THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 232: Nothing Will Change.

"You have just twenty minutes to spend with the criminal. So make the best use of your time together," the warden advised.

The visitor’s room door creaked open, and Linda’s eyes scanned the room until they landed on her mother, seated at the worn metal table.

As her mother’s weary eyes met hers, different emotions flickered across Linda’s face.

"Mom," Linda called out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mrs Beazell managed a faint smile, the lines etched on her face telling tales of the hardship of the past weeks.

"My darling, it’s good to see you." Her words held a tinge of melancholy.

The sterile room felt suffocating, the fluorescent lights casting an artificial glow on the mother and daughter.

Taking in her mother’s haggard look and dim eyes, Linda’s heart constricted and she couldn’t stop the tears that rolled down her eyes. "How have you been coping here, mom?"

"So so," Mrs Beazell said dismissively and let out a bitter laugh.

How was she going to tell her daughter that life has been more than hell for her.

Several days she had to sleep on an empty stomach because of her vicious cell mates who bullied her all day round.

It was even more degrading mentioning the several times she had been raped and everyone seemed to turn a blind eyes.

It was like someone was deliberately targeting her in prison. Apart from Kathleen she didn’t think anyone was capable of instigating such wickedness.

She never thought she would ever live to experience such humiliation and terrifying things in her entire life.

Staring at her daughter who was dressed impeccably in expensive attire that accentuated her figure, she couldn’t help but sigh and for the first time in her life, felt jealous of her own daughter.

Memories of shopping sprees, spas, dinners and events, all reflecting her days of glory, a stark contrast to her current lifestyle, flooded back to haunt her.

"I miss being out there, you know?" She said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"I will try my best to make sure you come out soon," Linda comforted.

Mrs Beazell shook her head. "Don’t bother my dear, besides what can a little child like you do? The Beazell Group is no more and everyone has deserted us. How do you intend to get me out?"

"Don’t give up hope mother, things can still change."

"Nothing will change, my dear."

Mrs Beazell’s eyes turned ferocious all of a sudden. "The only regret I have is that I wasn’t able to strangle that bitch to death when I saw her in court. At least my being here wouldn’t have been such a waste."

"I guess she might be thinking she has the last laugh but I will make sure she dies a miserable death. But before that, I will ensure that she experiences everything I had to go through in multiple folds."

Linda nodded in total agreement. "It is all her fault that you are here, but rest assured, mom, I will avenge you for putting you through all this."

Mrs Beazell shrugged and asked, "How is your father?"

Linda frowned. "He hasn’t been here? He hardly comes home these days. All he does when he comes back is shut himself in his room and will refuse to even see me."

Mrs Beazell’s face twisted in a mocking smile. "I understand how he feels. He must detest me by now and want nothing to do with me."

"But he is still your husband and should be concerned about you."

"Don’t blame him dear. Is my friend Joanne still on her trip?"

At the mention of Shawn’s mother, Linda’s face turned dark. "Forget about her mom."

"What do you mean? She can be of help at a time like this."

Linda snorted coldly. "She has been back for more than two weeks but refused to see me despite reaching out to her several times."

"I don’t think she is aware of what had happened to me," Mrs Beazell still pressed. She refused to believe that Joanne would abandon her after their long years of friendship.

She remembered how Joanne even swore to her that no one would be able to get married to her son apart from Linda and she has fulfilled that promise over the years. Was that not the reason they collaborated to set up Kathleen and drove her away?

"The news of your arrest was everywhere Mom. Who is Joanne in Baltimore? Even when she doesn’t go out there to seek for news, it comes to her. There is no way she would not have heard that you are in jail, yet she refused to pay you a visit or agree to see me even if it is just once."

Mrs Beazell shook her head in despair and sighed deeply.

"That’s human for you. They claim to care when everything is rosy but as soon as things go the other way, you’ll be deserted. You have to learn your lessons from my own experience."

"I have mom." Linda didn’t need to be told this as all her own friends had done likewise. None of them that used to fawn over her were anywhere to be found."

Mrs Beazell reached into her bra and brought out something.

"I want you to contact someone for me. Just give him this paper, he knows what to do."

Linda stared at the strange phone number and string of unfamiliar codes on the piece of paper her mother had handed over to her.

"Who is this person, mom?"

"You don’t need to know who he is, but from now on, you have to come visit me as often as you can. You are the only contact I have with the outside world now."

Linda had a gut feeling that this person might not be simple, but she nodded all the same. "Okay mom."

The guard signaled that their time was almost up. With a heavy heart, Linda stood, feeling the weight of separation. "I’ll visit again soon," she promised, grasping her mother’s hand through the cold barrier.

As she walked away, Linda’s thoughts swirled. She glanced back, catching a final glimpse of her mother’s figure behind the glass.