Maxine cleared her throat lightly. “I’m fine.”

    Jessica blurted out, “You’re fibbing!”

    “Look!” she said, grabbing the tablet beside her and thrusting it toward the camera. “I even used a VPN to check the news back home, the reports  say you’re hurt!”

    The news reported that Brian, son of the Noxen Group’s chairman, had been kidnapped, and all abductees sustained varying degrees of injuries.

    Maxine froze for a moment. Since the news had been publish opinion against the Jenson family, but she hadn’t expected Jessica to

    must have had Sebastian’s tacit approval. His original intention was to sway bpublic /b

    see it.

    Jessica studied Maxine’s face closely, and whatever she saw made her staying there anymore.”

    eyes

    well up again. She pleaded, “can’t you juste back? I don’t want you

    Though she had no idea what was happening now, Jessica was suddenly transported back to that horrific car ident, seeing Maxine critically binjured/b, clinging to life by a thread.

    Though most of her childhood memories had faded, one image remained painfully clear, her mother and Maxine lying pale and motionless in hospital

    beds.

    That left deep trauma in her when she was still ba /bchild. Thest thing she wanted was to see Maxine confined to a hospital bed bagain/b.

    Her voice choked with tears, she begged, “Please, juste back. I’m done with revenge, I just want to be with you.”

    Maxine felt a lump in her throat at the sight. Pressing her lips together, she offered Jessica a gentle smile and softly reassured her, “It’s okay. Gabriel is already behind bars, and the rest of the Jenson family will be brought to justice soon.”

    Amidst Jessica’s soft sobs, Maxine gently said, “Sweetheart, think about it. Hamlin didn’t just hurt your mom. He’s destroyed countless other families. There are so many kids like you who’ve lost their mothers and families… I can’t rest easy knowing we’re this close to justice. We can’t give up nowb. /b

    your mom passed away, I was still here to take care of you. But for She narrowed her eyes and gave a gentle smile. “Think about it, sweetheart. After other kids, losing their parents might mean dropping out of school. The moment they lost their parents, their whole lives were forever changed.”

    Jessica was still too young, Maxine couldn’t bring herself to exin how ruthlessly Hamlin had wiped out entire families. That truth would have bbeen /bbfar /btoo cruel for a child to bear.

    After a brief silence, Jessica sniffled and said, her voice tremblingb, /b“You have to promise

    She paused, then added softly, “When I’m on break, I’lle see you.”

    me you’ll stay safe. Wait for me…”

    Just after Christmas, Jessica’s next break was still a while away. By thenb, /bthings should be settled, so Maxine agreed, reminded her to focus on her studies, and then hung up.

    bon /bbas /bbSebastian /bbunlocked /bbthe /bLate that night, Sebastian and Brian crept back into the vi, hoping to slip in quietly without disturbing Maxine. Bu door and tiptoed in with Brian in tow, they had barely made it past the entryway before locking eyes with Maxine, bwho /bbwas /balready sitting on the sofa.

    Maxine raised an eyebrow. “What are you two up to, sneaking in so quietly?”

    Brian was the first to react. Grinning, he scurried/over to her side and said, “I wanted toe keep youpany, Mom, so I dragged Dad along

    Maxine nodded thoughtfully but didn’t press further. “Did you finish your homework?”

    Brian nodded eagerly. “Done! Mom, are you hungry? Dad can cook for you!”

    Maxine shot Brian a skeptical look. ‘Does this kid even know his father can’t cook to save his life?‘ she wondered.

    Burdened with this “esteemed” culinary duty, Sebastian saw that Maxine stayed silent. With a resigned sigh, he rolled bup /bhis sleeves and headed for te kitchen, putting on airs as he went. “What would you all like? I’ll whip something up,” he called out, feigning confidence.