Chapter 17 You're My Daughter

• Bill sighed softly, his voice tinged with reluctance, "It's been such a long time since it happened. Why do you keep dwelling on it? We were desperate back then."
• They were desperate indeed—they were so desperate they couldn't come up with the money to repay the gambling debt and ended up selling their daughter!
• Freya struggled to contain her rising anger and sarcasm. "That's not my concern. I have to get back to work now. Goodbye."
• With that, she hung up the phone.
• Bill stared at his now darkened phone, his face clouded with anger. Sitting beside him, Janet felt guilt wash over her after hearing the conversation.
• She blames us.
• "If Fae doesn't want to come back, then ... "
• "She's just upset," Bill said firmly.
• "You should go and see her, say a few kind words. You've always had a good bond with her since she was little. She'll listen to you." A glimmer of hope flickered in Bill's eyes.
• "Sigh ... " Janet sighed deeply.
• "But ... "
• Janet wanted to say something, but Bill cut her off.
• "No 'buts'. She doesn't want to see me right now. I want to make amends for what happened before, but I don't have the chance. So, it's up to you to say a few kind words to her."
• "Will she listen to me?" Janet still harboured doubts. "And I don't even know where Fae works."
• "She will. You have a good relationship," Bill reassured, his expression softening slightly. "She works at Motionbridge Corporation."
• ...
• Freya hadn't expected to see Janet outside her workplace. The familiar figure brought back memories, leaving her unsure how to react.
• Should I address her as 'Mom'?
• Her mouth moved, but no words came out.
• After a moment, Freya approached, her tone flat. "What are you doing here?"
• Seeing that Freya didn't even want to call her 'Mom', Janet's gentle expression stiffened.
• "I ... came to see you."
• Freya glanced around at the departing employees, feeling exposed standing in the middle of the street. She pulled Janet to one side.
• "I'm doing fine. If there's nothing else, you should go home."
• Freya's chilly words eventually brought tears to Janet's eyes. She grasped Freya's hand, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Fae, what happened back then was our fault. Please give us a chance to make it up to you, okay?"
• Freya looked at the hand holding hers and Janet's teary eyes, feeling her heart soften momentarily. After all, this was the woman she had called 'Mom' for over a decade.
• But when she thought about how she had cried and pleaded in vain, unable to escape being handed over to Kelsey alongside the greedy and shameless Bill, her heart hardened once more.
• Freya withdrew her hand and slipped it into her coat pocket.
• "I don't need you to make it up to me. The best way you can make amends is to stop disrupting my life."
• The emptiness in her hand mirrored the ache in her heart, causing Janet to weep even more. "Fae ... are you cutting us off? You're my daughter."
• The word 'daughter' tugged at Freya's heartstrings. She didn't want to be so cold to Janet, but if she softened, Bill would surely persist.
• "I've repaid the debt of gratitude for raising me. Let's just be strangers from now on and not interfere with each other."
• Janet fell silent, crying harder than before.
• Freya observed silently, refraining from speaking further. Yet, the scene before her deeply touched her tender heart, threatening to weaken her resolve. Quickly averting her gaze, she sought to distract herself.
• As she turned away, she noticed Henry emerging from the company building. Even from a distance, his imposing and cold demeanour sent a shiver down her spine.
• Just as she was about to look away again, Henry's eyes unexpectedly met hers. His cold, penetrating gaze intensified her unease.
• Instinctively, Freya positioned herself in front of Janet, forcing a strained smile as she waved in greeting to Henry.
• Henry's icy expression remained unchanged. His sharp, indifferent scrutiny bore down on her, creating an imposing pressure that seemed to stretch the distance between them.
• Freya felt her nerves tighten. She turned to Janet, taking her hand and guiding her towards the roadside. "Let's find somewhere quiet to talk."
• Still in shock, Janet hadn't reacted before Freya ushered her into a waiting taxi.
• Soon, the taxi disappeared from view, leaving Henry with a cold glint in his deep black eyes. He withdrew his gaze icily, his demeanour turning even colder.
• Nearby, Leo watched nervously, uncertain why his boss's mood had soured once again.
• Freya brought Janet to a serene tea house filled with the aroma of tea. Delicate wisps of steam rose from their cups.
• Once Janet had settled, Freya calmly sipped her tea and briefly explained the task Bill had assigned her, her expression distant and detached.
• "I've already done what was required."
• "But ... "
• Janet sought to salvage the situation but faltered, unable to find the right words.
• Finding another job proved challenging for Freya. Countless resumes sent out yielded few responses, leaving her increasingly frustrated.
• But giving up wasn't in Freya's nature.
• Regaining her resolve, Freya resumed her search for job opportunities on her computer.
• As she focused on reviewing a company profile, a document suddenly appeared before her. "Freya, this document needs Mr. Jackman's signature."
• Startled, Freya looked up nervously. She hesitated to take the document. "Uh ... I still have something else to finish ... "
• She dreaded encountering Henry again.
• Just thinking about yesterday's unsettling gaze made her scalp prickle.
• Zoe frowned, noticing her hesitation, and placed the document on the table. "It's just a signature. It won't take long. Go and come back quickly.
• With that, not caring whether she accepted the task or not, she turned and left to attend to other matters.
• Freya stared at the document with the blue cover, silently praying. God, help me. Then she gathered her courage and picked up the document, shutting down her computer before leaving.
• Knock, knock!
• Freya stood at the door, knocking gently. "Mr. Jackman, there's a document here that requires your signature."
• There was no response.
• Is Henry not in?
• That wasn't her concern; if he wasn't present, it wasn't her fault.
• Breathing a sigh of relief, Freya turned to leave.
• She walked towards the secretarial department with a light step. Just a few paces ahead, a tall, slender figure suddenly appeared before her, causing her smile to freeze on her lips.
• "M-Mr. Jackman."
• Henry's cold gaze narrowed slightly. "What are you doing here?"
• "There's a document that needs your signature. I thought you weren't here, so I was about to return to the secretarial department."
• Freya answered truthfully.
• I should have returned to the department quickly instead of waiting!
• "Bring it in."
• Henry curtly instructed and entered the president's office. Freya followed him inside.
• The spacious office, with Henry seated behind his large desk, filled Freya with overwhelming tension and nerves. Her stomach began to churn subtly, causing discomfort.
• Oh, no ...
• "Mr. Jackman, here's the document."
• Freya handed over the document and stood to the side, tensing her body. Her stomach rumbled uncomfortably, making her desperately wish for a bathroom break!
• Freya mentally chastised herself. Why is my stomach acting up now?
• Could it be from the nearly expired milk I had this morning?
• But it wasn't expired yet!
• Gurgle ...
• The loud sound from her stomach echoed in the quiet office.
• Embarrassment overwhelmed her. She wished the ground would swallow her up.
• Henry's expression darkened. He glanced at her with a side-eye. "It's only 9.30 AM, and you're already hungry?"