Staring at her daughter, Connie advised in all sincerity and said, "I used to believe in neither supernatural beings nor the story about heaven and hell. I also had no idea what my bottom line was, for all I wanted was to expand my sphere of influence. Once I had money, power, and influence in my hands, I'd have the final say in the law. I never cared about my bottom line, but ever since you showed up in front of me with cuts and bruises all over your body..."

Connie looked grieved as she spoke of this. One could still notice several tiny, irremovable scars on Hilda's face if...