Winter Swan

The glass hit Ingrid on the face, and her forehead started bleeding. Silje shuddered angrily as she screamed, "How dare you! You are crazy! You will be punished. Do you really think you can get away with things like this? I don't know how great you think your family is, but… How could a human being do something like this…"

Silje shrieked loudly, but Ingrid didn't even blink. She replied, "I see that you are no ordinary girl. Of course, I should have known. Kail would never date someone normal."

Wiping her forehead with a white lace handkerchief, Ingrid waved off her bodyguard and smiled coldly.

"The important thing is that your womb has been cleaned. You may feel sad now, but you will thank me later. This is the best for everyone. Rolf is so weak and emotional, especially when it concerns Kail. I have to be the strong logical one here. By the way, the owner of this hospital is my friend, and that is why you received VIP treatment."

"Do you think you will really get away with this? I will make sure you pay for it. I will never forgive you!"

Silje screamed angrily, but Ingrid continued to laugh at her.

"What do you think you can do to me? And what would you gain from having Kail's baby? Did you think our family would accept an adopted girl like you?"

"I will report you to the police. I will tell everyone, the newspapers, and all the broadcasting stations. I will tell them what you did to me here without my consent. I won't let you get away with it. I will make sure the world knows what a monster you are."

Ingrid laughed out loud.

"Haha, oh, I'm so scared! I can see that you want to kill me, but too bad. You should first see who came to visit you here. I called a special guest for you."

When Ingrid gestured, her bodyguard brought in someone. As Silje gasped, Ingrid whispered to her, "Oh, I told her everything and we both agreed the best thing is to send you far away from Norway. Haha, so good luck. I will look forward to how you accomplish your revenge!"

Staring at the "guest" Ingrid brought to her, Silje gulped.

"Mom!"

She froze as she murmured again, "Mom…"

Just when did Olga get here?

How?

Why?

Silje couldn't believe this situation. Everything was all wrong and she couldn't think straight.

She didn't make a sound, but inside, she was crying and screaming desperately.

This couldn't be! This was too horrible.

Silje shook her head.

She was like a rabbit trapped in a snare and the fox was coming for her. Silje was caught by Ingrid and for the last time, she tried to escape.

"… Mom!"

When Silje called out to her, Olga just stared.

Her cheeks were red and there was pain in her eyes. Silje could see more white in her hair than before, making Olga look much older. Silje could guess how much pain her adoptive mother must've went through because of her, and she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt.

When Olga didn't say anything to Silje, Ingrid smiled.

"You finally came. I have been waiting for you since our phone call. When the children make trouble, we mothers need to clean up the mess, don't you think? A mother's work never ends I suppose."

Ingrid gestured elegantly, making Olga flustered and intimidated.

"Y-yes, Mrs. Bruntland."

It seemed that the two mothers already had a long conversation and made decisions about this situation. Ingrid grabbed her shiny clutch and before she left the room, she announced, "I'm sure there is a lot that the mother and daughter need to discuss privately. I will be leaving now, Mrs. Pettersen. If there is anything you need, please feel free to call me. Oh, and it seems that your immature daughter wants to get back at me for helping her. Please make her understand that her behavior is unfair and ignorant. Goodbye."

"Mom…"

Silje was still speechless in front of her adoptive mother.

What was Olga doing here?

What did Ingrid tell her? Silje had so many questions, but she just clenched her teeth. Ingrid kidnapped her, drugged her, and performed an illegal abortion on her. And now, she also brought Olga here.

How could a human being be so cruel? Silje clenched her hands until they turned white.

Anger, sadness, and guilt…

Her mind was a turmoil, but one thing was certain.

Ingrid, Kail's stepmother, will never be forgiven.

Never.

Silje gritted her teeth. She would never forgive her.

Suddenly, Silje realized she wanted everything gone from her life.

Everything that involved Kail.

That was going to be her revenge. She was going to erase everything about Kail from her. Kail and his family.

She will never get involved with him or the Bruntland family.

Silje bit her lips hard.

"Do you know what you have done?"

Olga finally opened her mouth. Looking at Silje like the world had ended, she continued, "Do you have any idea what you have done? I want to hear your explanation. Your reason for this. You must know why you did it."

This was what her adoptive mother always did. Whenever something happened, Olga didn't try to understand. She never attempted to console or understand. Instead, Olga always criticized and cornered Silje.

Knowing where this was going, Silje smiled sadly and replied, "I'm sorry, Mom. I shouldn't have done it. I know, but I was so attracted to him and I did what I shouldn't have done. I know I can't turn back time and make things alright. I have no excuses and I know I must take responsibility. If you want to un-adopt me, I understand. I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Are you kidding me? If you really were going to be sorry, you wouldn't have done it. How could you? Frank and I are not rash people. When we decided to adopt you, we thought very carefully. And we did our best for every moment that we raised you. Yet, this is the thanks we get? This is the reward we get for our kindness and effort? I don't even know what to say to you. You have ruined this family."

After a deep breath, Ola continued, "Getting pregnant even before you graduate from high school? And with a Bruntland boy? Of all families, you had to pick the most famous family in Norway? I can't believe it. Do you know how mortified I was when I was talking to Mrs. Bruntland? I don't even know what people are going to say if they find out about this!"

As Silje expected, Olga was more worried about how the others saw her rather than Silje.

Olga added angrily, "I am so scared that people find out about it. How could you?! To be honest, I am sorry I adopted a girl like you. The time I spent on you… I feel like I wasted my life on you."

"I'm sorry Mom, but it's too late now. This happened, and I have… accepted it. I have no regrets. I will try my best not to regret it. But Mom… Have you even thought about what I might have gone through today? What that woman did to me? You saw what Ingrid did in the name of her family, yet you are willing to ignore it? What she did was illegal. She kidnapped and assaulted me. Are you telling me that you are okay with that? Are you saying that you don't care what happened to me?"