Mom's Perfect Win Rate

When I was eighteen, I was sexually assaulted.

But no matter how many times I appealed, the perpetrator, with the help of a mysterious lawyer, always managed to escape justice.

My mother, while delivering takeout, consoled me.

Trust me, sweetheart, bad people always get their comeuppance.

Though I was heartbroken, I was grateful for Moms presence, so I posted the video of her comforting me online.

To my surprise, the video blew up the next day, with comments pouring in.

Isnt your mom the most famous lawyer in the legal world?

And youre saying a lawyer couldnt help you after being assaulted? Who could ever beat your mom?

Seeing this, I was about to confront Mom when I heard that nightmarish voice from behind her door.

Youre still the best lawyer, never made me set foot in court all these years.

Mom scoffed.

Cut the nonsense. If it werent to maintain my undefeated record, why would I be your defense attorney and harm my own daughter?

At the sound, my phone.

It clattered to the floor with a bang.

Mom heard the noise and walked towards the door.

Is that Lily outside?

Her voice was as gentle as always, which made it impossible for me to believe that the lawyer hiding behind that man was Mom.

The door opened.

I looked into Moms eyes, my voice trembling.

Mom, what were you just saying?

Moms gaze avoided mine.

Nothing, Lily. You should get some rest. Mom needs to go deliver takeout.

I watched her hurried escape, and tears finally slipped from my eyes.

I grabbed her clothes, asking, somewhat out of control, Mom, was it really you?

Mom didnt turn around, just kept repeating,

Lily, I dont understand what youre saying.

Then, she pulled her shirt hem from my grasp.

My hands were empty, and so was my heart.

I knelt on the floor, self-destructively scrolling through the video comments.

This isnt really staged by this girl, is it? Her own mother wont even help her.

Maybe she provoked him.

I knew it. Who just randomly assaults someone on the street? It takes two to tango, right?

Tears hit the phone screen, blurring the words and making it impossible for me to read what people were saying.

Ding-ding

A message popped up on my phone.

Surprise, right? Your mother is my defense attorney. It wasnt me who pushed you into the abyss, it was the person you loved most.

It was that man, Marcus.

His words shattered my last shred of illusion, bluntly telling me that the person who had caused me so much pain for all these years was my beloved mother.

I got up from the floor and started packing. I had to leave this place.

But the moment I grabbed my suitcase and opened the front door, I regretted it.

I wanted to give Mom and me another chance. She raised me, cared for me; I couldnt believe she felt no love for me at all.

I dragged the suitcase back, sat on the sofa, and waited for Mom to come home, to give me an answer.

Darkness slowly consumed me as I sat on the sofa.

The door opened.

Mom walked in, turned on the lights, and seeing me on the sofa, she jumped.

Lily, what are you doing sitting there?

I didnt speak, just held my phone up to her.

Moms face slowly reddened as she looked at the comments.

Lily, these people are all lying to you.

Although I had anticipated Moms reaction, at that moment, I still couldnt help but feel a pang of sorrow.

I nodded, then put the message that man sent me in front of Mom.

Is this also a lie?

Mom looked at me, her mouth opening and closing, unable to speak.

I grabbed her clothes, crying as if my heart was tearing.

Mom, why? You knew everything! Why?!

Mom seemed to be lashing out in anger, or perhaps provoked by my disrespectful demeanor, and shoved me to the ground.

He didnt have money for a lawyer; the court directly appointed me as his legal counsel! What was I supposed to do?!

I lay on the floor, looking at Mom.

I had never seen Mom like this before: agitated, breaking down.

She pointed at me.

Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted him to win?! But I had no choice!

I sobbed, my voice choked with tears.

How could you have no choice? You clearly could have could have given up defending him.

That would ruin my hundred percent win rate, absolutely not!

Moms answer came without a moments hesitation.

The speech I had prepared in my head was now impossible to deliver.

Mom looked at me, head bowed in silence, and her tone softened a little.

Lily, I never intended for you to know about this. Now that you do, dont appeal again.

I scrambled up from the floor, out of control.

Why! Are you going to strip away my right to appeal too?!

My voice was loud, but the tremor in it was unmistakable.

I didnt understand. In Moms eyes, did all my suffering, all this pain, mean less than her hundred percent win rate?

Mom sat on the sofa, looking at me, standing in the middle of the living room, my face flushed with anger.

Do you think you can find a lawyer who can beat me? The money I gave you isnt enough to hire a good lawyer, is it?

Her voice carried a hint of triumph.

Triumph that she had long prepared for this very situation.

The money she gave me wasnt much, just enough for basic needs. Whenever I used to ask her for money for a lawyer, she would pull out a few crumpled hundred-dollar bills from her pocket and hand them to me, saying:

This is what Mom earned lately, working tirelessly delivering takeout. Take it and hire a lawyer. Mom will definitely make sure that man goes to jail!

