127 A Ridiculous Ending

Selma Payne's POV:

After talking to Aldrich, I felt much better. I turned around and found my mother looking at me gently in the corridor.

She walked over and sat down beside me.

"Mother." I wiped my tears and said shyly, "I'm sorry."

My mother wiped my face with her sleeve and said softly, "Why did you suddenly cry?"

"I don't know. I didn't even notice that I was crying," I whispered.

I didn't want to be too indecisive, but Adele's urging and behavior touched me deeply.

"I just called Aldrich, and he consoled me. I feel much better."

My mother touched the top of my head and leaned against me.

"I understand how you feel. I feel the same way as you. When your father saw Adele, he would also be worried about her current state and feel sad for her fate. This is the empathy that everyone has. You don't have to blame yourself for her."

"But she's a criminal," I whispered.