Chapter 7 - Worth It?

Jade slowly walked into the house to find her mother sitting on the couch waiting for her return. She noticed the deep scowl plastered on her face. Her face was drawn and red in anger. It looked like she had waited all night for her return.

Jade cautiously walked closer in small steps. She didn't know how to face her mother. She had not only disappointed her mother, but she has also disregarded everything had mother had taught her while bringing her up.

"Good morn..." Jade's greeting got stucked in her throat as her mother raised a hand to stop her.

"Mom...I'm sorry" Jade said with her head lowered. She was too afraid to look up at her.

She was shocked when her mother threw a slap across her face. She raised her hand to touch her palm printed cheek which was gradually swelling. A tear slipped down her cheeks, not for the fact her mother had hit for the first time, but for the fact that she deserved it.

"I didn't give birth to a child who could easily sell her body" Jade's mother said as her body shook in anger.

"I didn't raise a foolish child, Jade. My daughter is a smart and beautiful girl who deserves the world, not a girl who threw herself in the bed of a random man she didn't know all in the name of love and money. You Jade,....you broke my heart. You shamed my upbringing. I hope he's worth it" She said with teary eyes before walking past Jade.

She wanted to understand how Jade felt, but she couldn't. She was disappointed. She wanted to console her child and cry with her because she knew how Jade was feeling right now.

Jade was her child. A sweet and innocent child she'd give the world to if she could. But she just couldn't stand to look at her right now. Maybe later she would help her get through this, but definitely not right now. She felt suffocated. She looked at her palm which she had used to hit her child and her heart ached. She regretted hitting Jade for the first time. And that sick Cale had better be worth her child's sacrifice or else...

Jade stood at the same spot she had been standing earlier still holding her cheek. Tears flowed freely down her face. She had hurt her mother, broke her trust and pride. She hated herself even more. But what was she supposed to do, when the man she loved was dying. She'd do the same had it been her mother. But how could she still live with herself after this. How will she tell Cale, that she had slept with another man for money to save him. He'll be hurt, but she hopes he gets to forgive her and not resent her.

She wouldn't know how to live if he hates her after this.

Jade jerked back to reality when her phone started ringing. She quickly answered it when she saw it was Helen, Cale's mother calling. She had come home to freshen up before leaving for the hospital to check up on Cale.

"Hello Jade" Helen called in a lively voice. Jade let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding when she heard Mrs Stuart voice...She was sounding like her usual self and that could only mean one thing.

"Mom"

"Jade where are you? Cale just regained conciousness. Hurry down here okay" She said excitedly.

"Okay mom. I'll be there soon" She replied. She felt a weight has been taken off her shoulders. Her man was alive.

*******

Jake hurried home so he could refresh himself before heading for the office. But what he really wanted was to see his grandfather. He walked into his grandfather's room after knocking on the door.

He stood by the door as he greeted with a bow, "Grandfather" making his grandfather humphed, shooting him a mock-digusting look.

"What woman grazed your bed last night, you rascal" Grandfather Beau asked his grandson as he took off the automated sphygmanometer from his arm.

"Grandfather you haven't been spying on me have you?" Jake asked his grandfather not denying the fact that he had spent the night with a woman.

"Do I really need to do that?" Grandfather Beau asked eyeing Jake. Wasn't it obvious only a woman could keep his grandson from spending the night at home on his first day back in to the country. He sighed at the thought that this grandson of his might not change anytime soon.

"You should go take a shower, you look like you had it rough" He said with a deeper meaning, making Jake roll his eyes at him. His grandfather shouldn't give him that look, wasn't it obvious he got his traits from him.

"Jake be careful at the office.. Hillary's back" Grandfather Beau warned, as a dark glint flashed across Jake's eyes.