Capítulo 8: Dearest Sister (2)
When Adrienne finally calmed down, she felt embarrassed at her actions. She sat on Myrtle's couch and waited for her friend to return from the kitchen. Her eyes swept around the room. It was not her first time here, but she was relieved that everything seemed to be as she remembered.
Despite having the surname Han, Myrtle lived alone and chose to distance herself from the Han family. Unlike Elise, Myrtle Han wasn't a child from a love affair. Her birth father died during her childhood, and her mother married Alistair's father. Being a child from the previous marriage, the Han family wasn't willing to accept her, but eventually gave their last name to Myrtle, with the condition that she would not bring shame to the family.
Alas, because of Elise's scheme, Myrtle had been injected with an addictive substance that was supposed to be given to Adrienne. Myrtle developed an addiction since then and had trouble suppressing her desires. Adrienne could only watch in guilt as her best friend's life spiraled into doom, and the Han family disowned Myrtle because of her.
"You ran away from home this early? Did you fight with Camilla?" She heard Myrtle's voice coming from the kitchen. Her nose also picked up the scent of the coffee her best friend was brewing. Unlike her, who loved to drink tea, Myrtle preferred the strong taste and scent of the coffee beans.
"No, but I angered Dad this morning. I reminded them of my grandparents' visit this weekend. Camilla might forget she isn't truly part of the Jiang family yet." She replied nonchalantly, earning a loud laugh from Myrtle.
Myrtle came back with two mugs in both hands. She handed one to Adrienne before casually slumping into the seat next to her.
"You know Elise won't let you off easily after this." Myrtle gave her a side glance as she sipped her warm drink.
"She can try, but who knows how long it will be before her luck runs dry." Adrienne scoffed and watched Myrtle closely. She still couldn't believe she could talk to her like this once more.
For so many years after Myrtle's death, Adrienne felt like she was truly alone. This bond she shared with Myrtle was a once-in-a-lifetime for her, no one had ever managed to replace her best friend. If she hadn't promised to look after Dylan after her mother and Myrtle's death, Adrienne would have taken her own life to follow them.
Myrtle lowered her mug and stared at her for a moment.
"What?" Adrienne raised a brow at her.
Her best friend shook her head and smiled.
"I'm just relieved you aren't wallowing in self-pity anymore. Sometimes I wished I had lived with the title of 'Young Miss Han'. Maybe I could make things easier for you if I had."
Adrienne flinched at that. Was she really that foolish in the past? Had she wailed and complained nonstop but refused to put an end to her misery? Did she expect that by marrying Alistair, she only needed to rely on him to fix the mess in her life?
She lowered her head in shame, realizing the errors of her ways in the past. Complaining couldn't do much - she needed to take action to change the course of her life. If things remained the same in this lifetime, only death and tragedy would await her.
"No… Young Miss Han doesn't suit you. If they knew what you could do, you would give those old geezers a heart attack." Adrienne replied with a smirk.
"Hey! Hey! Young Miss Jiang, you wound me! How could you say such words to me?! You said it like I'm a ruffian who knows nothing of manners and ethics!" Myrtle objected with a pout. Seeing her like this, Adrienne's eyes shone with tears, but she blinked them away, not wanting her best friend to get worried.
"I doubt you do." She said, earning a glare from Myrtle. "However, I would rather you be happy and live your life to the fullest, Myrtle. Even if you became Miss Han, I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."
Myrtle said nothing, but she seemed to understand what Adrienne meant. She would be forced to live up to everyone's expectations, and she might get in trouble by competing with Alistair Han. Ever since her mother married into the Han family, she made sure not to get involved with that man after meeting him several times. She also didn't understand what Adrienne saw in him and why she was infatuated with her crazy step-brother.
"Well, didn't you like my brother? If you two get married because of me, you'll be forever indebted to me."
The temperature between them dropped, and Myrtle rubbed her arms, wondering if the air conditioner inside her unit was faulty now. She had been staying here for about two years and noticed that it wasn't performing well at times. Myrtle failed to see the coldness in Adrienne's eyes because of this.
"You are right, Myrtle. Your brother is out of my league. He and I can never be together." Adrienne whispered, her eyes unfocused, her body shuddering as memories flooded her mind.
No… whatever happens, their paths should never cross again. Adrienne didn't want to experience the same hell being with Alistair Han ever again. Thinking about it, she couldn't think of a reason why she fell in love with that man. He was haughty and arrogant, thinking that only his opinions mattered and no one else's.
Myrtle snapped her head and looked at Adrienne in disbelief. Did she hear things right? She had been trying to convince Adrienne not to get involved with her brother, but she failed every time. So what made Adrienne change her mind?
"A-are you sure?" She probed, wanting to see how strong Adrienne's resolve was.
It would be better if Adrienne turned her attention to someone else, to one who could truly love her. For Myrtle, she only wants her best friend to be happy, and she doesn't believe that her brother is capable of love.
