Mention of the child only deepened the disgust in Daniel's eyes; he wished nothing more than for Jasmine to just disappear.
Back then, Jasmine's affair with another man at a hotel brought disgrace to the Douglas family. And to make matters worse, she got pregnant and gave birth to that child right before her imprisonment.
Jasmine looked at Daniel with a sense of hopelessness, as if she never truly knew him. "The child... the child is innocent."
"Innocent? Just like Serena was innocent when she was switched at birth to live a lesser life in your family?" Karen's voice was sharp, and with a couple more slaps, Jasmine's cheeks swelled with the sting.
If it weren't for Benjamin holding her back, Karen seemed like she might not have stopped until her rage was fully spent.
Jasmine, with ringing in her ears and a lowered gaze, absorbed the blows silently.
It was a debt she owed for twenty-one years of care.
Taking a deep breath, with red-rimmed eyes, Jasmine looked up at Daniel, her voice weak yet resolute. "I'll donate..."
She'd do anything as long as they didn't hurt her child.
"You're really pathetic." While watching Jasmine in her abject misery, Daniel felt a pang in his chest but didn't relent. "Take her for a checkup, hand her over to the doctor, and make her sign."
"Don't touch me..." Jasmine's voice trembled, but it lacked the earlier timidity and pleas for mercy. She pulled herself up to stand, disheveled but with defiant eyes fixed on Benjamin. "You know what I'm going through... Giving a kidney will clear my debt to you. After that, please, just let it all go and leave me alone."
She had been born with a congenital heart defect. She’d been frail since childhood, giving birth five years ago had nearly cost her her life. Now, with full knowledge of her condition, the Wilsons still demanded her kidney. It was as if they were gunning for her life.
Benjamin's brow furrowed as a glint of emotion flashed in his eyes.
After all, they had raised her for twenty-one years.
And in the Wilson household, Jasmine had indeed been well-behaved and sensible.
"You will continue to atone, even in death!" But Karen was relentless.
"Enough." Benjamin exhaled heavily. "If you agree to the donation, then your five years behind bars will suffice as your punishment. From now on, live a good life and the Wilsons will not make your life difficult anymore."
Jasmine laughed, and her hands went limp.
Live a good life...
With the state she was in, she doubted she'd survive the surgery.
"A kidney to make up for your mistakes? Serena's life has been stolen from her for twenty-one years, along with nearly half her lifespan!" Yet even that didn't seem enough for Daniel, it was as if he wished to crush her into dust.
Every single person who had ever loved her now belonged to Serena. Wasn't that enough? What more did they want from her? What had she done to deserve this?
"Daniel..." Jasmine's voice was weak, and she chuckled bitterly. "If you hate me so much, after I die, go ahead and scatter my ashes to the wind."
Her lips were pale, and her appearance pitiful. "Leave my child out of this."
Daniel glared with malevolence. Even now, she was protecting that bastard child!
"You think we wouldn't dare?" Evan answered for Daniel, his gaze dripping with scorn. "You're just as vile to the core, a chip off the old block from your despicable mother! That bastard child should be dead, a complete disgrace!"
Jasmine said nothing. The world spun into darkness, and before she could leave the hospital room, she collapsed to the floor, passing out.
"Jasmine!"
Before losing consciousness, she thought she heard someone call out her name.
Was it Daniel? Such irony...
"Don't bother with her! All she's good for is putting on an act. With her mouth full of promises, you'd think she hadn't learned a thing from those five years in prison," Evan fumed, marching over to the sink to fill a basin with cold water, aiming to douse Jasmine back to consciousness.
Jasmine tried to open her eyes, but she didn't have the strength anymore.
She knew exactly why Evan was so worked up; he feared Daniel learning about her congenital heart condition, that a kidney donation would be the end of her.
"Evan..." Just as Evan was about to douse her, Daniel grabbed his wrist. "That's enough."
"Feeling sorry for her, Daniel?" Evan sneered as he locked eyes with him. "Let's not forget who you are. You're Serena's fiancé, and it's because of you that my sister ended up in this accident."
Daniel was taken aback momentarily and slowly released Evan's wrist.
And so, the cold water was mercilessly splashed onto Jasmine's face.