Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 402: Camilla’s Death (1)
Camilla had been in prison for over half a year, and her appearance had changed dramatically, far from the vibrant and elegant woman she used to be. Her once-lustrous hair had become dull and unkempt, hanging lifelessly around her gaunt face. The sparkle in her eyes had faded, replaced by a hollow gaze that reflected the weight of her confinement. The lack of sunlight and fresh air had taken a toll on her complexion, leaving it pale and sallow.
"Camilla Yan, you have a visitor." The prison guard announced, interrupting Camilla’s thoughts. She looked up, her weary eyes meeting the guard’s stern gaze. Slowly, she stood up, her body aching from the long hours spent sitting on the cold, hard floor.
She followed the guard to the visitor’s area and saw her daughter, Elise, on the other side of the glass that separated. Camilla’s eyes lit up as she saw her daughter. She hadn’t seen her or her husband for weeks and wondered what could have happened outside.
"Elise, what took you so long to come? I’ve been waiting for you." She gently asked her daughter.
This was the daughter she cherished and treated like a pearl in her hand for many years. Camilla was willing to endure her time in prison, but she couldn’t help but worry for her daughter’s future.
Elise looked at her mother with annoyance. Her mother looked dirty and disheveled; her hair was unkempt, and her orange prison clothes looked worn out. She grimaced, realizing that her mother’s time in prison had taken a toll on her physical appearance.
"Is there something you need? I’ve been busy trying to find work these past few weeks. Dad is also trying to get a business partner to start from scratch again." She told her mother.
Camilla’s smile faltered, realizing that she wasn’t the only one who’d been struggling. She heard from the guards that her husband had filed for bankruptcy, and she was worried about how Elise was handling the news. Her heart sank as she wondered if her daughter knew about their financial situation and how it would affect their future.
"I’m sorry for calling you. I just miss you, Elise. I haven’t seen you for some time, and prison life has been tough. I didn’t mean to burden you with my problems."
Elise scowled and harrumphed. She crossed her arms over her chest and clicked her tongue.
"You were the source of our problems, Mom. If you were going to do something bad, you shouldn’t have left incriminating evidence behind." She harshly reprimanded her mother, her voice filled with frustration.
"I lost everything because of you and Cayden. If it weren’t for you, would I have to live with the constant scrutiny of others by being your daughter? Would I have to put up with Addie’s humiliation and the judgment of others? Not only did you fail to get rid of her and her mother, but you also allowed my innocence and reputation to be besmirched by your failed scheming. You reduced me to this, Mom. You should be ashamed of yourself."
Elise’s eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to contain her emotions. Her life crashed down because of her mother’s misdeeds. She had lost everything, and she resented her mother because of this. Even now, she couldn’t get a decent job because of her relationship with her mother. The Ji family had also cut ties with their family and wanted nothing to do with them.
Camilla was stunned into silence upon hearing her daughter’s words. What happened years ago at the Gu mansion, causing Elise to lose her innocence to Ares Gu, was something she regretted the most. She blamed herself since then, and there hadn’t been a single day she didn’t regret what had happened.
As Camilla listened to Elise’s rant, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt and shame wash over her. She knew that her actions had caused her daughter a great deal of pain and suffering, and she had always regretted it. But hearing Elise voice her anger and frustration so openly was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Elise, I’m so sorry. I know that I’ve caused you a lot of pain and that nothing I say or do can ever make up for what I did. But please know that I love you and never meant to hurt you or anyone else. I was foolish and blind, and I made a terrible mistake. I wish I could go back and fix everything, but I can’t. All I can do now is try to make amends and hope that someday you can forgive me."
Elise looked at her mother through the glass and frowned.
"Would your sorry be able to change everything? Would I get my life back together if you just said sorry? Don’t call me anymore. I wanted nothing to do with you. I’m done being your daughter."
As she said these words, Elise stood up and took her handbag.
When Camilla heard her daughter’s words, she was horrified and desperately called out to Elise while slamming her fists against the glass before them.
"Elise! What do you mean by this? You can’t just leave me here!" She cried out hysterically. Elise’s words cut deep into her heart.
Elise sneered at her mother. She resented her mother more than anyone else but hated Adrienne Jiang as well. All the things Adrienne was having now should have been hers. She couldn’t believe that the useless and stupid half-sister she had managed to best her in life.
"You heard what I said. I don’t want to be your daughter anymore. I don’t want people to think I’m related to you!"
With that, Elise turned her back on her mother and walked away, leaving Camilla alone in the visitor’s area, heartbroken. Camilla slumped back into her chair, tears streaming down her face as she realized that her mistakes had not only ruined her life but also her daughter’s.
As she watched her daughter go, Camilla knew that she had lost everything. Her freedom, her family, her reputation, and now, her daughter. She felt a sense of hopelessness creeping in, and the weight of her confinement felt even heavier than before.
