Chapter 78
Janie frowned, ready to leave.
She’d only come to kill some time, not to run into Xena.
And where Xena was, the rest of the Jenkins clan wasn’t far behind.
Seeing Janie’s displeasure, David Smith quickly explained, “I had no idea they’d be here! I swear!”
After all, he wasn’t the one who organized this banquet, and few people even knew his real identity.
Jackson shot David a cold glare.
Janie, ignoring the interruption, continued on her original path.
“Xena’s talking to you! Are you deaf? I…” Zion started to yell, but suddenly froze.
He desperately needed to fart.
The pressure was becoming unbearable, making his face turn purple as he struggled to hold it in!
Xena gave him a strange look and turning to Janie, “Are you ignoring Mom too?”
Only then did Janie turn to face them.
Kathy froze, staring at Janie.
Years had passed, and if they hadn’t met again, she might have almost forgotten her daughter.
Kathy had consciously tried to forget. Remembering was too painful.
But how could she truly forget? This was her only biological daughter!
Jackson also looked at Kathy. This was Janie’s biological mother, after all, so he held his tongue.
“Is something the matter?” Janie asked coldly. If she didn’t have business here, she would have already left.
Ryan quickly walked to Janie’s side and whispered, “Let’s find somewhere to talk. Mom… she’s your mother, after all.”
David, standing nearby, overheard. He was stunned.
‘Mother? Kathy was both Ryan’s and Janie’s mother?”
David was thunderstruck, rooted to the spot.
Ryan gave him a cold look.
Facing Kathy’s tearful face, Janie finally agreed. “Fine.” She’d give her birth mother one chance to speak.
Ryan held Xena back.
She, Zion Jenkins, and Tyler Krieger remained where they were.
*****
After arranging a small room for Janie and the others, David Smith came out.
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Chapter 78
It’s at this point that Ryan and the others realize David’s true identity as the youngest Smith son, but they have little time to digest this turning their attention back to Janie.
Kathy frowned at Jackson, “Janie, would you ask this gentleman to leave?”
“Why? He has every right to stay,” Janie replied, “I’m just a defenseless woman – I’d prefer MY family present.”
Kathy, Ryan, and Ethan fell silent.
They could only accept.
“Make it quick, I’m on a schedule,” Janie said calmly.
Kathy’s face darkened, “this is how you treat me?”
Jackson interrupted sharply, “What did you expect? Get to the point!”
“How dare you let him speak to me like this?” Kathy was infuriated and appealed to Janie.
“Please get to the point,” Janie said impatiently.
Kathy struggled to control her emotions while Ryan comforted her and spoke up, “Janie, let’s just forget about us, but you’re treating Mom like this too?”
“Like what?” Janie tilted her head. “What am I doing wrong?”
Her voice turned cold. “If you’re here to blame me again, you have no right. Let’s just end this.”
Kathy was enraged. “Janie, you’re such a disappointment! You haven’t grown at all these years!”
Jackson Moore barely restrained himself from throwing them all out.
“If I had ‘grown‘ the way you wanted, my life would be ruined,” Janie responded.
Seeing Kathy about to explode again, Ryan and Ethan Jenkins quickly held her back.
Ryan whispered, “Mom, let’s talk about the important stuff. Don’t get sidetracked.”
Kathy forced herself to calm down and asked Janie, “Why won’t you come home?”
“She is home,” Jackson retorted.
Kathy found Jackson extremely annoying.
“I’ve already said everything to your sons,” Janie spoke coldly. “If there’s nothing new to discuss, let’s end this.”
“I’m your mother!” Kathy exploded. “Are you really going to disown me?”
Jackson let out a bitter laugh, “That’s rich, coming from you. You already have a daughter you dote on, even though she’s not your biological child. You have three biological sons. What more do you want? Why bother Janie? What gives you the right?”
“You have no right to interfere!” Kathy snapped.
Jackson’s face hardened.
“He has every right,” Janie spoke coldly.
Kathy faltered, noticing how close Janie was to Jackson.
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“You can’t have your cake and eat it too,” Janie looked at her, “You’ve chosen Xena as your daughter and have three sons. What more do you want?”
Janie stated firmly, “Do you just want me to suffer in your house, enduring cold shoulders and misery? Is that what would make you happy?”
The three remained silent.
After a moment, Kathy spoke weakly, “That’s not what I meant…”
“Can you manage our relationship properly?” Janie asked. “Can you treat everyone fairly? If your children mistreat me, will you handle it impartially?”
Kathy was at a loss for words again.
“You can’t,” Janie answered for her.
She turned to Ethan and Ryan, “And you? Who matters more – your siblings or me? Would you be fair if we had conflicts? Why should I live in a house where I’m unwanted, with people I don’t like?”
“For so many years, you’ve all lived perfectly fine without me. Probably the worst days of your lives were the two days I spent in your house. So why make everyone unhappy?”
“I’ve said my piece. There’s nothing more to discuss. From now on, we’re strangers.”
With that, Janie took out a small bottle and tossed it to Ethan. He caught it instinctively.
Janie looked at Kathy, “You’ve been having nightmares lately, and your health is failing. If this continues, it’ll put your life at risk.”
“You never raised me, and because of your negligence, I suffered for over a decade. You even took in and spoiled my enemy’s daughter just to spite me.”
“But since you gave me life, consider this my way of repaying that debt. After this, we’re done – don’t try to contact me again.”
Janie walked out without hesitation, Jackson following close behind.
Kathy nearly fainted.
Ethan gripped the bottle tightly.
“Throw it away!” Kathy shouted angrily.
“Mom, please!” Ethan protested. “Janie seems to really know medicine. Even if she doesn’t, her medicine is top–notch. Just accept it! Your health matters most!”
Ryan felt a bit lost in his heart, ‘So, is it destined that we don’t have a biological sister, and Mom and Dad don’t have a biol
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