Mina and Jaiden said in unison.
Amelia grinned and waved her hand. “We’ll keep in touch, Jaiden.” With that, she walked away, leaving Jaiden staring at her back like a dejected puppy. His legs itched to run after her, but he knew Amelia would just push him away. Two years ago, she had left without saying goodbye.
But as long as she stayed in the Uptown, Jaiden knew he could easily find her. He would start by interrogating Driver.
“You two look related,” Mina blurted.
“Yes, people had always said that. My biological mother is a blond haired, green-eyed bitch.”
Mina clicked her tongue. “Even if that’s the case, she’s still your mother. She worked hard to bring you into this world. You shouldn’t be so disrespectful.”
Challenge flashed across Jaiden’s darkened eyes. “Your mother didn’t abandon you when you were five, did she?”
Mina scanned Jaiden’s face. Her demeanor became sullen. “Not physically, but she mentally abandoned me when I was eleven. The same year my Dad left us.”
As sad as Jaiden’s story was, he had always lived a privileged life—even when he was a child going through rehabilitation. Emma Daniels had abandoned him, but at least she was still alive. And Jameson had provided him with everything money could buy.
“I’m sorry.” Jaiden looked down at his loafers. “I’ll walk you back to the hospital.”
Mina shrugged. “Apology accepted.”
One thing he admired about Mina, Jaiden noted, was how easily she forgave people. He patted her poofy hair and grinned.
In front of UMC, Mina waited with Jaiden for Driver to pick him up before she went upstairs to see her mother. She spent the entire night on the recliner chair, barely sleeping a wink. Every now and then, she woke up to check if Kaila was breathing properly. Mina had the nurse-bell tied around her wrist. If anything happened, she would be able to call for help.
Mom…
Though Kaila’s forte was tormenting her daughter, Mina knew she would sink into a spiraling depression if she had lost her mother today. Without Kaila, Mina wouldn’t have a reason to fight, struggle and force herself to grow up. Losing her father was tough, but because Mina had to take care of Kaila, she didn’t have time to be depressed. Mina brushed hair away from her mother’s face and fought back tears. She kissed Kaila on the forehead and smiled.
“Love you, Mom.”
As usual, Kaila slept like a baby who wouldn’t wake up even if a tornado struck through UMC and brought everyone to the land of Oz.
~*~
The second he stepped into the limo, Jaiden confronted Driver.
“I need a word with you when we’re back in the manse,” Jaiden said.
Driver turned his face and sneered. “Yes, Young Master.”
They returned to the manse and Driver parked the limo. Jaiden exited the vehicle and waited for Driver to come out before he interrogated him.
“So how is dear Amelia these days? Does she like it in Japan?” Jaiden raised his brows.
Driver cleared his throat, sweat beads forming on his forehead. “She really enjoys it there. Especially Tokyo.”
“Really? So how come I just bumped into her near UMC?”
Driver scratched his nose. “UMC? Oh right, she did say she was visiting the city in the summer. That’s probably why.”
Jaiden glowered at Driver. “Stop lying. I don’t like to have secrets kept from me. You know, plenty of chauffeurs are jobless in the city these days. Most would kill for your position.”
Driver turned his face and sneered again. “Alright, it’s true. Amelia had never left the city.”
“Where is she living right now?” Jaiden tapped his foot.
“Master Jameson wouldn’t like it if you went to see her.”
“Why not? And why did she resign all of sudden?”
Driver looked away again.
Jaiden cleared his throat. “We do give nice severance packages, you know.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you everything. But you will have to promise me you won’t
Amelia grinned and waved her hand. “We’ll keep in touch, Jaiden.” With that, she walked away, leaving Jaiden staring at her back like a dejected puppy. His legs itched to run after her, but he knew Amelia would just push him away. Two years ago, she had left without saying goodbye.
But as long as she stayed in the Uptown, Jaiden knew he could easily find her. He would start by interrogating Driver.
“You two look related,” Mina blurted.
“Yes, people had always said that. My biological mother is a blond haired, green-eyed bitch.”
Mina clicked her tongue. “Even if that’s the case, she’s still your mother. She worked hard to bring you into this world. You shouldn’t be so disrespectful.”
Challenge flashed across Jaiden’s darkened eyes. “Your mother didn’t abandon you when you were five, did she?”
Mina scanned Jaiden’s face. Her demeanor became sullen. “Not physically, but she mentally abandoned me when I was eleven. The same year my Dad left us.”
As sad as Jaiden’s story was, he had always lived a privileged life—even when he was a child going through rehabilitation. Emma Daniels had abandoned him, but at least she was still alive. And Jameson had provided him with everything money could buy.
“I’m sorry.” Jaiden looked down at his loafers. “I’ll walk you back to the hospital.”
Mina shrugged. “Apology accepted.”
One thing he admired about Mina, Jaiden noted, was how easily she forgave people. He patted her poofy hair and grinned.
In front of UMC, Mina waited with Jaiden for Driver to pick him up before she went upstairs to see her mother. She spent the entire night on the recliner chair, barely sleeping a wink. Every now and then, she woke up to check if Kaila was breathing properly. Mina had the nurse-bell tied around her wrist. If anything happened, she would be able to call for help.
Mom…
Though Kaila’s forte was tormenting her daughter, Mina knew she would sink into a spiraling depression if she had lost her mother today. Without Kaila, Mina wouldn’t have a reason to fight, struggle and force herself to grow up. Losing her father was tough, but because Mina had to take care of Kaila, she didn’t have time to be depressed. Mina brushed hair away from her mother’s face and fought back tears. She kissed Kaila on the forehead and smiled.
“Love you, Mom.”
As usual, Kaila slept like a baby who wouldn’t wake up even if a tornado struck through UMC and brought everyone to the land of Oz.
~*~
The second he stepped into the limo, Jaiden confronted Driver.
“I need a word with you when we’re back in the manse,” Jaiden said.
Driver turned his face and sneered. “Yes, Young Master.”
They returned to the manse and Driver parked the limo. Jaiden exited the vehicle and waited for Driver to come out before he interrogated him.
“So how is dear Amelia these days? Does she like it in Japan?” Jaiden raised his brows.
Driver cleared his throat, sweat beads forming on his forehead. “She really enjoys it there. Especially Tokyo.”
“Really? So how come I just bumped into her near UMC?”
Driver scratched his nose. “UMC? Oh right, she did say she was visiting the city in the summer. That’s probably why.”
Jaiden glowered at Driver. “Stop lying. I don’t like to have secrets kept from me. You know, plenty of chauffeurs are jobless in the city these days. Most would kill for your position.”
Driver turned his face and sneered again. “Alright, it’s true. Amelia had never left the city.”
“Where is she living right now?” Jaiden tapped his foot.
“Master Jameson wouldn’t like it if you went to see her.”
“Why not? And why did she resign all of sudden?”
Driver looked away again.
Jaiden cleared his throat. “We do give nice severance packages, you know.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you everything. But you will have to promise me you won’t
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