Chapter 1656: I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry.

"I was expecting that. It’s not like I was looking forward to forgiving you, so I wasn’t that disappointed. But I don’t think she’s pleased either."

From the other end of the line, Nina sat alone on a couch, holding the phone to her ear. Her expression was grim, a mixture of emotions. She held her inner bottom lip, her grip on the phone trembling.

Using her thumb, she pressed the end button and dropped her hand to her side.

Clack.

Nina kept her eyes downcast, reflecting on everything she had heard.

Earlier that morning, Nina received a call from Penny. The latter simply told her she was putting the guards back around her because she didn’t need to use Nina as bait anymore.

When Nina asked for a reason, Penny only said that she had already gotten what she wanted.

Knowing Penny, she wouldn’t have explained herself further and would have left it at that. However, Nina stubbornly kept Penny on the line, convincing her to let her see Priscilla at least once. Like Penny, Nina had many questions too.

But then again, knowing Penny, she wouldn’t allow that either. Even so, Penny wasn’t heartless enough not to compromise. She promised Nina that she would call her and let her listen to a portion of their conversation.

What kind of conversations? Penny didn’t disclose. But after hearing everything, Penny reminded Nina that she wasn’t the only one who knew Penny; Penny also knew Nina. Thus, Penny called Nina when Priscilla was explaining a part Nina would surely want to hear.

And now, after hearing everything from Priscilla’s own mouth, Nina didn’t know what to feel about it.

Clasping her chest, her breathing grew long and heavy. Her lips paled and quivered, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

As Nina was drowning in silence, she felt someone’s weight near her. Turning her head, she saw Finn’s failing smile as he placed a glass of water in front of her.

"Come here," he whispered, scooting closer to her and extending his arm around her.

Nina gulped and let herself be pulled into his embrace. She clasped the back of his shirt, burying her face in his shoulder.

"I don’t know what to feel," she whispered, her voice shaky. "I don’t even know... if I’m crying out of anger or just pure disappointment."

Finn, not asking questions, gently stroked her back. He remained quiet, knowing that anything he said would be unnecessary.

Her shoulders trembled even more as tears filled her eyes and soaked his shoulder. "She claimed to have done that for me... to live normally... but... it just reminds me... I was like her."

Despite the turmoil inside her, one thing stood out.

What Priscilla did was just as destructive as all the decisions she had made.

Nina might’ve sounded ungrateful because, if not for this, she wouldn’t have such a good relationship with Penny. She wouldn’t have two parents: Allison and Charles, Jessa and Lester. She wouldn’t have two sets of siblings: the twins, and the Bennet brothers and Penny.

But then again, Nina also knew that this wouldn’t have happened without everyone’s effort. It wasn’t just Nina’s effort; it was Penny’s forgiveness, Jessa’s acceptance, Nina’s determination, and everyone’s support.

There was nothing Priscilla had done except start that entire chaos in everyone’s life thirteen years ago.

’And I do understand her,’ Finn thought, letting his fiancée ramble on, tears streaming down her face. He stroked her back, his thoughts drifting. ’It’s Penny who saved everyone from disaster.’

Because even though Finn didn’t have this relationship with Nina in their first lives, he had seen the other outcome of the baby swap. How it turned Nina into someone with a deep-seated insecurity about her parentage, always wanting to safeguard her position in the family.

Even if it meant marrying someone like Jonathan.

Without the early intervention from Penny and Jessa — who Penny nurtured — this family dynamic would’ve been different. Very different. And Finn... he wouldn’t have met the love of his life.

"I hate her," Nina whispered between sobs. "How could... how could someone do something like that, and rationalize it the way she did?"

She hiccupped. "Does she expect me to thank her? For almost ruining everyone’s lives, including mine, just because she thought it was the best decision?"

If only Nina could be harsher, she would’ve wished to just become a blood bank or a sibling donor for the rest of her life. If that meant not being the main cause of the pain that everyone needed to heal from.

*

*

*

[Back to Skyline Plaza: Zoren’s]

It was funny how one person’s decision could make other people’s lives spiral. Just like the person who chose to drive while drunk and ended up hurting others, Priscilla swapped a child at birth like it was an afterthought.

A last-minute decision that affected almost everything.

A decision made for such a reason — just because Penny was the closest to Nina.

Penny didn’t know whether to laugh or shout in anger. It wasn’t the thought of insult, but the dismay that swelled in her chest and weighed on her heart.

"I was expecting that. It’s not like I was looking forward to forgiving you, so I wasn’t that disappointed. But I don’t think she’s pleased either."

She swallowed the rising tension in her throat, glancing at the screen. Before she could end the call, the line had already disconnected. Drawing a deep breath, she placed her phone down and stared at Priscilla coldly.

"Nina is quite stubborn," she said. "I’m sorry... but I’m not either."

Priscilla’s eyes were blank as another tear rolled down her cheek. Her already pale complexion paled even more as she met Penny’s cold gaze.

Slater, on the other hand, remained quiet. His expression, however, remained sharp. Meanwhile, Mint just watched from the sidelines, almost whistling at Penny’s quick comeback.

"Now that we already know you have terrible decision-making skills, and now that we’re both not sorry for each other very clearly, let’s talk about how you dodged the organization all these years," Penny continued, setting aside her personal feelings.

"I want to know how you did it and why you’re coming back into Nina’s life again after years of hiding," Penny continued without hesitation. "And where is this doctor you’ve schemed with? I want answers — I need them. Now."