chapter 32

The breakfast dishes had been cleared. A soft hum of activity filled the kitchen as the servants began tidying up, some stacking dishes, others wiping down counters. Two young maids, LINA and MARTHA, stood near the pantry, whispering in hushed but excited tones as they polished silverware.

LINA (giggling softly):"Did you notice Kara this morning? She said thank you to me yesterday… like an actual lady. I thought I'd faint."

MARTHA (smirking):"Ever since Madam Jane became part of the family, the fire in Miss Kara's mouth has cooled down. Maybe Madam sprinkled her with holy water in her sleep."

They both chuckled, unaware that footsteps had entered the room.

LINA (whispering):"I bet she's just pretending. You know Miss Kara—cold one moment, storm the next. I give it a week."

JANE (calm but firm, from behind):"Then perhaps you don't know her as well as you think."

The maids froze mid-laughter. Lina's polishing cloth fell from her hand.

They turned around slowly to see Jane standing at the doorway, arms crossed lightly, her gaze gentle but cutting through them like glass. The kitchen went quiet. Even the dishwasher paused.

JANE (walking closer):"Miss Kara is not perfect. But she's been through more pain than your whispers could ever grasp."

She looked at them both in turn. Her tone wasn't loud, but there was a quiet authority in it that made everyone stand straighter.

JANE (firmly):"She's learning, healing, and trying. That's more than I can say for anyone who mocks others behind closed doors."

Lina lowered her head, embarrassed.

MARTHA:"We… we didn't mean any harm, Madam. We were just talking—"

JANE (interrupting, voice cool):"Talking becomes poison when it's laced with judgment."

Silence again. Even the cook, who'd been pretending not to listen, suddenly found something very important to do with the spice rack.

JANE (softening slightly):"I don't expect you to worship her. But I do expect respect. For her. For yourselves. And for this home."

She turned to leave, then paused at the door.

JANE (gently):"If you have time to gossip, you have time to polish the silverware twice."

She left the kitchen without another word.

The two maids exchanged a guilty look. Martha picked up the silverware cloth again.

LINA (murmuring):"Madam Jane might look soft, but she's got steel in her bones."

MARTHA:"No wonder Miss Kara is changing. I think I would too if someone like her was my mother."

They said nothing else, silently returning to their work—this time, with a little more humility and a lot more respect.The mall buzzed with life—shoppers moved between gleaming stores, laughter and music mingled with the soft clatter of footsteps on polished floors. Kara and Ethan led Jane through the aisles, their faces bright with excitement and determination.

KARA (smiling warmly):"Mom, you deserve all this and more. No more struggling or feeling left out."

ETHAN (nodding):"We want you to feel like the queen you are. You've been through too much."

Jane glanced around at the elegant stores, the beautiful clothes and accessories she had never dared to imagine owning. Her eyes shimmered with tears she fought to hold back.

JANE (voice trembling):"I… I don't know what to say. This… this means more than you know. After all these years, just to be treated like this... it feels like a dream."

She reached out, holding Kara's hand tightly, then Ethan's. The two siblings exchanged a glance, moved by the vulnerability in their mother's voice.

KARA (softly):"You're not just our mother, Jane. You're our family. And we're going to make sure you never feel invisible again."

Jane's tears finally spilled freely as she looked at them, overwhelmed by the love she had missed for so long.

JANE (whispering, choking on the words):"I lost so much… my children, my love, my hope. But right now, with you both, I feel like I've found everything I ever needed."

Ethan gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and Kara gave her a warm, steady smile.

ETHAN:"We'll get through this together. And when you find the answers about Job, you won't be alone."

Jane nodded, wiping her tears as a newfound strength began to shine in her eyes.

JANE (resolute):"I have to find out who did this to him. For Job, for us. No more hiding."

Kara squeezed her hand.

KARA:"We'll be by your side every step of the way."

The three of them moved forward into the bright mall, a family united by love, determination, and the hope of healing.

Jane sat quietly in her small room that evening, her mind racing with questions about Job's untimely death. The pain of losing him and the years of silence had left a heavy void, but now, with her children close, she felt a surge of determination.

She decided she couldn't wait any longer to uncover the truth. Quietly, she began gathering what little information she could — old news articles, whispers from Alden's employees, and any clue she could find about the business rivals who had set Job up.

Late into the night, Jane made a plan: she would move carefully, asking discreet questions and following leads without raising suspicion. Her heart ached, but her spirit was strong — this was for Job, for her family, and for justice long overdue.

Jane's fingers trembled slightly as she traced the worn edges of an old photograph she had tucked away — a picture of a younger version of herself, with a hopeful smile that now felt like a lifetime ago. For the first time in years, her thoughts drifted to the family she once had — or rather, the family that had abandoned her.

They had rejected her the moment they found out she was pregnant out of wedlock, treating her like a burden, a disgrace. Their coldness, their silent judgment, had pushed her away long before she ran. The bitterness of their neglect had left scars deeper than any physical wound.

But now, holding onto the fragile hope of reunion and healing, Jane realized that those wounds, though painful, did not define her. She was no longer alone. Her fight was not just to find her children, but to reclaim the love and dignity she deserved — even if it had to start from within herself.

Jane took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination swell inside her. The pain of the past still lingered, but it no longer weighed her down. Now, with her children found and a family to rebuild, she vowed to rise above every hardship.

She started small — taking care of her health, learning new skills, and reclaiming her confidence. Every step forward was a silent promise to herself: she wouldn't just survive anymore, she would thrive. No more letting the past define her or dictate her future.

With her heart anchored by love and hope, Jane was ready to face whatever came next. The road ahead might be long and challenging, but nothing could stop her now. She was on the path to rising — not just for herself, but for the family she had finally found.

Jane sat down with Alden one quiet afternoon in his study, her heart pounding with a mix of hope and vulnerability.

"I need something… a purpose, something to call my own," she said softly. "I want to do something meaningful — for me, for my children, for this family."

Alden looked at her with deep respect and warmth. "Jane, you've endured more than anyone should. You deserve to rebuild your life on your own terms. Whatever you want — a business, education, or anything else — I'll support you. No limits."

Tears welled up in Jane's eyes. For the first time in years, she felt someone truly believed in her. Alden wasn't just offering help; he was offering her a fresh start.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I won't let you down."

And with that promise, Jane took her first step toward rising — not just as a mother and wife, but as her own woman, ready to reclaim her life and dreams.