Landon's composure shattered as he clung to his mother's arm in desperation. "It's not me! I had nothing to do with this! The charity scam—it was her doing!" His trembling hand shot toward Yvonne, his voice laced with panic and betrayal. The accusation hit Yvonne like a slap in the face, her fury almost causing her to choke. Mrs. Lewis, quick to rally behind her son, immediately chimed, "Yes, exactly! Landon doesn't know anything about these matters—he's just a child! She orchestrated everything. My son is innocent!" "Mom!" Yvonne's voice cracked with disbelief. Were you truly so blinded by favoritism that you would sacrifice your own daughter to save your precious son? Just then, a strained, rasping voice broke through the chaos. From his place on the hospital bed, Mr. Lewis summoned his last reserves of strength to speak. "It's him... Take him away," he wheezed, his frail hand pointing unerringly at Landon. Mrs. Lewis spun around, her face a mask of shock. "What are you saying? Are you out of your mind?" Landon's face contorted with rage, his glare boring into his father. "Dad, how can you do this to me?! You're so unfair!" Yvonne, tears welling in her reddened eyes, looked at her father. A flicker of warmth bloomed in her heart, a small but significant solace. The officer scanned the dysfunctional family before him, his expression a mask of stoic indifference. Despite the absurdity of the scene, his professionalism remained unshaken. "Both of you, come with us," he ordered curtly, gesturing at Landon and Yvonne. Without further ado, his team moved to escort them out for questioning. Mrs. Lewis, gripped by desperation, darted forward to block their path. "Wait! If you take them, will they be allowed to come back home?" The officer's voice was measured but unyielding. "That depends on the investigation. If evidence confirms the allegations, they'll be held in custody." Panic flared in her eyes as she pressed on, "How long are we talking about?" He met her gaze with a steady resolve. "The charges involve fraudulent activities amounting to over three hundred thousand. If convicted, the sentence could exceed a decade in prison." The mention of a prison sentence spanning over ten years left Landon utterly paralyzed with fear, his complexion turning ghostly pale. The officer, unfazed, added matter-of-factly, "Given your son's age, there may be some leniency in sentencing, but the reduction would be minimal." Overcome with dread, Landon clung to his mother's arm as if his life depended on it. His voice cracked with desperation, "Mom, I can't go to prison! Please, do something!" Mrs. Lewis' heart clenched as she looked at her son, the child she had cherished and protected for so many years. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to the officers, her voice trembling but resolute. "Please, let these two go. They're just kids—they don't understand the consequences of their actions. It's all my fault. I'm the one behind everything. If you need to arrest someone, take me instead!" Yvonne's voice rang out, laced with icy disdain. "This mess is entirely your doing. None of this would have spiraled out of control if you hadn't meddled. You're the one who ran to the reporters, stirring up chaos and dragging us into this mess. If someone has to pay the price, it should be you." Landon, quick to latch onto his sister's accusation, nodded emphatically. "Exactly. We only did what you told us to. This is all on you, Mom." Mrs. Lewis' expression faltered as her daughter's biting accusations hit home. While her anger burned at Yvonne's words, the ache in her chest deepened when her son, without hesitation, threw her under the bus. The betrayal was sharp and painful, yet she couldn't bring herself to resent him fully. Ultimately, the police escorted all three of them away for further investigation. With their stories perfectly aligned—and even Mr. Lewis backed their claims—the blame fell squarely on Mrs. Lewis. She became the scapegoat, left to shoulder the full weight of the charges. Given the siblings' young age, the authorities detained them briefly before releasing them. Stripped of every cent and burdened by disgrace, they staggered back to the slums, their dignity shattered. Without funds to cover his hospital stay, Mr. Lewis was unceremoniously discharged, leaving the family no choice but to retreat in shame. Their arrival in the slum was met with a torrent of scorn. Neighbors gathered, whispering spiteful remarks loud enough to pierce their ears. Fingers pointed, and sneers followed their every move. Yvonne stood frozen, staring at the bare, crumbling walls of their home. Poverty now loomed over them like a suffocating shadow. Her brother's curses echoed relentlessly. Her father's frail figure demanded care they couldn't afford, and the weight of mounting medical bills crushed her spirit. It felt as if the world had collapsed entirely, leaving her trapped in an endless void of despair. Suddenly, the chime of her phone broke through the oppressive silence. Amid the suffocating hopelessness, a soft ding shattered the silence. Her phone screen lit up with a notification—a message from Bloomington School. 'Due to Yvonne Lewis' misconduct and moral failings, which are incompatible with the school's values, we regret to inform you of her expulsion.' The phone slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a dull thud. For a moment, she could only see darkness. Her legs felt weak, her mind spiraling into despair. This was no mere consequence—it was retribution. Seraphina wasn't content with just ruining us. No, this was a deliberate attempt to crush us completely. To crush me!