Looking at Lizetta's face, Fiona couldn't tell if she was furious or simply devastated.

Panic flashed in the old woman's eyes as she quickly explained.

"Liz, no. We didn't conspire to keep you in the dark. It's just... when we found out Hanna bribed the doctors and tampered with everything... you were already suffering from severe postpartum depression. I was terrified that if you knew the truth, the pain would completely break you. I made the call. I forbade Remington from telling you. If you're angry, if you need someone to blame, blame me."

Fiona's hands, cold and trembling, gripped Lizetta's tightly. "Liz, the Dashiell family failed you. The sin is ours! If I had known Hanna was capable of such sheer madness, I would have prayed you never got pregnant with Joy in the first place."

That would have been infinitely better than having the baby murdered by her own grandmother.

"Hate me, Liz. Blame me. As a mother, I failed to raise my son properly, and the mess he created pushed Hanna into complete lunacy. I also failed to rein her in, allowing her to commit such an unforgivable atrocity. And later... I was the one who stopped Remington from telling you. I was too ashamed to face you..."

Listening to Fiona's trembling, guilt-ridden confession, Lizetta finally looked the older woman in the eyes.

Her own eyes were burning red. Even though so much time had passed, the wound in her heart was still raw and bloody.

The slightest touch still sent waves of suffocating agony through her.

But time changes everything. She no longer had the energy to lash out and hate everyone indiscriminately.

Lizetta squeezed Fiona's shaking hands and nodded gently.

"Don't say that, Fiona. Your health isn't good. At your age, you should be enjoying peace and the company of your family. It's our own failing that we couldn't handle our affats, forcing you to constantly worry about us. Besides, the person who committed the crime is the only one responsible. Every debt has its debtor. You shouldn't be the one carrying this guilt."

Joy's death had nearly destroyed Fiona as well. Over the past six months, Lizetta could clearly see how much the old woman had aged.

Even if Lizetta still harbored immense resentment and couldn't fully let go of the

past, she wasn't going to take it out on Fiona.

Hearing this, Fiona looked even more overwhelmed with emotion and remorse. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

"No, no, Liz. The Dashiell family

owes you far too much. The fact that you're willing to give Remington

In

another chance shows just how incredibly forgiving you are, But we can't take that for granted. And

en Buf wes

matter what, you saved Joseph's

life. He needs to pay his respects to you."

Fiona turned around and raised her voice. Joseph had already finished washing his face and walked out of the bathroom.

Hearing her, the boy immediately rushed over. Before Lizetta could even try to stop him, Joseph stepped right in front of the sofa and bowed his head deeply, his posture rigid with remorse.

Lizetta cried out, trying to pull him to his feet. "Joseph, stand up!"

But Fiona held her back.

"He needs to do this. Liz, accept his gratitude. It will help ease the burden on his conscience. He may not have committed the crime, but everything happened because of him, and he was the one who ultimately survived because of it. Showing his deep respect for you like this is the absolute least he can do."