Save Myself from Desperation

Chapter 212 Lester stared at the video of Cara once again, contemplating as he asked, “George, what do you think?”

George’s expression remained unchanged. He lightly tapped the table, his tone carrying an air of indifference. “Just go and find out.”

“Alright, I'll have someone look into it,” Lester said, slightly narrowing his eyes as he handed the phone back to Ashley. After the meal, the three of them left the restaurant.

Just as they stepped out of the restaurant, Ashley received a call from an unknown number.

She answered the phone with a casual “Hello.”

On the other end, Bertha’s discontented voice came through. “Ashley, don’t you have a conscience? You even blocked your own mother’s number!”

Ashley’s expression turned cold. “Bertha, you got no say about my conscience.”

“You!” Bertha was so angry that her fingers trembled, and her breath became rapid. “Are you trying to drive me mad? What did | do to deserve a daughter as ungrateful as you!”

“If this is what your call is about, | don’t have time for it,” Ashley said, poised to hang up.

“Ashley Ramos!” Bertha interrupted, and her tone filled with indignation. “I’ve been in the hospital, and not once have you bothered to visit. Even if | were on my deathbed, you still won’t show up?”

“Back when you and Frankie conspired to accuse me of pushing my own biological mother down, did you remember that | was your daughter?” Ashley asked calmly.

Bertha was momentarily silenced by the retort, and after a while, she said. with a desolate tone, “Let bygones be bygones. Come to the hospital and see me. My condition...”

“Your condition has nothing to do with me.” Ashley rejected emotionlessly.

09:24

“Ashley...” Bertha’s breath quickened again, like an old, wheezing bellows. “Alright, if you don’t grace me a visit, | won't insist. But mark my words, no more tormenting Jessica. Jeremy, Ryan, and Matthew dared to lay hands on her, all because of you!”

Ashley sneered, and her eyes filled with sarcasm.

She thought, ‘No wonder the sudden call.

After all these years of neglect and no concern from her own mother, the call was solely about her foster daughter. Lester and George, upon hearing Bertha’s name from Ashley,

immediately understood who was on the phone. They looked at Ashley with concern.

Ashley shook her head at them, signaling that everything was fine, then took a few steps away.

On the other end, Bertha continued her tirade, “Jeremy, Ryan, and Matthew treated Jessica so well before. They never laid a hand on her, not even a harsh word. Now, they've resorted to violence, all because of you!”

Ashley glanced at the withered leaves of the plane tree on the roadside. and suddenly felt exhausted. She closed her eyes and said, “I regret reuniting with the Ramos family three years ago.”

Upon hearing this, Bertha fell silent momentarily and then murm “Are you accusing me of favoritism?” Ashley remained silent.

Bertha defended herself. “What do you know? In the first two days a we brought you back to Ramos Villa, Jessica hid under her blanket, silently shedding tears. She was afraid she had no place in this family, crying and imploring us to send her away. You have no idea that witnessing her sorrow tore at my heart.”

Ashley sneered, “So, ever since | rejoined the Ramos family, you’ve been playing guardian angel for her? Afraid she'd be wronged?”

Bertha took a deep breath. “You are indeed my biological daughter, but Jessica is the one Evan and | brought back from the orphanage. | watched her grow step by step. The first time she wore new clothes, the first time. she had a birthday cake, the first time she went to an amusement park... All of it. 1, as her mother, was there. The nurturing bond of these years is

09:240

not something that can be faded away with time.” “And what about me?”

Ashley’s eyelashes fluttered a bit. Her voice remained composed. “While you were dressing her in new clothes, taking her to the amusement park, and celebrating her birthdays, | was alone in an orphanage. You shield and favor her, fearing she might face hardships. But what about me, your own flesh and blood?”NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

“Why do you have to measure yourself against Jessica! You went through so much hardship growing up, handling a fair share of setbacks. Jessica isn’t like you. She had a comfortable upbringing since childhood, and her tolerance level doesn’t match yours!”

Bertha paused momentarily, then softened her tone. “You had gone missing since you were young. | missed you too, but we couldn’t find you back then. Eventually, we went to the orphanage and brought Jessica back. That’s when | found solace and placed all my longing for you onto Jessica.

“So many years have passed. Jessica is already a part of the Ramos family. Can’t you just treat her like a sister? Jessica is not like you. She doesn’t understand as much, and she doesn’t have a complicated mind. Don’t bully her again. It’s a mother’s plea, please, I’m begging you...”

Ashley hung up the phone without a word.

She pressed her hand against her heart, feeling a trace of sadness.

Ashley had never asked for much. A mere fraction of the motherly lov Bertha showered on Jessica would have sufficed. Yet, even this meager amount of affection was beyond her reach.

Seeing her hang up the phone, Lester walked over, and before getting close, he caught sight of Ashley’s slightly pale face. He immediately rushed over. “Ashley, what’s wrong?”

George strode over immediately after hearing that.

“I'm fine.” Ashley took two deep breaths, suppressing her discomfort.

She had long decided to cut all ties with the Ramos family.

She shouldn't let herself be affected by them.

“Are you sure? Did Bertha say something just now?” Lester was still

09:24

worried.

“Everything is fine.” Ashley wouldn't bother with Bertha anymore.

It was getting late. Time to go home.

Ashley bid farewell to Lester and George.

George scrutinized Ashley's expression. Noticing that she appeared fine, he finally eased his tension.

Lester remembered the glimpse of Cara he saw in the video earlier. He needed to check on that.

Back at Kingsley Villa, as soon as Ashley entered the living room, she saw Joseph sitting on the sofa, hugging half a watermelon, who was more at ease here than in his own home.

“Ashley, you're back!” Joseph immediately tossed the watermelon aside and ran over to greet her.

Ashley responded with an “Um” and glanced around. Not seeing Valentin, she couldn’t help asking, “Where’s your brother?”