Janeth stood at the door and took three steps inside. Jade told herself she wouldn't cry again. She had to face the situation as calmly as possible… but that wasn't what her mother had in mind.
Jade stood up from the bed along with Nerea.
"I don't owe you any explanations about my private life," she snapped, trying to stay firm. "Besides, you're the last person who should be here, questioning me."
"Private life? You call selling yourself like a prostitute for money your private life?!"
"I'm not going to let you insult me. Please, Janeth, get out of my room." Her jaw clenched. She didn't want a fight—not now.
"Jade, can I say something? Please?" Nerea begged, ready to call out her friend's mother.
"Nerea, don't. It's not worth it."
"Elías was right," Janeth said, catching Jade's attention.
"Excuse me?" The blonde narrowed her eyes.
"You heard me. Elías was right. You sold yourself to that man—God knows how many others." Her voice was bitter. Jade's heart started racing. Her eyes stung, but she forced herself not to cry.
"What have you become? I bet you made up that attempted assault because Elías wouldn't take your offer. You should be ashamed. I doubt Lucas would've been proud to have a daughter with such loose morals..."
"Shut up!" Jade shouted, fists clenched. "Don't you dare mention my father with that filthy mouth of yours!"
"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Nerea cut in, furious. "And I suggest you leave, because you're not my mother, and I swear my hand won't tremble to slap you hard enough to reset your Windows."
Janeth blinked, fuming.
"You don't tell me what to do in my own house!"
"Janeth, let's stop this right now," Jade warned. "Get out of my room, or I won't be responsible for what I do."
"Your room? This isn't your house anymore! I want you out of here! I'm not going to let a tramp like you—"
"That's enough!" Nerea roared. "I've had it with you."
She grabbed Janeth by the arm and dragged her out of the room as the woman screamed that it was her house and Nerea had no right to kick her out. Nerea shut her eyes and turned back to her friend.
Jade was still standing. Her eyes showed sadness, anger, and deep disappointment.
Because deep down, no matter how hard she tried to suppress it, Jade still loved her mother. There was once a time when Janeth had been kind, affectionate… but that was ages ago. And no matter how hard Jade tried not to feel hurt when her mother opened her mouth to tear her down—it was impossible.
"Jade, I'm sorry..."
"Don't worry. I'm used to it." She gave her friend a faint smile. "Let's get out of here. I need to go to my aunt's place."
"Yeah. Grab the rest of your stuff—I'll carry the box."
They walked out of the room, Nerea commenting how glad she was that Maximiliano had left, because she hadn't seen him and for some reason, she would've felt awkward if she had.
As they came down the stairs, they were met with Janeth's furious glare. Elías stood in the doorway, smirking. He gave them a mocking look before heading upstairs.
Nerea and Jade were about to walk past when Janeth suddenly grabbed Jade by the forearm, yanking her back.
"What do you want now?" Jade asked, tightening her grip on her backpack.
Janeth's answer came in the form of a slap that made Jade stagger.
"You mortgaged my house?!" her mother howled, seething with rage.
Jade stood frozen, trying to process what just happened. Nerea stood a few steps away, her mouth wide open.
Jade brought her hand to her burning cheek.
"How dared you?!"
"Janeth, stop the drama. There's no problem anymore. I already paid the loan, so you don't have—"
"You paid it?" Janeth laughed bitterly. "Of course! Why didn't I think of it sooner? Now you've got a man who solves all your problems."
"Oh, look who's talking!" Jade stepped closer to her mother, who instinctively backed away when she saw her daughter's expression.
"Janeth, the righteous one! The perfect example of a woman! You're the last person who should judge me. You were cheating while you were married. What a role model!"
"You have no right to talk to me like that!" she shouted, raising her hand to slap her again, but Jade reacted in time and grabbed her by the wrist.
"You're not going to lay another finger on me, Janeth. You're no one, and you have no right to do it," she growled through gritted teeth.
"Your father must be turning in his grave from the shame of what you've become," her mother spat, pulling away. "Oh, right! He doesn't even have a grave or a proper burial, because his precious daughter was probably rolling around with one of her lovers instead of taking care of him."
That hurt—deeply. Jade froze, feeling the sting of those words like a physical blow. She would've preferred another slap to that.
"Okay, that's it!" Nerea burst out. She hadn't stepped in before because Jade needed to face her mother alone, but now Janeth had crossed a line. Nerea turned to her and slapped her across one cheek, then the other. "That's for talking so much crap!"
Janeth blinked in confusion, stunned. Before she could respond, she got hit with another slap, even harder than the first two.
"And this one's for being such a bitch," Nerea added, shoving her with both hands. Janeth fell on her butt, stunned. Without another word, Nerea picked up the small box they came for.
She grabbed Jade's arm and pulled her toward the door, stopping before exiting. She reached into her pocket, pulled out the house key, and threw it at Janeth.
"I think this belongs to you, you wicked witch!" she shouted, her voice shaking with rage. "Go to hell—the lot of you. You, for being a pathetic excuse of a mother, your husband for being a disgusting creep, and Allison," she gave a bitter smile, "for being a complete slut!"
Nerea slammed the door shut and led a shocked, speechless Jade to the car. Neither of them spoke. After a moment, Nerea gave the chauffeur the address to Martha's house, and they rode in silence.
An hour later, the car stopped in front of a modest two-story house, painted green and white.
The girls stepped out. Jade looked more composed now, a little steadier.
They reached the door, and Jade rang the bell. A few seconds later, her aunt Martha opened the door. Her expression shifted quickly to one of surprise. Her eyes—brown, just like Jade's late grandmother's—welled up with tears.
"It's been so long," the woman said, and immediately hugged her. "Come in, come in. It's so good to see you again, Jade. And what happened to Lucas… it's a tragedy."
