ra raised an eyebrow, realizing yet another person had fallen under Quinn''s spell.


    June settled back into her seat, taking a deep breath. "You know, Quinn''s always been a shy, timid girl. When she was with us, we pampered her, and Hugh adored her too. But for some reason, other girls just didn''t take to her. So we did everything we could to protect her and make sure she grew up happy."


    As she reminisced, tears welled up in her eyes.


    "Hugh might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but his heart''s in the right ce. He''d often end up roughed up for defending Quinn. Six years back, it got so bad it left him in aa. Quinn was riddled with guilt and decided to start working multiple jobs. Somehow, she was brought back to the Bradford family. At first, we were thrilled for her, but then my husband got caught up in that scandal and was pped with a twenty-year sentence. I begged the Bradford family for help, just a little financial aid, but they turned their backs on us, even forbidding Quinn from visiting. She snuck out a few times, handing me two hundred grand with tears in her eyes. She said she was out of options. She was just a kid, not even twenty. I couldn''t burden her with everything, so I fought to prove my husband''s innocence, only to be met with obstacles and threats. These five years have been a nightmare. By a twist of fate, I found out Hugh was in this hospital, so I started visiting in secret."


    Her hands, rough and scarred, told their own story.


    “I''ve no idea how Hugh ended up here. I just kept hanging around until I saw you. I was genuinely surprised you wanted to help Hugh. When the Bradford family heard about my husband''s supposed crime, they cut us offpletely. No amount of pleading worked. I was scared that if I showed my face, you''d stop helping Hugh. But I''m desperate. My husband''s been suffering for five years. He''s constantly attacked for no reason. He says he can''t hold on much longer and wants me to look after myself and Hugh.


    "I don''t know what to do. We''ve lived honest lives. Why do good people face such cruelty? Why..."


    She fell to her knees again. Blood from her earlier bow marred her forehead, but she didn''t care, continuing to plead with all her might.


    "Miss ra, you''re a saint for helping Hugh. I beg you, just let me see my husband onest time. He can''t hold on much longer. He had nothing to do with that crime. He was just passing by and called the cops. No one knows how his DNA ended up on the victim. It''s like something out of a horror story."


    The sound of her head hitting the floor was painful to hear. ra gently lifted her, stopping the self-inflicted punishment.


    "June," ra asked softly, "do you really see Quinn as an innocent girl?"


    June''s eyes brimmed with tears as she covered her face. "Quinn''s a good kid. The two hundred grand she gave me got me through the toughest times, but I can''t find work. Nobody wants to hire me, and I''ve had to resort to begging. I don''t want to trouble her, especially since the Bradford family doesn''t want me around."