Brighton's lying in the hospital bed , pale as death . The doctor says he's not in mortal danger , but needs to stay for observation . " Why did you save me ? " My voice trembles . Brighton slowly opens his eyes , full of guilt : " I owed you . " " You don't owe me anything . " I shake my head , but warmth floods my heart . " I do . " He struggles to turn his head , voice choking up . " All these years , I watched her torture you and never tried to stop it . I'm a coward . " My eyes instantly fill with tears . This once - cold teenager has been carrying those memories all along . Garrett pushes through the door , face dark as storm clouds : " Marlena's been arrested . Attempted murder . " I nod , but don't feel the satisfaction I expected . Instead , there's this weird emptiness . Three days later , the police come to see me . Marlena wants to see you one last time . " hesitate for a long time . Finally , I decide to go . Maybe I need complete closure . At the detention center , Marlena sits behind the glass . he's lost a lot of weight , hair all messy , eyes full of venom . The moment she sees me , there's a flash of something complex in her eyes , but it's quickly replaced by rage . Rozanne ! " She starts cursing the second she sees me . " It's all you ! You little bitch destroyed everything ! " quietly listen to her rant , thinking : Will she say one word of apology ? Just one ? You're nothing but bad luck ! My biggest regret was ever taking you home ! " You ruined everything ! My marriage , my son , my life ! " The gets more worked up , tears and snot flowing together . My heat sinks it by bat wad for ber to get tired of screaming , then ask the question that's been buried in my heart for twenty years : " Three years ago , at the docks , when you told me o wait for you Were you sincere in that moment ? Mariena freezes Her eyes start darting around , lije trending Maybe , maybe she'll say yes . Maybe she'll say that in that moment , she really couldn't bear to leave me Then she suddenly starts laughing hysterically : " Sincere ? Rozanne , do you deserve that ? My heart sinks , 22:22 From Beloved Daughter to Dood word . Chapter 8 " I never once thought of you as my daughter ! You were just a tool ! A prop to make Garrett feel sorry for me ! " Every word stabs into my heart like a knife . " You think I could love you ? Some random street kid ? " She's laughing so hard tears are streaming : " I wish you'd died years ago ! Then nobody would know about my past ! " My world completely collapses . For twenty years , I've been waiting for an answer . In answer about love . Now I have it . t was all just wishful thinking on my part . stand up shakily . Marlena's still laughing and cursing maniacally . Roxanne ! You'll always be an unwanted bastard ! " You'll never have a family ! Nobody will ever love you ! " turn and leave , tears finally breaking free . ler voice gets fainter and more distant behind me . Valking out of the detention center , the sunlight's so bright I can't open my eyes . touch the scar below my collarbone - it doesn't hurt anymore . he last trace of obsession with the word " mother " finally disappears from my heart . m no longer that little girl desperate to be loved . m Roxanne . Roxanne who survives on her own . Rozanne who finally learned to stop begging for love . he day of the court verdict , I sit in the gallery , gripping my purse strap tightly . Marlena gets sentenced to three years in prison . Uncle Zander gets fined and detained for perjury . is she's led away , she looks back at me one last time , eyes full of hatred . thought I'd feel relieved , but my heart feels emply instead , like something important has been hollowed out . waited twenty years for this moment - so why don't I feel the satisfaction I expected ? Chapter 9 Chapter 9