Broken

Jade was extremely grateful for the help offered to her.

She could finally feel the familiar wind and air of her home, her loved ones were just miles away.

Jade was constantly twitching in the taxi, she couldn't believe that she was home.

"Can you drive faster?" Jade asked, excitement evident in her voice.

"Yes ma'am."

Lyssa and the crew had helped her with enough money to get home and Jade couldn't be any more thankful.

"We've arrived." The taxi driver announced but Jade had already gotten out of the car.

She ran to the entrance of that overly familiar house even though a few things had been changed, it was still her home.

Jade stopped abruptly and ran her fingers through her hair, she straightened her dress and took in a deep breath. After standing outside for a while, Jade opened the door and went in unable to control the bubbling excitement.

She dashed in but stopped when she saw the unfamiliar interior of the house, the design wasn't the kind that suited her mother's taste.

Jade turned around and saw an unfamiliar kid staring at her.

"Mom!." The child screamed and ran upstairs.

Jade chuckled, "I knew mom would adopt a child, she can't bear being alone."

She wanted to follow the child upstairs but a young woman ran down the stairs.

"Who are you?" The woman asked.

"Huh?" Jade was very confused, why would someone be asking her who she was when she was in her mom's house.

"I asked who you are?" The woman repeated, raising her voice.

"My name is Jade... Jade Valois."

"What do you want?"

"I'm here to see my mom, is she home."

"What do you mean by mom, leave my house right now before I call the cops." The woman yelled and hid the little boy behind her.

"Your house? Haha." Jade chuckled softly and added "This is my house, I left five years ago but my mom is still here."

"I don't know what you're talking about but I bought this house three years ago. Please now leave my house." The woman gestured to the door.

The smile on Jade's face disappeared, her mom would never sell this house since it was the only memory of her late father.

"Hahaha, what are you saying?" Jade laughed like a maniac, her mother loved the house so much that she refused to leave the country just because of the house and now she just sells it like it's some worthless piece of trash.

"Wh, where is the for, former owner of the house?" Jade stammered as she asked.

"I don't kn..."

"No wait, don't answer that. I would find out myself." Jade said interrupting the young woman's statement.

Jade dashed out of the house, her next location was the house Francis parents lived.

The house was not very far from Jade's house but even though it was far, all the same Jade would have still ran all the way there.

While Jade ran she thought of reasons why her mother would sell the house, her mother was not too old and Jade has always encouraged her to remarry since her father died early but Jade's mother always refused because of the love for her late husband.

Jade stopped when she caught sight of the familiar house, it felt like it was just yesterday when her and Francis would play and run around the house.

Jade stopped to catch her breath, she walked to the door and rang the doorbell.

After ringing it twice, the door was opened from the other side.

Jade saw Mr Kaden, her supposed to be father in-law. The man who used to look so young looked like he had aged so much, he even looked twice his age, his formerly black hair now had multiple strands of grey.

Jade felt extreme guilt, all these things that was happening now was all because of her, if only she had never left in the first place things might have been better.

"J, Jade?" Mr Kaden called, his lips trembling as he sized her up.

"Mr Kaden." Jade called, she was beginning to get teary.

"Oh my God, Jade. You, come on in." Mr Kaden moved away from the door and letted her in.

"Who is that, honey?" A feminine voice asked from inside the living room.

Jade entered and turned to the voice, the woman who was sitting on the couch turned to her, the woman's smile slowly faded as she met Jade's eyes.

"Is that you, Jade?" The woman asked in surprise.

Jade smiled and nodded, it looks like Mrs Kaden still recognized her, even though Jade didn't recognize Mrs Kaden at first due to how old she looked now.

"What happened to you, Jade? Where were you all this while?" Mrs Kaden asked in concern.

"I was... "

"No, wait." Mrs Kaden interrupted, she looked behind Jade and slowly walked towards her.

"Wh, where is my Francis, Jade?" Mrs Kaden asked, her previously clear eyes was now clouded in grief, her usually soft smile now looked forced.

Tears ran down Mrs Kaden's eyes as she struggled to breath, she gasped and yelled.

"Where is Francis? He went to look for you. Where is he now?"

Jade's eyes widened at the sudden outburst, her mind was blank, Francis went to search for her?.

"Calm down, honey." Mr Kaden held Mrs Kaden in his arms and slowly guided her upstairs while muttering calming words.

"I'ld be back, Jade." He turned to Jade and said.

Jade slumped down, if Francis really went to search for her like Mrs Kaden said and if he hasn't returned it might mean that he has been trafficked too. Jade shuddered at the thought.

"I'm sorry for that, Jade. She is not stable." Mr Kaden apologized. "Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

Jade shook her head.

"Where have you been, Jade?" Mr Kaden looked at her with concern.

Jade felt like her heart was being pricked with a needle. Mr Kaden lost his son but still cared about her.

"It doesn't matter... When did Francis leave to look for me?" Jade asked.

"Four years ago."

"What?"

"You didn't return from a one week vacation after a year so we were worried. We contacted the cops but after three months they said you were already dead but since Francis didn't see your body, he decided to search for you himself ever since then... he hasn't returned home or responded to our calls and texts." Mr Kaden explained.

Jade gasped for air, she couldn't believe that Francis was taken away too.

"Th, then what about my mom?" Jade stuttered as she asked the one question that has been weighing on her mind.

"Haa, I'm sorry, Jade."