But I would look at her hunched back, and only take a few bills each time.

That money was never enough to hire a decent lawyer, but I never blamed her.

I truly believed back then that she endured wind and rain every day delivering takeout, and every night I would feel guilty.

It turned out it was all a lie.

Tears flowed uncontrollably.

Mom, if you promise not to defend him next time, Ill pretend I never knew any of this, okay?

I pleaded humbly.

I knew I should be running out the door right now, or at the very least, cursing her fiercely.

But I still chose to beg, because she was my mother, and I knew she loved me.

Her tears were real when she found out I had been assaulted.

It was real, too, that she held my hand day and night, afraid I might do something drastic and leave her.

So I was willing, I was willing to give her another chance.

If only she would say yes.

I looked at her with desperate hope, but she remained silent.

My heart leapt into my throat.

No.

My heart shattered.

She looked at my trembling form and said,

Lily, if I win, I can give you a better life. The past is over; lets not dwell on it.

I dont know why she thought the past was over for me.

I backed away.

Mom, if youre still going to defend him, then just pretend you never had a daughter like me.

She stood up, slamming the delivery helmet she was holding onto the floor.

How long are you going to keep this up?! Cant we just live a peaceful life? Its been years, hasnt that incident passed in your mind?!

I was startled by her outburst.

She actually thought that continuing to appeal was my fault.

I didnt want to talk to her anymore. Perhaps we were destined to cut ties.

I pushed my suitcase towards the door.

Mom, I wont give up. I dont believe injustice can truly triumph over justice.

I opened the door. One foot had just stepped out when I heard Moms voice.

Lily Evans, if you dont want me as your mother anymore, then leave! Once you go, dont ever come back!

I didnt hesitate. My other foot stepped out the door.

Mom, you werent giving me a chance; I was giving you a chance.

You didnt take it, so now we only have this path.

I closed the door, shutting out her voice.

Dragging my suitcase downstairs, I suddenly didnt know where to go.

Was I really wrong? Should that incident really be over for me?

My phone rang again. That man had sent me another message.

Your mom told me you still plan to appeal? Heh, Ill be waiting.

What followed were more obscene words.

He said I wouldnt win, that my failure would give more people like him confidence, that I would harm more girls.

He said he still remembered how I tasted.

My hands squeezed the phone tightly.

How could it be over?! How could it?!

I blocked him.

I wanted him to lose, for him and everyone with those vile thoughts to know the consequences of their actions.

I took out my phone and filed the lawsuit again.

I wouldnt stop, not until the appeal period ended.

But now I needed money. Enough money to hire a better lawyer.

I dragged my suitcase, found a random motel, and started a livestream.

Because of the video I posted tonight, I had gained quite a few followers. Many people joined as soon as they saw me go live.

The comments were mostly about me, but I remained silent, waiting for the viewership to grow.

Soon, it surpassed a hundred thousand.

I finally began to speak.

Hello everyone. You probably know Im the girl who was assaulted.

As soon as I said this, the comments section flooded even faster.

Most people called me indecent, saying how could I even talk about such a thing on livestream.

I ignored them and just told my entire story.

Slowly, the speed of the comments slowed down, and my voice began to crack with emotion.

I still couldnt accept that my own mother was the source of my pain.

After finishing my story, I paused for a moment, composing myself before continuing.

Im not saying all this to seek pity. Its just that I genuinely dont have money to hire a lawyer right now. Can anyone help me? I can write an IOU and pay you back as soon as I start working.

Suddenly, all sorts of gifts filled my screen.

The comments section was filled with people saying I didnt need to pay them back.

I cried and bowed to everyone.

But truthfully, there were still many negative comments, which I ignored completely.

Just as I was about to end the stream, there was a forceful knock on my door.

I walked over and asked.

Who is it?

Miss Evans its Im here to bring you water.

It was the front desks voice, but for some reason, her voice was trembling slightly.

I opened the door.

It was Marcus. He held a knife to the front desk attendants throat. When he saw me open the door, he shoved her aside.

He stormed in.

Damn you, you bitch! Do you have a death wish?! Who gave you permission to talk about this on stream? Dont you have any shame?!

I knew why he was so angry. Because I had just directly said his name on the livestream.

That little bit of dignity he had desperately tried to maintain, I had ripped it away.

You deserve it! If you hadnt done those things, what would I have to say? Besides, youre the one who should feel shame!

He took a few steps forward and grabbed my throat.

You dead woman, Im going to kill you right now.

I fell backward, not struggling at all.

Because I knew his assault would be broadcast completely live.

This time, hundreds of thousands of viewers were my witnesses. I didnt believe I would lose.