Betrayed by Blood: My Second Life as a Queen novel Chapter 229

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It was the first time Willow had ever seen him cry. In her memory, Xavier was always resolute and decisive. After their parents died, he single-handedly propped up the family, his face stripped of any unnecessary emotion.

Once upon a time, Willow's heart used to ache for him.

There were even times when seeing him sitting alone, brooding, would make a lump form in her throat.

She had always believed she could never bear to see Xavier cry.

But now, witnessing it with her own eyes, Willow realized it wasn't unbearable at all.

She felt no pity, nor did she feel any sense of vindication.

She merely felt genuinely puzzled.

She tilted her head and asked, "Xavier, aren't I the one who actually suffered? What right do you have to cry?"

Xavier's pupils trembled. Tears clung to his lashes, unable to fall.

He looked up at Willow in a daze, opening his mouth several times, but utterly failing to utter a single word.

Then, Willow's calm, soft laughter echoed through the entire courtroom. "Xavier, ever since you adopted Tessa, all of your attention has been on her. You oppressed and tormented me countless times just for her sake. Simply because she said she liked Elias, you ruthlessly forced me to give up my wedding. You subjected me to endless torment, even plotting against my life time and time again. Tessa is the one who should be your real sister. I vacated the position for her, aren't you happy? You wanted me to be sensible, and now I'm being perfectly sensible. Aren't you pleased?"

Her tone was slow, completely devoid of any aggressive edge, as though she were genuinely confused from the bottom of her heart—like an innocent child eagerly seeking answers.

Yet, every single question landed like a sledgehammer, brutally crushing Xavier's heart.

Pulverizing it into a bloody pulp, sending violent spasms of agony through his chest, until he was reduced to uncontrollable sobbing.

Xavier wanted to say: Willow, I don't need you to be sensible anymore...

But he couldn't force the words out. Even if he did, it was far too late.

It couldn't erase the suffering she had endured, nor could it stitch up her wounds.

Instead, the memories wedged themselves like a sharp thorn in his throat, making him want to vomit with disgust every time he recalled them.

The judge fixed his gaze on him. "Defendant, do you have any objections to the evidence submitted by the plaintiff?"

Xavier snapped back to reality. He remained silent for two seconds before his shoulders completely slumped, as if every ounce of vitality had been instantly drained from his body.