They stepped inside, and Martha led them into the kitchen, where they took a seat.
Nerea focused on her phone, giving them space.
"Would you like some coffee?" Martha asked, taking out the moka pot.
Nerea shook her head. Jade nodded.
"I'll be outside," Nerea muttered and stepped out the back door.
Her aunt immediately got to work.
"How are you doing, Jade?" she asked gently. Her tired eyes were filled with sadness. She was grieving her only brother.
"If I told you I don't have an answer to that question, would you believe me?" Jade replied with a faint, sorrowful smile.
"Oh, my dear. You've been through so much, and you're still so young."
"It doesn't matter anymore. Auntie, I need to ask you a favor." She paused, and the woman waited patiently. "I'm leaving the city, and I need someone to keep an eye on my sister. Alicia is still a minor, so she can't come with me." Jade took a folded paper from her bag and passed it to her. "This is a bank account number. It's for Alicia's education. I know it's a lot to ask, but please take care of her. There's fifty thousand dollars in it for you…"
Her aunt's mouth dropped open in shock.
"That's... That's a lot of money," she gasped, covering her mouth.
"It doesn't matter. Just take it, and please don't leave my sister helpless. I don't trust Janeth, and I trust her husband even less."
"I curse the day my brother got involved with that harpy," Martha snapped, bitterness etched into her features. "The only good thing that came from that were you and Alicia. Because that other one—Allison—is the worst of the worst."
"I still don't understand why my father didn't leave her. God, she brought another man into their home—why did he stay?" Jade ruffled her hair in frustration.
"Oh, Jade…" the woman in front of her shook her head. The coffee maker beeped, and Martha stood up to turn it off.
"Your father was going to leave with you girls, the very day that woman"—she hissed the word—"brought that man into the house. Lucas called me and asked if he could stay here for a few days until he found a place, but Janeth found out. That wicked woman threatened him."
"You were only thirteen, and Alicia was still so little. That harpy bruised herself and told him she'd report him for abuse. She said she'd leave with the man and that he'd never see you again."
Jade's eyes filled with tears. Her mother's cruelty knew no bounds…
"Jade, your father endured all those years only because he didn't want to lose you. He loved you two too much to never see you again." Martha finished pouring the coffee and handed her a cup.
"So many times, I told him I could help, that we'd find a way," she sighed, defeated.
"Lucas was so happy because soon Alicia would be of age, and they could finally leave. But now… it's too late."
The blonde broke down crying in her aunt's arms again. She had known her father suffered, but this sacrifice… he had endured so much when he could have just left and forgotten he had daughters—but he didn't. He endured humiliation, insults, mocking laughter… all for love.
They wiped their tears and began reminiscing about better days…
"Jade! What a surprise seeing you here. It's been so long."
Viviana, Martha's eldest daughter, walked into the kitchen with Nerea.
She was tall, wearing a baseball cap, a red-and-white jacket, and baggy pants.
"Viviana, so good to see you!" Jade stood and hugged her.
"Same here, cousin," Viviana smiled as they all sat down.
"Mom, where's my black jacket? I looked in my room and it's not there," Viviana asked, pulling out her phone.
"I don't know, Vi," her mother replied.
"God, that cap is awful," Lisbeth said as she walked into the kitchen.
"You should try fixing yourself up. Maybe then a guy would actually look at you."
"No thanks. You did fix yourself up and landed more than just one guy," Viviana snapped back.
"Viviana!" her mother scolded.
"I hate you," her sister exclaimed as she turned and walked away.
"Yeah, yeah. Love you too," Viviana called after her, her temper clearly not one of her best traits.
Jade watched the scene, surprised. She hadn't known her cousin Lisbeth was pregnant.
"My God, we have guests. Can't you behave at least once?" Martha groaned.
"Well, Auntie, we should get going." Jade stood, and Nerea followed her lead.
"It was great seeing you. You too, Viviana."
Her cousin smiled. She wasn't a bad person, just had a bit of a sharp way of dealing with others.
"I hope to see you again soon," Martha said, hugging her.
"I'd like that, but I doubt it," Jade replied as she let go.
"I don't plan on coming back anytime soon."
"Take care, sweetheart. I hope you find whatever it is you couldn't find here."
"Thanks, Auntie."
The brunette and the blonde got in the car. Later, they arrived at the airport, where Armand's private jet was waiting.
They loaded all her things, and she asked the dark-haired man for a few minutes alone.
"I'm going to miss you so much, Ner," Jade said, pouting.
"Don't start your drama, or I'll end up crying too." Nerea fanned her face.
"Come here." Jade opened her arms, and they hugged tightly.
"It won't be the same without you. You have to visit me—I'll do everything I can to make it happen. You're like a sister to me. Take care of yourself."
"Oh, Jade, I'm terrible with goodbyes. But promise me you'll take care of yourself. Don't forget the anemia. You need to eat properly. You're the only real friend I've got, and you're not allowed to die before me. Got it?"
Jade nodded, laughing through her tears.
"Go and heal your shattered heart. Write me a letter or something…"
"Yes, we'll stay in touch."
The blonde said goodbye and boarded the plane with her friend. She sat down and looked out the window, eyes clouded with tears, fully aware of everything she was leaving behind…
"You still have time to change your mind," Armand reminded her.
Jade shook her head, wiping away her tears.
"This is a decision I've made, and I'm not going back. Not ever," she said firmly.
"And I don't want anyone to know where I am. And when I say no one, I mean no one but you. Not even Nerea."
"Not even Maximiliano?"
"Not even him. Nerea agreed to this. No one needs to know, because for a while, I want to disappear… so that no one"—she met her friend's eyes, which were fixed on her—"absolutely no one can find me"