chapter1159

Lydia's voice floated through the room, clear and steady. "Online public opinion is

like a sharp blade. If you use it right, it can do good, but in the wrong hands, it can hurt people. Rosie twisted the truth and dragged my name through the mud for her own benefit. That's not just disrespectful to me. It's ignoring what's right, and it's breaking the law."

Mandy hurried over, desperation in her eyes. "Lydia, please, give Rosie a chance to make things right. She's young and made a stupid mistake. This has been a wake- up call for her, I promise."

Cameron let out a low scoff. "Being young doesn't mean you get a free pass. If you mess up, you deal with the fallout. That's just how it works. You plant bad seeds, you get bad fruit. She needs to face the consequences, or she'll never learn."

Benjamin shifted uncomfortably, his voice quiet. Mr. Norwood, we came here to ask what you'd want us to do. We'll do anything to make up for what Rosie did, just please, don't take this to court."

Lydia looked straight at him, her chin lifted. "Why shouldn't we? She broke the law. She slandered me, and now you want to protect her?"

In a world this complicated, you had to hold onto your principles. If you didn't respect others, how could you expect anyone to respect you?

Mandy's voice trembled as she looked at Lydia. "If this goes to court... she'll be sentenced. I'm her mother. How could I stand by and watch my child go to prison? Miss Norwood... Mr. and Mrs. Norwood... I'm begging you, just this once, can you

let her go?"

Mandy dropped to her knees in front of Lydia. The sound of it echoed in the silent room. Everyone knew how proud Mandy was. No one ever thought they'd see her like this, kneeling and begging for her daughter in front of a crowd. It was heartbreaking, how far a mother's love could go.

Benjamin hesitated, his pride holding him back. He couldn't bring himself to kneel too, so he just stood there, awkward and powerless.

Kylie watched Mandy and let out a long sigh. "get it. No mother wants to see her child suffer. But you have to ask yourself... was what Rosie did right or wrong? What if Eydia didn't have the resources to clear her name? What if she couldn't get the proof she needed? Would she have to just sit there and let strangers attack her online?"

These days, online hate could be brutal. Too many people had crumbled under that kind of pressure and given up on life.

Mandy's eyes filled with tears, her

words broken and pleading. "I know how serious this is. Just don't let Rosie go to jail. We'll do

anything she apologize publicl you can yell at her, whatever you want. Just please, don't send her to prison. I'm begging you."

She was trapped, with nowhere else to go. No one could save Rosie except her own mother. If even she gave up, Rosie would be left all alone, abandoned by everyone. How was she supposed to go on like that?

Lucinda had been quiet the whole

time, just watching. Mandy was

ready to do anything for her

daughter and Lucinda felt a pang of envy. She wondered, almost without meaning to... Who was her own mother? Where was she? Would she ever have someone fight for her like that?

Kylie and Cameron didn't say a word. The silence pressed in on the room.

Mandy, desperate, pressed her forehead to the floor. Again and again, the sound of her head hitting the tile filled the space. It was almost like her body was moving on its own.

"Lydia, I'm begging you..." Mandy's voice broke, and the room held its breath.