"Of course," Adrienne answered at once. "I don't need to marry your brother for you to become my sister. Myrtle, in my heart, you are the sister I wish to have. Although we didn't share the same womb, you are my sister."
Capítulo 9: The Adrienne You Know Is Dead (1)
Myrtle was still alive, which gave Adrienne more reason to change the course of her life for the better this time. However, stopping Myrtle from retaking the same road only meant that she wouldn't conceive and have Dylan in this lifetime.
Adrienne grieved over the thought, but she surmised that it would be for the best, as Dylan wouldn't have to struggle with not having his birth mother around and wouldn't have to be subjected to the suffering in his uncle's hands.
'Myrtle, I regret everything. Please forgive me if I stop you from having Dylan in the future.'
Adrienne had no idea who fathered Dylan, and Myrtle wouldn't tell her. Even their brothers in the gang were clueless about the bastard who abandoned her.
"What's wrong with you, Addie?" Myrtle laughed awkwardly, but Adrienne's heartfelt confession quite moved her. "Where did you hide my meek and foolish best friend?" She teased, hoping to lighten the mood between them.
Myrtle thought something might have happened to Adrienne back home, hence she was acting like this. Adrienne had been crying like a baby last night while drinking. Myrtle worried that Adrienne's stepmother or new stepsister might have bullied her discreetly yet again.
Adrienne shook her head and sighed. "She's already dead and would never return. You don't have any choice but to keep me instead."
Myrtle burst into laughter, almost spilling her drink as she clutched her side from laughing too much. However, she was somewhat relieved knowing that Adrienne wouldn't be seeking her brother any longer. It was one thing that bothered her these past years, but she couldn't do anything about it. She feared that she would be subjected to his tyranny if Adrienne managed to catch her brother's attention.
"It's still your birthday. Do you have other plans today?" She asked Adrienne.
Adrienne considered her options. She wanted to stay a little longer with Myrtle and see her mother soon.
As if sensing her distraught, Myrtle lowered her mug on the coffee table and took Adrienne's hand, giving it a light squeeze to assure her.
"Should we give Auntie Rose a visit? She can't possibly miss your birthday celebration."
Adrienne stared at her best friend and nodded, watching in a blur as Myrtle walked around her unit. It took Myrtle fifteen minutes to wash up and change into new clothes.
"Let's go, Addie. We can't let Auntie wait for too long."
Myrtle's voice snapped Adrienne from her trance. She allowed her best friend to drag her outside and called Uncle Mo to drive them to the hospital.
Adrienne didn't know what she should feel right then. Of all the people she failed in her previous life, Adrienne didn't dare face her mother now. Even if her mother forgave her, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself for being foolish, allowing Camilla, Elise, and Cayden to take advantage of her.
"Addie? What's wrong? Did you forget something?" Myrtle called her when Adrienne didn't alight the car once they reached their destination.
Adrienne didn't answer but followed her best friend out, lifting her head only to see the hospital her mother was admitted to for many years before Alistair Han transferred her to another one. Her legs trembled slightly, tears stung her eyes as she was grateful to see her mother and best friend again.
She felt like she was dragging her feet, taking the same path she knew well. What would her mother say if she knew what she had done in an attempt to keep her alive? Would she blame herself, or would she find Adrienne disgraceful?
Adrienne knew that her mother would blame herself for what had happened, though she was the one who made the poor choices. She was rooted outside the door when they reached the room where her mother was staying.
Myrtle didn't notice it and opened the door immediately, greeting the unconscious woman lying on the bed. The woman looked to be in her late thirties. Though visibly thin, it didn't lessen how beautiful the woman was. It was easy to tell that most of Adrienne's facial features, such as the shape of her face, her brows, her nose, and her lips, came from her.
"Addie! What are you doing standing there?! Come in here!" Myrtle called her when she remained unmoving in her place.
Adrienne finally took a step inside and saw her mother. She could feel a cold shiver run down her spine, making this all feel real. She suddenly found it hard to breathe and held onto the railing at the end of the bed as she looked at her mother's ghastly complexion. Though her mother was still alive, someone hired by her brother and Camilla must still be drugging her mother to remain in a coma.
Adrienne knew that she needed to find a way to stop it before her mother's condition deteriorated further. However, she knew this wouldn't be easy unless she transferred her mother to a safer place with better health facilities.
She walked to her mother's side and placed her hand on top of her mother's. Adrienne could feel the faint warmth coming from her mother as if she was still reassuring her that everything would be fine. She did not doubt that if her mother had a choice, she would rather choose to end her life than see her daughter suffer.
'Mom, kindness isn't enough for others to treat you kindly. In this life, I will make them pay for what they did to you.'
Adrienne thought that her mother was too forgiving. If she hadn't foolishly forgiven her father and welcomed Cayden to their family, they would have avoided this tragedy.
How could she remain still and do nothing when she was already aware of the scheme those three had set up? If she wasn't reborn, Adrienne hated that she would remain as foolish as she was until the end. It left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she swore not to waste this rare chance in her favor.
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