comes from a privileged background and supports Mr. Pendleton. Even though he claims my mom is his one true love, divorce is never on his radar.

“I’m simply a result of their calculated lives. I heard I had an older brother, but as soon as they discovered he was a boy, my mother was rushed for an abortion.

“The man who professes love for my mom lacks the courage to stand up for her. I would never have been born if I hadn’t been a girl.

“They wield absolute control over every aspect of my life, from choosing my friends to deciding my education. It’s all in their hands.

“Unless I become cold-hearted and ignore my mother’s suffering, I’ll remain a caged bird in their world.”

Mandy’s eyes welled with tears as she whispered to Esther, “Mrs. Warner, not everyone is as fortunate as you. Even without Mr. Warner, you still have the Quill family.

“But me? I have nothing, or worse, a weakness. I can’t even find the courage to defy my brother’s wishes’ regarding my liver donation. I don’t want my choices to burden my mom further. She has already suffered enough.”

Esther felt an immense weight in her chest as she absorbed Mandy’s words. “Ms. Pendleton, have you ever considered standing up to them?”

“Mrs. Warner, even with the Quill family’s support, you feel powerless against them. What makes you think I, an ordinary person, have that option?” Mandy retorted coldly.

Jasper broke the silence. “What if the Pendleton family crumbles?”

A glimmer of hope briefly crossed Mandy’s eyes, disappearing as fast as it appeared. “Why would the Pendleton family fall apart?”

“Why not?” Jasper said calmly. “Dynasties rise and fall. Why should the Pendletons be any different?”

“The Pendletons have deeper roots than you might realize,” Mandy said softly. “Otherwise, how could they withstand the combined strength of the Quill and Foster families?”

Not giving Mandy time to ponder, Jasper got to the point. “Mandy, if you genuinely seek freedom, it can only happen if the Pendletons are removed from Capitus. When that day arrives, you’ll…”

Mandy bit her lower lip, clearly intrigued. She lightly massaged her temples and whispered, “Let me think it over.

Just then, her phone rang.

“Brother.”

Chadwick’s menacing voice filled her ears. “I heard your mother’s health is deteriorating.”

Suppressing her anger, Mandy replied in a hushed tone, “Brother, my mom is okay.”

“Did Esther visit you again?” Chadwick asked.

Mandy glanced at Esther and whispered, “Yes, she did.”

Tell her that if she truly wants to save Bradley, she’ll have to trade herself for his life,” Chadwick threatened. “And if you even consider secretly donating your liver to Bradley, I’ll ensure you never see your mother again once you leave that operating room.