Save Myself From Desperation novel Chapter 212

Lester stared at the video of Cara once again, contemplating as he asked, "George, what do you think?"

George's expression remained unchanged. He lightly tapped the table, his tone carrying an air of indifference. "Just go and find out."

"Alright, I'll have someone look into it," Lester said, slightly narrowing his eyes as he handed the phone back to Ashley.

After the meal, the three of them left the restaurant.

Just as they stepped out of the restaurant, Ashley received a call from an unknown number.

She answered the phone with a casual "Hello."

On the other end, Bertha's discontented voice came through. "Ashley, don't you have a conscience? You even blocked your own mother's number!"

Ashley's expression turned cold. "Bertha, you got no say about my conscience."

"You!" Bertha was so angry that her fingers trembled, and her breath became rapid. "Are you trying to drive me mad? What did I do to deserve a daughter as ungrateful as you!"

"If this is what your call is about, I don't have time for it," Ashley said, poised to hang up.

"Ashley Ramos!" Bertha interrupted, and her tone filled with indignation. "I've been in the hospital, and not once have you bothered to visit. Even if I were on my deathbed, you still won't show up?"

"Back when you and Frankie conspired to accuse me of pushing my own biological mother down, did you remember that I was your daughter?" Ashley asked calmly.

Bertha was momentarily silenced by the retort, and after a while, she said with a desolate tone, "Let bygones be bygones. Come to the hospital and see me. My condition..."

"Your condition has nothing to do with me." Ashley rejected emotionlessly.

"Ashley..." Bertha's breath quickened again, like an old, wheezing bellows. "Alright, if you don't grace me a visit, I won't insist. But mark my words, no more tormenting Jessica. Jeremy, Ryan, and Matthew dared to lay hands on her, all because of you!"

Ashley sneered, and her eyes filled with sarcasm.

She thought, 'No wonder the sudden call.'

After all these years of neglect and no concern from her own mother, the call was solely about her foster daughter.

Lester and George, upon hearing Bertha's name from Ashley, immediately understood who was on the phone. They looked at Ashley with concern.

Ashley shook her head at them, signaling that everything was fine, then took a few steps away.

On the other end, Bertha continued her tirade, "Jeremy, Ryan, and Matthew treated Jessica so well before. They never laid a hand on her, not even a harsh word. Now, they've resorted to violence, all because of you!"

Ashley glanced at the withered leaves of the plane tree on the roadside and suddenly felt exhausted. She closed her eyes and said, "I regret reuniting with the Ramos family three years ago."

Upon hearing this, Bertha fell silent momentarily and then murmured, "Are you accusing me of favoritism?"

Ashley remained silent.

Bertha defended herself. "What do you know? In the first two days after we brought you back to Ramos Villa, Jessica hid under her blanket, silently shedding tears. She was afraid she had no place in this family, crying and imploring us to send her away. You have no idea that witnessing her sorrow tore at my heart."