Xenia shot her right hand into the air, her eyes wide and earnest. “I, Xenia, swear to God,” she said, each word ringing with conviction. “If a single word I’ve just said is a lie, may lightning strike me down. May I die a horrible death, and may my whole family die with me!”
Seeing the lingering disbelief in his eyes, she added desperately, “If I’m lying, then may my brother never find a kidney!”
Hearing her swear on the one person she held most dear, Lionel finally began to question what Sandra had told him. But he had known Sandra for so many years. He couldn’t believe that someone so gentle and considerate could be capable of such a thing.
Xenia looked up, saw the conflict on his face, and crawled forward on her knees.
“Mr. Rosenberg, I know I’m just an outsider, and you have no reason to believe me,” she pleaded. “But you can ask anyone at the firm. None of them knew Hannah was your wife. They all thought Sandra was your mistress, so everyone treated her like royalty. They knew she disliked Hannah, so they all ganged up on her, giving her the worst cases, the most difficult clients, all the grunt work.”
To save herself, she had to drag everyone else down with her.
“Mr. Rosenberg, Sandra is not the person you think she is. And I’m no saint either. I hurt your wife for money, but I was only trying to save my brother!” she cried, tears and snot streaming down her face.
A heavy feeling settled in Lionel’s chest. He had never heard any of this before.
The room fell silent, filled only with the sound of Xenia’s desperate sobs.
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