Chapter 225: I don’t need you anymore

The news of Cedric’s death had brought the Sterling company to its knees.

The business had already been running at a loss, but everything became worse when Cedric’s crimes were exposed and spread across social media.

The directors could no longer control the situation. Employees began resigning one after another. The company’s stock price plummeted. It was on the verge of bankruptcy when Elias stepped in and took over all the business operations.

The Sterling family’s assets were auctioned off to repay their debts. Only the family mansion was left to Amber.

But after everything that had happened, Amber couldn’t bring herself to stay there. She couldn’t bear the humiliation or the endless public backlash. She sold the mansion and decided to leave the country.

Before leaving, she called Elena.

"Elena, I’m leaving the country. Can we meet?"

Elena was surprised by the call. "Where are you going?"

"My mother left me a property. From now on, I’ll stay there." Amber let out a tired sigh. "My flight is in two days. Before I leave, I want to see you. Please come and have dinner with me."

Elena was silent for a moment. Then she said, "Alright."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that day, Elena arrived at the Sterling family mansion.

It was her first time there.

She stood outside for a moment, staring at the enormous building in front of her.

The mansion was grand enough to make anyone feel insignificant. Every detail spoke of money, status, and power. But the grandeur had lost its charm.

There were no guards at the entrance, no servants rushing around, and no expensive cars parked outside.

The once-bustling mansion was eerily quiet.

Elena walked inside.

Amber greeted her from the hallway. "Come in, Elena. I’m sorry. I couldn’t come out to welcome you."

Elena looked at her.

Amber was wearing a simple top and a pair of trousers. An apron was tied around her waist, stained with oil and flour. The warm smell of spices drifted from the kitchen.

She looked nothing like the sophisticated woman Elena had known before. She looked like an ordinary housewife.

For a moment, Elena’s mind went back to her childhood. She remembered seeing Amber wearing an apron just like that, standing in the kitchen and cooking for her.

Something stirred painfully inside her. Her chest tightened. Her throat grew so tight that no words came out.

"Why are you standing there?" Amber asked softly. "Come, sit down."

She gently pulled Elena toward the sofa. "Dinner is almost ready. Wait here for a while."

Amber returned to the kitchen.

Elena sat quietly on the sofa. Then her phone vibrated.

She took it out and saw a message from Elias.

’Did you reach there? I’m worried. Tell me you are alright.’

A small smile appeared on her lips. She typed back.

’I’m fine. You should go home early. Don’t keep working late.’

His reply came almost instantly.

’Tell me once dinner is over. I’ll come to pick you up.’

Elena chuckled softly. "You won’t listen, will you?"

She quickly typed: ’Okay.’

A few moments later, Amber returned with a glass of juice.

"I remember you used to love freshly squeezed apple juice. I made some for you."

She held the glass out to Elena.

Elena accepted it. The moment she looked at the juice, another childhood memory surfaced.

When she was little, she used to demand a glass of apple juice from her mother whenever she was thirsty. Back then, something as simple as juice had been enough to make her happy.

Now, all she felt was bitterness.

"I used to love it," Elena said slowly. "But not anymore."

Amber’s smile faded.

"I stopped having it the day you left." Elena placed the glass on the coffee table without taking a sip.

Amber’s face crumpled. Tears immediately gathered in her eyes.

"I know I hurt you." Her voice trembled. "Can you forgive me?" ℴ

Elena remained silent for a long moment. She looked at the woman sitting before her.

Her mother.

Elena had spent years wishing her mother would come back. She had once waited for every single day. Yet now that Amber was finally sitting in front of her, Elena realized something painful.

She no longer knew how to be her daughter.

"I don’t hate you anymore," Elena finally said. "But I can’t forgive you for what you did."

The hope in Amber’s eyes disappeared.

"You left my father in despair. You left me with endless pain and questions." Elena’s voice remained calm, but every word carried years of hurt.

"I had to grow up without you. I had to live with the questions of why you left and whether I had done something wrong."

