Chapter 61 She stared at Isabella with a probing look. âI heard from your Sis that youâve made it big now, become the wife of a rich man?â
Isabellaâs heart reflexively tightened in her chest. Every nerve in her body seemed to throb in pain, and for a moment, it felt as though her blood had frozen, her vitality evaporating.
âHow did you get here?â she asked, her voice barely audible, trembling.
âYou havenât come to see me in so long,â her mother continued, her voice a mixture of complaint and sorrow. âBella, Iâve been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I donât have long to live. Before I die, I just wanted to see you. Iâve called you so many times, but you never answered. I sent you messages, but you didnât reply. Have you forgotten me, now that youâve become successful and donât want to acknowledge your goodâfor- nothing mother?â
As she spoke, her mother began to sob uncontrollably.
Isabella stared coldly at the woman who had brought her nothing but misfortune. How dare she come here? When Isabella was so small, her mother had transferred all of her frustrations with Mooreâs Father onto her.
She had been abusiveâphysically and emotionally. She had treated her as nothing more than an outlet for her anger, beating her and kicking her. She had forbidden her from going to school, forcing her to beg on the streets, and then taking 111 Chapter 61 288 Vouchers away the money she earned.
Just thinking about her mother brought on nightmares. It wasnât that she didnât want to recognize her mother, but she didnât want to acknowledge this cruel woman who was no better than a âhuman trafficker. â
âIâm not a doctor. If you came to me, I canât help you,â Isabella said coldly.
âBella, Iâm really going to die soon.â Her mother suddenly reached out, grabbing Isabellaâs hand with a desperate look. âThere are some things I want to say to you, just the two of us.â
For a moment, Isabellaâs icy expression softened slightly. She thought to herself that, after all, they were blood relatives. When someone is about to die, they speak kindly. Perhaps she should show some grace and forgive her mother.
âFollow me,â Isabella said, her voice flat.
She led her mother to a nearby bar, just outside her home.
âLetâs talk here,â Isabella said as she took a seat.
Her mother immediately burst into tears. âBella, you were so young back then. You didnât understand much. Your father cheated on me and forced me to divorce him. I was just a housewife with no means of fighting back. I had to leave with you and start from scratch, facing a life of poverty. I was struggling, and I admit I took my frustrations out on your sometimes.â
Isabella ran a hand through her hair, and when her fingers brushed a scar on her forehead, her warmth vanished, replaced Chapter 61 288 Voucher by coldness.
âMother, you werenât just badâtempered,â she said quietly, her voice growing colder with each word. âYou beat me until my ribs.
were broken. You tortured me as if you were trying to destroy my life. You didnât just make my life miserable, you almost ended it.â
Her mother became awkward and faltered, her words stuttering. âBella, now everything is better. Youâre doing well in life, and thatâs all I care about. Iâm at peace knowing that.â
But Isabella could see right through the pretensions. Her mother was using emotion to manipulate her, making her feel guilty for her past grievances, and Isabella found it revolting.
Her patience ran, thin. âIf you donât have anything important to say, please leave.â
She stood up as if to walk away.
Her mother became agitated and grabbed her arm. âBella, your Sis came to see me. You know, when I divorced your father, I couldnât keep her. Thatâs the greatest regret of my life. Bella, I havenât been a good mother. Iâm really sorry about that.â
Isabellaâs entire body tensed. When her parents divorced, everyone fought for her Sisâs custody, while she, a child, was left.
abandoned. The feeling of being discarded by her own parents had left a deep scar in her heart.
The sense of rejection from her ownâfamily had haunted her. And later, when she met Nathan, any bit of kindness he showed her made her hold onto him like a savior, eager to please him, trying to repay a kindness sheâd never received.
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1288 Vouchers She looked her mother in the eyes, coldness in her gaze. âIf your feel guilty toward her, you should go to her. Whatever you want to make up for, it has nothing to do with me. Why come to me?â
Her mother, eyes filled with emotion, finally revealed her true intentions. âBella, your Sis is in poor health, and she likes Nathan.
You should let her have him.â
Isabella froze, shocked by the sudden request.