Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 404: Camilla’s Death (3)
Rosemary was saddened when the news of Camilla’s death reached her. It was Adrienne who delivered the news to her, and she could see the coldness in her daughter’s eyes as she said this. She knew that Camilla was one of the people her daughter hated the most because Camilla not only destroyed their family but also attempted to take their lives.
"Are you upset, Addie?" She asked her daughter.
Rosemary could sense her daughter’s displeasure over the news of Camilla’s death. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Adrienne poured warm tea into a cup and handed it to her mother before shaking her head. It had been sunny and warm since morning, but the rain suddenly came and drenched everything outside.
Noah and his sisters were in her Uncle Reese’s study with her brother, teaching them how to play chess. Adrienne could hear their laughter and the sound of the chess pieces being moved across the board. It was a comforting distraction from the tension that lingered in the air. Despite her mother’s attempt to break the silence, Adrienne remained distant, her gaze fixed on a distant point outside the window.
"No, just a little disappointed that Camilla took the easy way out." She answered after a moment of silence.
She, her mother, and Hunter suffered for so many years because of Camilla. Adrienne thought Camilla dying this early was a bit of a cop-out. She had hoped that Camilla would have to face the consequences of her actions and live with the guilt. But now, it seemed like Camilla had escaped her punishment.
Adrienne couldn’t help but feel frustrated because of this. She wanted Camilla to suffer more than her mother had. For Camilla to die this early felt like a missed opportunity to see her suffer further.
Adrienne wanted Camilla to see how helpless and desperate her children were and how she could do nothing to save them.
"She must have thought she was a burden to Elise. As a mother, I understand the weight of responsibility and the sacrifices we make for our children. But it’s hard to comprehend how someone could resort to such an extreme measure." Rosemary murmured.
Adrienne bit her inner cheek to stop herself from making mean remarks about her mother’s words. Camilla ended her life thinking she was making a sacrifice for her daughter, Elise, but Adrienne knew how selfish and cruel Elise could be.
Elise must have been pleased with the news of her mother’s death, thinking that she only needed the public to forget about her mother before she could fully embrace her own selfish desires without any consequences.
In the end, Camilla’s sacrifice was in vain, for Elise had always taken everything for granted. Even now, the ones who had been crying over her death were her elderly parents, not her spoiled daughter.
If anything, Adrienne didn’t doubt that Elise was relieved after hearing her mother’s passing. Elise’s selfishness knew no bounds, and she was simply beyond saving. However, Elise would soon learn that her selfishness would come with its own set of consequences.
Without her mother’s guidance and protection, Elise would be vulnerable to the world’s harsh realities. Without someone to shield her from the consequences of her actions, Elise would soon discover that selfishness can lead to a lonely and unfulfilling existence.
"You don’t need to stress about them, Mom. Let them deal with their own problems. It has nothing to do with us anymore. Let us close that Chapter in our lives and move on." She told her mother.
Adrienne did not need to do anything to destroy the Jiang family because they were good at bringing trouble to themselves. Camilla was already dead; it wouldn’t take long before others found themselves on the same path of destruction.
Rosemary nodded. "I suppose you are right. It just makes me sad that Camilla ends up like that."
"I don’t understand why you took pity on the person who ruined your marriage and attempted to end your life." Adrienne frowned.
Her mother was too kind and so pure-hearted that she was able to forgive and empathize with even those who had caused her great pain. It was a quality that Adrienne admired but struggled to comprehend. She knew that her mother’s capacity for compassion was both a strength and a vulnerability that she hoped to understand.
Adrienne took a deep breath, thinking about how to continue. She knew that her mother’s compassion was something she should also learn from. After all, everyone has their own struggles and demons.
"I know it might be hard to understand, but forgiveness is a powerful thing, Addie. It frees us from anger and resentment and allows us to move on." Rosemary said softly.
Adrienne nodded, although she still felt bitter towards Camilla. "I know, Mom. And I’m trying to understand. But it’s not easy."
"I understand," Rosemary said with a gentle smile. "But we must try to forgive and understand others, even if we don’t agree with their actions."
Adrienne sighed, knowing that her mother was right, but how could she forgive those who wronged them when it was clear they weren’t repenting for their sins? Forgiveness can only be given to those who deserve it, and none of the Jiang family members showed remorse or willingness to make amends.
It felt unfair to Adrienne that she was expected to let go of her resentment without acknowledging the pain they had caused. However, deep down, she knew that holding on to bitterness would only continue to weigh her down.
"Are you happy now, Mom?" Adrienne asked curiously.
Rosemary hummed a soft tune and replied, "Happiness is a choice, my dear. It’s not about their actions or lack of remorse but about freeing yourself from the burden of anger and resentment. Forgiving them doesn’t mean forgetting or condoning what they did, but rather releasing yourself from their power over you."
Adrienne pondered over her mother’s words, seeing her point, but she still thinks the Jiang family doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. They were demons who only knew how to take advantage of others. Their actions had caused irreparable damage to Adrienne and her family, leaving scars that would never fully heal. Forgiving them felt like letting them off the hook for their cruelty, and she couldn’t bring herself to do that.
The weight of her anger and resentment remained, reminding her of the injustice they had inflicted upon her loved ones. Though she admitted that Camilla and the Jiang family weren’t the only ones at fault, they were the ones who took everything from Adrienne in her past life.
However, Adrienne managed to change the course of events, and the Jiang family suffered in this lifetime. She had worked tirelessly to rebuild her life and create a better future for herself and her loved ones.
The tables had turned, and now the Jiang family experienced the consequences of their actions. Adrienne found solace in knowing that justice had been served, even if the scars from her past would never fully fade away.
"You deserve to be happy, Addie." She heard what her mother said. "You and Lennox have overcome so much, and I couldn’t be prouder of the strong woman you’ve become."
"Thanks, Mom, but it wasn’t really me," Adrienne replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "The support and love from you and everyone else in my life helped me get through it all. I’m glad we can finally put this Chapter behind us and move on with our lives."
"Anyway, you and Lennox will be celebrating your first-year wedding anniversary. Have you two already got a plan?" Rosemary asked, hoping to hear about the couple’s upcoming celebration.
Adrienne smiled and nodded. She’d been looking forward to it. It’s only been a year since she and Lennox married, and she felt like they were still in the honeymoon phase. Ever since the planning of the project was done, Lennox has been present at home these days, giving her all the attention she missed during the busy weeks he’d been gone. And with their anniversary just around the corner,
"Yes, we’ve actually decided to take a trip to the beach. Lennox found this beautiful resort with stunning views, and we thought it would be the perfect way to relax and take a break from work. We’re really looking forward to it."
"If you have no one to leave the children with, I’d be more than happy to help out," Rosemary offered. Adrienne’s face lit up with gratitude. "Noah is such a sweetheart. Father and Hunter seemed to be wrapped around his finger already. Scarlet and Sam also seemed to enjoy helping me with gardening and organizing our private library."
"That’s incredibly kind of you, Mom. Thank you so much. We were actually trying to figure out arrangements for them. Knowing that the kids are in good hands while we’re away would be such a relief." Adrienne was relieved to know that her husband’s siblings were enjoying her time with the Zhao family.
