Chapter 260: Mom Is Not Afraid Anymore

"Mom was murdered. It wasn't an accident. It wasn't illness. It was Aaron—he partnered with a man named Chris in an illegal drug operation. He destroyed his own life completely, and dragged so many innocent people down with him. I know he's been hurting others, embezzling from the Jackson family fortune. He drove your grandfather to his death."

"I wanted to investigate, to catch Aaron red-handed, to catch Chris. But Chris has money, connections, methods. I tried going to the police, tried many times, but he always had ways to shut it down."

She coughed several times. The camera shook, then steadied as she lifted her hand.

She raised her head, looking straight into the lens.

"So Mom did the last thing she could—I entrusted you to Samantha. Mom also left you a trust fund, Jenna. You need to remember to claim that money. If you're ever unhappy at the Russell house, take that money and get far away. Jenna, Mom only wants you to be happy."

Jenna covered her mouth, tears streaming silently down her face.

"Mom doesn't know if you'll ever see this video." Claire's voice became very soft, as though she was exhausted from speaking.

"Maybe you'll never find what's buried under the tree. Maybe you'll find it but won't want to watch. Maybe... maybe when you do watch, Chris will still be walking free. But it's okay. No matter what, Mom doesn't blame you. Jenna, Mom doesn't want you to avenge me. I'm telling you this so you can be careful of those people. Mom only wants you to be safe. Remember, Jenna—stay safe always. Protect yourself."

Jenna was crying so hard she couldn't see the screen anymore.

She raised her hand to wipe away the tears, but they wouldn't stop. Her mother's face on the screen blurred into a shifting haze of light.

She didn't dare cry out loud, afraid her voice would drown out her mother's.

It had been so long, so unbearably long since she'd heard that voice. Even knowing she could replay the video, she was still terrified of missing a single word.

On screen, her mother took two gasping breaths, her breathing labored. Her chest rose and fell beneath the hospital gown several times before finally settling.

Her lips moved, as though summoning her last reserves of courage.

"Jenna, there are a few more things I want you to tell your grandmother for me."

Jenna scrubbed her face hard with the back of her hand, blinking fiercely to clear her vision.

"You know your grandmother's temperament—stubborn her whole life, sharp-tongued, but softer-hearted than anyone."

Claire's pale lips curved slightly at this.

"When I insisted on marrying Aaron all those years ago, your grandmother refused. She slammed her hand on the table in the living room and said that man had shifty eyes, that he wasn't someone I could trust. I didn't believe her. We fought, and I walked out without even packing my things."

She paused, catching her breath. Her eyes slowly reddened.

"Later... later, so many things happened. Aaron had another woman outside, had another child, and bit by bit he siphoned off the Jackson family assets."

Her mother's tears finally fell.

"The biggest regret of my life is not listening to her. The person I've wronged most, besides you, is her. She raised me, put me through school, taught me how to be a person, and I... I didn't even have the face to see her one last time. I didn't dare."

She lifted her hand, wiping the tears from her face with her fingertips, then took a deep breath and looked straight into the camera.

As though looking through the lens at the mother who might never forgive her.

"Mom, I was an unfilial daughter. Everything you said back then was right—every single word. That man wasn't someone I could trust. He lied to me, lied to the Jackson family. I should have listened. I should have listened long ago. But I didn't. I made you so angry you disowned me, drove Dad to his death, destroyed our family completely."

Her voice fractured, yet she still forced out the words she most needed to say.

"Mom, I'm sorry."

Jenna pressed her hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking violently.

"But don't blame yourself. It's not that you didn't raise me right, or that you didn't stop me. I was the one who was blind. I chose the wrong path. Please don't blame yourself for this, don't think it's because you didn't stop me that I ruined my life. It's not... You're the best mother in the world. I just wasn't blessed enough to stay with you longer."

She paused. Tears slid down her cheeks.

"Mom, please eat well, sleep well. Does your leg still hurt when it rains? Don't skimp on the air conditioning—if you need money, ask Jenna. When I'm gone, you have to live a few more years for me. Watch Jenna grow up for me. Watch her get married for me."

Jenna was trembling all over now, biting her lip hard to keep from sobbing out loud.

On screen, her mother suddenly lowered her gaze and fell silent for a moment. Finally, she looked up again and smiled at the camera.

"Jenna, tell your grandmother for me—Mom is going to join your grandfather now."

Jenna's hand flew to her mouth as a sob escaped through her fingers.

"Your grandfather's been alone there for so long. I'm sure he's gotten thin again. He always doted on me—whenever I did poorly on a test, he wouldn't let your grandmother scold me. He'd sneak me into his study and slip me candy. He had a terrible temper his whole life. I wonder if anyone there talks to him. Mom's going to keep him company now."

She reached out, her fingertip lightly touching the lens, as if touching the face of someone she would never see again.

"Jenna, don't cry. Mom doesn't hurt anymore. And I'm not afraid."

The video cut off.

The screen went black. Only Jenna's muffled crying filled the room.

She buried her face in her arms, shoulders convulsing violently, as though trying to cry out all the tears she'd held back for years—all at once.

Ethan pulled her completely into his arms from behind, pressing her face against his chest.

After a very long time, Jenna's crying gradually subsided.

She lifted her head from Ethan's embrace.

"Ethan... let's go find Grandma. I want her to see this video. Mom's words... Grandma should hear them."

Ethan lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Okay."

Jenna steadied her emotions and slowly got up, walking to her grandmother's bedroom.

Standing at the door, Jenna raised her hand to knock several times, but couldn't bring herself to do it.

This was all too heavy.

So heavy that just thinking about it made her chest tighten until she couldn't breathe, made her feel like her heart was being torn apart, like her soul was being split in two.

Ethan gently took Jenna's hand. "Maybe we should wait. Just a little longer..."

Chris's case had just concluded. Everyone was still recovering.

Jenna thought about it and stepped back.

They could wait a bit longer...

But just as they turned to leave, they suddenly heard low sobbing coming from inside the bedroom.