CH-18 Regrets?

The scene was of an unfamiliar location, some distance from civilization.

Inside the big mansion, the grand hall was very silent in the middle of night.

Jessica was walking to the end of the route, her footsteps' sound doubled softly through the empty corridors.

After she neared the doorway, two persons positioned at the entrance bowed their heads respectfully at her.

With some anticipation and perturbed actions, she stared at guards.

"Is my mother inside?"

The security officer on the right wavered temporarily before expressing.

"I understand, ma'am. But I'm afraid I can't allow you entry-"

"Excuse me? Who do you think you're addressing?"

Jessica glared. The guard shivered under her gaze.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to-"

"You two, Enough of it! If you repeat after me: 'You're fired from this whole mansion, career, effectively and instantly!'"

The guard froze, miserable seeking support from his colleague.

His partner avoided eye contact but shortly conveyed that he had a family to support and this job was his sole source of income.

"Now, Move aside!"

Jessica eased open the gate, only to be greeted by the sight of her mother's turned back.

Jazzy stood motionless before the unlatched window, glancing at the solitary moon with lonely eyes but with a neutral face.

The moment Jessica entered forward, she sensed that her arrival had already interrupted her mother's tasks.

It was no secret that Jazzy's responsibilities kept her occupied around the clock, leaving little time for respite.

Jessica saw a pile of documents stacked on the table.

In Asia, the Stella family's connection is prodigious and unimaginable.

A single decision from them could undermine nearly forty percent of the government's control.

Undoubtedly, this type of such colossal leverage brings with it a tonnage of obligations and accountability.

Jazzy's busy life leaves her with only evanescent moments to interrelate with others.

At times, she would forgo meals entirely, quelling her hunger with nothing more than a sip of water.

It wasn't as if comestible was truly necessary for her, given her near-divine status in this world and cultivation realms.

"Why are you here at this time?"

Jazzy interrogated, her eyeballs rooted on the celestial tapestry above.

The expression was inscrutable as if she was in love with the moon and stars.

Jessica wasn't an idiot pretending like Jazzy was nonchalant about what Jass had declared in the tournament.

"What's your plan? Are you going to punish her, or perhaps set her free from this paper too?"

"... Good question… She's a living being, breathing person with the ability to make her own choices. In any case, she probably spoke those harsh words out of frustration due to my absence."

"... Mom, it's clear that you don't care for her. And let's face it – no one knows the identity of her father. On those worst periods of days… You returned home pregnant after being away for months."

Jessica strolled toward Jazzy with eccentric steps. Her voice was a socialisation of asseveration and depression.

"If you truly wished to liberate her, you could have at least unveiled her father's identity. Maybe… then she wouldn't consider herself parentless. We all abandoned her a long time ago."

"..."

Jazzy looked at Jessica with an icy glare, her criminal kind eyes glinting with maleficent intent.

Even her own daughter couldn't help but shudder with trepidation, swallowing nervously with a sense of fear.

Jessica steeling herself, motivated herself.

'It's now or never. If not you, then who? If not today, then when? You must confront this… for your sister's rights.'

"Are you aware of the financial impact her statement has caused to our family business in Asia continental plus others as well? Her ill-conceived jest has cost us very, uhh, dearly!"

"... H-How much?"

"Total is one point two million dollars.The market's ongoing activities that 'if their daughter refuses to associate with the Stella family, we did best watch our backs. Who knows what they might do to us?'"

"That's absurd! Surely our rivals are manipulating her words. But... what if she wasn't joking and actually meant what she said?"

Jessica knitted her jaw, a straight line in her lips, seething with too much emotion.

Jazzy gazed into Jessica's bloodshot eyes, which soaked with tears.

The sorrow imprinted on her face wasn't about finances but rather the heaviness of her mother's persistent grief.

'I have failed as a parent once more, haven't I? I precariously wish to demonstrate to you and your siblings that this isn't who I truly am…'

Falling silent, Jazzy say and leaned back in her seat, her eyelids driving shut as she retreated into her own thoughts.

Jessica stood in front of her, the expression hardened as there was different cooking drama in her brain.

"Mom... Did you arranged this from the beginning? When she was young, you banished her from our home because she bullied a cancer patient."

"I understand she erred, but she was merely an immature child. Why do I feel or It seems you harbour intense resentment towards her."

"... Believe what you will. I'm beyond caring. Argh, this exhaustion prevents me from embellishing anymore. About her father... I have murdered him in the demon realm because he wasn't a good person."

"..." After a long stunned silence, Jessica finally offered mock praise to her mother.

"Bravo, Mom! You're truly exceptional and merciless to your children. I came to the conclusion of the scene that... Perhaps that explains why my little brother is absent while you're here without a worry."

"He's in the remote north, Honing his skills and cultivation status."

"... Oh, I see. Any additional details?"

"... It's alright, you're free to leave. However... might I... borrow your shoulder for a minute?"

"Huh? Pardon me? What did you say?"

"Thanks… I appreciated it!"

Jazzy hugged her daughter warmly.

Jessica thought of the upcoming conversation, but instead felt a teardrop land on her shoulder. It elicited her eyes to widen in surprise.

She was about to disengage from the embrace, but her mother's arms only tightened around her shoulders, keeping both in the same position.

Jessica experienced a sharp pang of emotion.

Throughout her life, she had never seen her mother shedding tears, not even after their father's passing due to illness.

"M-Mom, W-What's causing your... distress?"

"I understand... I have been detrimental to all three of you, but please believe me. My love for you two is genuine, including… for her, if not compared to my flaws."

"It's not that I have any animosity towards Jass. The reason I have kept my distance is... her presence reminds me of some memories I'd rather forget."

Jazzy let out a soft whimper, relying heavily on her daughter as her strength waned.

"However, I give you my word... Jass will remain part of this family."

"At the very least, I'll make every effort to make it happen with every method. My past actions were misguided, and I regret the harsh words I have spoken so many times. Yet... I don't know how to reconcile my emotions when it comes to Jass…"

Curiosity starts killing Jessica, so she just directly wanted to know the whole story.

"... M-Mom, If you don't mind… Can I be informative about why… you didn't show her any affection?"