Helen's POV:
I was not surprised at Jane's appearance.This hotel had been her residence, ! presume, because of
me.So I wondered what her purpose might be, given that she flew from New York.
When she sat next to me, I glanced at her casually.
"What would you like to drink?"
Jane ordered the same juice I had and we both leisurely watched the fun by the sea.
After a while, she confessed, "Helen, you know what? I've been envious of you since I was a child.
Back then, no matter how enthusiastic Dad was during his stay with me, he still rushed to be with you
once our time was up.He never failed to prioritize you.
Later on, the realization hit me in the head.
Early in life, he wanted me to learn that we're very different.
An illegitimate child will always be an illegitimate child.His legal wife's child would always hold a special
place in his heart."
The absence of emotions in her voice made her seem distant.It was like she was sharing her story with
a mere stranger.I gaped at her, puzzled why she suddenly mentioned our father.It had been the first
time we talked about him so peacefully since he passed away.I thought it was ridiculous, but lots of
things had already happened.
What was the point of bringing it up now? Jane continued, "I'm jealous of you.When we were little, Dad
drove you to and from school every day, while I could only call him uncle in public.Do you know how
much it pained me to call him that? When the teacher praised you for playing the piano well, he looked
very proud.From then on, I studied hard to be better than you, yet my excellent grades still meant
nothing to him."
She sighed and fell silent.
"Do you think Dad spoiling me made me happy? He actually didn't care about my mother and me, not
in the real way.I didn't need to be excellent as long as I played the obedient daughter and let him raise
me the way he like.I didn't figure it out until I wised up."
"What are you trying to say, Jane?" I interrupted.
The ghosts of our past still haunted us.
Dad was so strict that he pressured me to do my best.
Otherwise, I got punished.иσνєℓєвσσк.¢σмHis death helped us see things in a new light, though we
had varying perspectives.
According to Jane, Dad never treated them like his own.
On the other hand, she couldn't understand the misery my mother and I endured at his hands.
If he loved us, why did he let us suffer? Jane fell silent for a moment, probably contemplating.
She sighed and finally said, "I assure you that our father loved you and your mother until the
end.Despite embezzling tons of money, he refused to take it to your home for your safety.He managed
to provide your family a comfortable life with the cleanest source of income he had."
My eyes met hers, seeking if she was perhaps lying.
Was it true? Did Dad yearn to protect us? "Dad covered up his corrupt practices to maintain an upright
image in front of you.He also didn't want you to get hurt,"
Jane smiled with a hint of bitterness.It then occurred to me.
Dad persistently taught me to be a kind, righteous person.
I even looked up to him, thinking he was my role model.
We never suspected that he would do anything shady, and that was also why his corruption came as a
shock to me and my mother.
Hearing this out of the blue sparked mixed emotions inside me.I asked in confusion, "Did you come
here just to tell me this?"
Knowing how calculating Jane was, she must have traveled all the way here for a reason.
"Of course not.I want to make your life a living hell.Do you know who George's father is? He worked in
Philly when Dad died.At that time, he had been there for only three years, and without warning, our
father just committed suicide.Do you think it was all a coincidence? Helen, you are with the son of our
father’s murderer.Fate is cruel, isn't it?"
My mind went blank.I had a hard time processing the shocking revelations.
Lost as I was, I uttered, "What do you mean?"
"Don't you get it? You're pretending to be clueless, huh? George's father killed ours.Dad left a letter
addressed to you and your mother, which my mother kept for all these years," Jane snapped.
"What? Did he leave a suicide note?"
"After all, he was a cautious man.How could he not tell you everything before his death? I packed up
his belongings including the letter and sent them to your mother.She should have received them by
now."
I couldn't shake off the coldness in her tone.
Then she lost it.
"If you hadn't taken George away from me, I might have tolerated you.You ruined every good thing in
my life! I won't ever spare you!"
Jane stood up abruptly.
As she was about to part, she added, "By the way, George is aware of this.Is he hiding it from you to
protect you, or he has an ulterior motive?"
I stared helplessly at her receding figure.Once she was out of sight, I fished my phone in a hurry to
check on my mother.
Her recent progress showed impressive signs of recovery.
This turn of events would trigger her, and I couldn't allow that.
That letter, whatever it had written on it, she shouldn't see it.
However, it was too late.
When I opened the surveillance video, I saw my mother gasping for breath with crumpled papers in her
hand.My tears welled up as I ached to witness her curling up on the floor, sobbing.
Hot whips of panic struck me, but I could do nothing.
I called the doctor that instant, hoping they could stop my mother from reading my father's suicide note.
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