Her fingers tightened slightly. "I can’t forget what I went through."

Amber lowered her head. She had hurt her daughter so deeply that even an apology felt too small. She wiped away her tears and forced a faint smile.

"Back then, I thought I was doing the right thing," she said hoarsely. "I thought being with Cedric would bring me peace and happiness."

Her eyes dropped to her hands. "But things didn’t turn out the way I thought they would."

She paused.

"Cedric was no longer the man I had fallen in love with. He changed. His greed for money and power grew every day. He became busy, cold, and arrogant. He rarely had time for his family."

A bitter laugh escaped her.

"He always said he was doing everything for us. That he wanted to give us a better life. Whenever I complained, he would give me money and tell me to go shopping or attend a kitty party."

Her smile twisted bitterly. "And somehow, after a while, I stopped caring too."

Her fingers twisted on her lap.

"I kept myself busy with shopping bags, jewelry, expensive dresses, and parties. I spent most of my time with my friends. I convinced myself that this was what a happy life looked like."

Her voice grew quieter. "I stopped paying attention to Vivian, too."

Fresh sadness filled her eyes.

"I thought giving her money, freedom, and everything she wanted was enough. I thought that was what I was supposed to do for my daughter."

Her heart gave a painful twist. "But I forgot to teach her right from wrong."

Her shoulders trembled as she sobbed.

"I never taught her that she couldn’t bully people just because our family had money and power. Instead, I kept telling her that she was the princess of the Sterling family and could have whatever she wanted. I spoiled her."

Amber covered her face for a moment. "I never imagined she would one day kill someone."

Elena didn’t stop her. She simply sat there and listened. She let Amber spill out years of regret, guilt, and sorrow.

"It’s all my fault," Amber whispered. "If I had spent more time with her... if I had guided her properly... if I had taught her the difference between right and wrong... maybe she wouldn’t have become like this. Maybe she wouldn’t have committed a crime."

Elena’s heart felt heavy. But it wasn’t sympathy. It was a cold realization.

Once, Amber had left her family because she believed her wealthy former lover could give her a better life. She had chosen money, comfort, and luxury over the family that loved her.

But somewhere along the way, she had become so blinded by that luxurious life that she stopped looking at what she was losing.

And now, she had lost everything.

Her daughter was in prison. Her husband was a wanted criminal. Their wealth had been seized to repay their debts. Even the mansion she had been left with was gone.

Amber had nothing left. She was alone, defeated.

Elena lowered her eyes. ’No one knows what life might throw at us.’

Amber wiped away her tears. Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out a check. She placed it on the table.

"This is five million. Take it." Amber looked at her with guilt-filled eyes.

"I couldn’t do anything for you all these years. If you accept this money, at least let me feel that I have fulfilled some part of my duty as your mother."

Elena stared at the amount. A bitter smile slowly appeared on her lips.

"Five million? Is that supposed to make up for everything? For the years I lost without a mother’s love? For the pain I endured? For all those nights when I wondered why my own mother had abandoned me?"

Her voice remained controlled, but the pain underneath it was impossible to hide.

"You think this money will make me forget everything?" She pushed the check back toward Amber. "You are wrong, Mrs. Sterling."

Elena stood. "I don’t need your money. And I don’t want anything from you."

She turned toward the door.

"Don’t leave yet." Amber hurried after her and desperately grabbed her hand. "The dinner is ready."

Elena stopped. She looked at Amber’s hand around hers. Then she slowly pulled it away.

"I accepted your invitation and came here because you gave birth to me. But I never came here intending to have dinner with you."

Amber froze.

"We are not that close." Elena turned and walked toward the door.

"Elena..." Amber rushed after her. "Will you call me once in a while?"

Elena stopped at the doorstep. Her fingers curled around her handbag strap.

She wanted to turn around. Some small, wounded part of the little girl she had once been wanted to hear her mother call her name again. But that little girl had waited for too long.

Elena closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she still didn’t turn around.

"No..."

She walked out without looking back.