CHAPTER 124: Emotional Tug-of-War

Philip

The streetlights blurred as I stared out the car window, my mind a whirlwind of emotions on the way back to Serenity Pines.

I had just come from the police station, where I met my father, who had a grim look throughout the process. My mother died in prison. The news of my mother's suicide in prison hit me like a physical blow. Even though she had become a bad person, Madam Cornell was still my mother. It pained me to think she had managed to hurt Sarah.

Dad had taken on the grim responsibility of identifying and claiming Mom's body.

My mind was in chaos as the car approached Serenity Pines. It must have been around one in the morning, and Sarah was probably curled on the bed. I checked my phone and saw a message from her, which had been sent hours ago.

Sarah: Is everything alright, Philip?

My throat tightened. No, nothing was alright.

I decided to tell Sarah the truth in person, so I didn't respond to her message. Besides, she was likely asleep by now.

I got out of the