Chapter 212


    Lester stared at the video of Cara once again, contemting as he asked, “George, what do you think?”


    George’s expression remained unchanged. He lightly tapped the table, his tone carrying an air of indifference. “Just go and find


    out.”


    “Alright, I''ll have someone look into it,” Lester said, slightly narrowing his eyes as he handed the phone back to Ashley.


    After the meal, the three of them left the restaurant.


    Just as they stepped out of the restaurant, Ashley received a call from an unknown number.


    She answered the phone with a casual “Hello.”All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    On the other end, Bertha’s discontented voice came through. “Ashley, don’t you have a conscience? You even blocked your own


    mother’s number!”


    Ashley’s expression turned cold. “Bertha, you got no say about my


    conscience.”


    “You!” Bertha was so angry that her fingers trembled, and her breath became rapid. “Are you trying to drive me mad? What did |


    do to deserve a daughter as ungrateful as you!”


    “If this is what your call is about, | don’t have time for it,” Ashley said, poised to hang up.


    “Ashley Ramos!” Bertha interrupted, and her tone filled with indignation. “I’ve been in the hospital, and not once have you


    bothered to visit. Even if | were on my deathbed, you still won’t show up?”


    “Back when you and Frankie conspired to use me of pushing my own biological mother down, did you remember that | was


    your daughter?” Ashley asked calmly.


    Bertha was momentarily silenced by the retort, and after a while, she said. with a deste tone, “Let bygones be bygones. Come


    to the hospital and see me. My condition...”


    “Your condition has nothing to do with me.” Ashley rejected


    emotionlessly.


    09:24


    “Ashley...” Bertha’s breath quickened again, like an old, wheezing bellows. “Alright, if you don’t grace me a visit, | won''t insist.


    But mark my words, no more tormenting Jessica. Jeremy, Ryan, and Matthew dared toy hands on her, all because of you!”


    Ashley sneered, and her eyes filled with sarcasm.


    She thought, ‘No wonder the sudden call.


    After all these years of neglect and no concern from her own mother, the call was solely about her foster daughter.


    Lester and George, upon hearing Bertha’s name from Ashley,


    immediately understood who was on the phone. They looked at Ashley with concern.


    Ashley shook her head at them, signaling that everything was fine, then took a few steps away.


    On the other end, Bertha continued her tirade, “Jeremy, Ryan, and Matthew treated Jessica so well before. They neverid a


    hand on her, not even a harsh word. Now, they''ve resorted to violence, all because of you!”


    Ashley nced at the withered leaves of the ne tree on the roadside. and suddenly felt exhausted. She closed her eyes and


    said, “I regret reuniting with the Ramos family three years ago.”


    Upon hearing this, Bertha fell silent momentarily and then murm “Are you using me of favoritism?”


    Ashley remained silent.


    Bertha defended herself. “What do you know? In the first two days a we brought you back to Ramos Vi, Jessica hid under her


    nket, silently shedding tears. She was afraid she had no ce in this family, crying and imploring us to send her away. You


    have no idea that witnessing her sorrow tore at my heart.”


    Ashley sneered, “So, ever since | rejoined the Ramos family, you’ve been ying guardian angel for her? Afraid she''d be


    wronged?”


    Bertha took a deep breath. “You are indeed my biological daughter, but Jessica is the one Evan and | brought back from the


    orphanage. | watched her grow step by step. The first time she wore new clothes, the first time. she had a birthday cake, the first


    time she went to an amusement park... All of it. 1, as her mother, was there. The nurturing bond of these years is


    09:240


    not something that can be faded away with time.”


    “And what about me?”


    Ashley’s eyshes fluttered a bit. Her voice remainedposed. “While you were dressing her in new clothes, taking her to the


    amusement park, and celebrating her birthdays, | was alone in an orphanage. You shield and favor her, fearing she might face


    hardships. But what about me, your own flesh and blood?”


    “Why do you have to measure yourself against Jessica! You went through so much hardship growing up, handling a fair share of


    setbacks. Jessica isn’t like you. She had afortable upbringing since childhood, and her tolerance level doesn’t match yours!”


    Bertha paused momentarily, then softened her tone. “You had gone missing since you were young. | missed you too, but we


    couldn’t find you back then. Eventually, we went to the orphanage and brought Jessica back. That’s when | found sce and


    ced all my longing for you onto Jessica.


    “So many years have passed. Jessica is already a part of the Ramos family. Can’t you just treat her like a sister? Jessica is not


    like you. She doesn’t understand as much, and she doesn’t have aplicated mind. Don’t bully her again. It’s a mother’s plea,


    please, I’m begging you...”


    Ashley hung up the phone without a word.


    She pressed her hand against her heart, feeling a trace of sadness.


    Ashley had never asked for much. A mere fraction of the motherly lov Bertha showered on Jessica would have sufficed.


    Yet, even this meager amount of affection was beyond her reach.


    Seeing her hang up the phone, Lester walked over, and before getting close, he caught sight of Ashley’s slightly pale face. He


    immediately rushed over. “Ashley, what’s wrong?”


    George strode over immediately after hearing that.


    “I''m fine.” Ashley took two deep breaths, suppressing her difort.


    She had long decided to cut all ties with the Ramos family.


    She shouldn''t let herself be affected by them.


    “Are you sure? Did Bertha say something just now?” Lester was still


    09:24


    worried.


    “Everything is fine.” Ashley wouldn''t bother with Bertha anymore.


    It was gettingte. Time to go home.


    Ashley bid farewell to Lester and George.


    George scrutinized Ashley''s expression. Noticing that she appeared fine, he finally eased his tension.


    Lester remembered the glimpse of Cara he saw in the video earlier. He needed to check on that.


    Back at Kingsley Vi, as soon as Ashley entered the living room, she saw Joseph sitting on the sofa, hugging half a


    watermelon, who was more at ease here than in his own home.


    “Ashley, you''re back!” Joseph immediately tossed the watermelon aside and ran over to greet her.


    Ashley responded with an “Um” and nced around. Not seeing Valentin, she couldn’t help asking, “Where’s your brother?”