Ethan knew it was going to happen as he updated Isla and Ellie, who were still on leave. The trio instantly made their way to the Su’s residence on an impending uproar brewing.

  “Return to the family’s business.” Dato Su instructed. Jazzlyn continued to ignore him.

  “Married to the Kang’s family.” Dato Su continued while sipping his tea.

  Still nothing from Jazzlyn, who was snacking on a butter cookie.

  “Do you hear me? If you’re not going to say anything, then I will take it as final!” Dato Su bellowed while walking over to her as though ready to teach her a lesson, but Jazzlyn was still acting indifferent to him.

  She only stood after popping another butter cookie into her mouth.

  “If you’re not senile, then you would have known whose daughter-in-law I am. If you’re not deaf, you would have heard who I am joining. So, why should I listen to you?” Jazzlyn retaliated before wanting to leave.

  “If you dare step out of this house, I will ensure there’s no remains of the Wang’s family.” Dato Su said in anguish as Jazzlyn scoffed.

  “You really think you’re all that high and mighty? Do you know how outdated you are? Do you know how lost touch you have been?” Jazzlyn's questions were mocking him.

  “You don’t need to care! You only need to listen and follow!” Dato Su bellowed, not wanting to accept her insults, but he knew it was the truth. That was the reason he needed her in the Su’s hospital, cause he knew clearly of both his sons’ weaknesses.

  “I refuse,” Jazzlyn said sternly before wanting to leave again, but the guards lifted her.

  “Put me down!” She screamed. “You useless old man! Stubborn like an ox!” She scolded, but Dato Su wasn’t giving in.

  “If you’re not going to cooperate, you’re not leaving this house!” Dato Su scolded back before he stormed off to his study.

  Jazzlyn was extremely furious at his threats, but there was something else that needed her attention. While the guards were carrying her to the second floor, she whispered to them.

  “Send me to my mother’s room, please...” She pleaded as the guard told the other guard her request, leaving them both skeptical in case they got into trouble

  “Just send me there. I’m still in the house, am I not?” She tried convincing them again to no avail as she groaned in agitation when they put her down in her own room.

  She sighed in defeat at their loyalty towards her stubborn father when she heard the locks turning from outside. She knew it was back to square one again as she quickly checked ways to reach her mother’s room. She wanted to open the window where an old ladder she and her two best friends used to escape or rescue her still resides, only to be surprised that her mother was in her bed.

  How much had this old lady missed me, to be sleeping here? She must have suffered a lot. Jazzlyn thought to herself.

  She walked closer to get a good look at her mother’s peaceful face. She smiled a little, being able to see her like this again, but when a tear flowed down from her mother’s closed eyes, Jazzlyn knew her mother was awake. She reached out to wipe them away, but noticed her heating temperature.

  Her mother opened her eyes slowly. They both smiled at each other, but more tears welled from her mother’s eyes. Jazzlyn’s eyes reddened.

  “Pang Ting Fang, your daughter didn’t die. She just got married. You didn’t have to cry so much till you’re sick.” Jazzlyn bluntly said to her mother on purpose.

  Her mother scoffed as she sat up, buffing her ego.

  “Who said I am crying cause of you? I just had a bad dream…” Ting Fang took the tissue from Jazzlyn and wiped away her tears.

  Jazzlyn giggled, which made Ting Fang pout and playfully glared at her. “Did you miss me? Did he give you a hard time? Why are you in my room? Have you taken medicine?” Jazzlyn climbed up the bed to help her wipe her face dry.

  “Why do you care? You’re married. I’m not your responsibility anymore.” Ting Fang’s words stabbed Jazzlyn’s heart.

  Jazzlyn endured her tears and tried to ignore her mother being mean on purpose.

  “Why are you here? How did you get in here?” Ting Fang began to worry. Jazzlyn ignored her and walked to sit by the couch.

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  “It’s my room. Why do you care?” Jazzlyn rolled her eyes.

  Ting Fang could guess it was her husband’s deed. She tried looking outside the window to see signs of her friends, but to no avail. She wondered if Jazzlyn was waiting for them, as she clearly knew her usual escape route was still intact, but she was lazing around with her. She knew her daughter wouldn’t go down without a fight or backup plan every time her father locked her up.

  “Wei Wei, don’t always trouble Isla and Ellie. You’re married now. Don’t bully that poor boy.” Ting Fang said as Jazzlyn softened her expression.

  The brooch box in Jazzlyn’s handbag caught her attention. She quickly brought it over to Ting Fang.

  “Your son-in-law told me to give you this,” Jazzlyn said as Ting Fang held it with admiration.

  “When will I ever get to see him?” Ting Fang mumbled to herself.

  “You will soon…” Jazzlyn said, looking away before Ting Fang opened up the box.

  She instantly recognised the butterfly brooch and began to cry. “Oh… Mei San’s butterfly…” Ting Fang broke down further, leaving Jazzlyn dumbfounded.

  She quickly held her mother to comfort her. “Mum… Why are you always crying? Don’t cry…” Jazzlyn let down her ego and genuinely embraced her trembling mother.

  “Don’t cry. It’s from my mother-in-law's dowry…” Jazzlyn informed her.

  “Of course I know… It was a pair. It’s our best friend’s gift to each other… Mine is in the drawer in the room…” Ting Fang sadly told her.

  “So, she was your best friend?” Jazzlyn prompted as Ting Fang nodded.

  “Did you secretly make a pact with her to marry me off to her only son back then?” Jazzlyn teased as Ting Fang chuckled.

  “Mum, how could you sell me away before I was even born?” Jazzlyn playfully teased her.

  “How could I not? Your Auntie Mei San married well. When you were born, she passed on so quickly after giving birth to Su Hong… It wasn’t even five or six years.” Ting Fang sighed.

  “Oh, no longer Auntie. Your mother-in-law. Aww, I’m so happy!” Ting Fang corrected herself and smiled.

  “How’s their family? Is Uncle Loong still well?” Ting Fang questioned as Jazzlyn blinked away her welling tears, recalling how warm their family was.

  She could only nod at her mother’s questions before hugging her tightly and sobbing a little.

  “My poor baby… Mum is sorry for not being there…” Ting Fang gently combed her hair.

  “Isla and Ellie came with the Guo Da Li* gifts…” Jazzlyn said candidly, which made Ting Fang laugh.

  “It must be Isla’s idea…” They both chuckled together.

  “There was a roasted piglet which Su Huang chopped up. She is a very good dietitian, especially for my father-in-law. Su Qing told us that they accepted the gifts as Hui Li* instead…” Jazzlyn briefly explained to her mother.

  “That’s good… How’s Su Lan? Oh, she was so pretty and almost looked like Mei San…” Ting Fang praised.

  “Mum, did you know I saved her during an accident a few years back?” Jazzlyn asked as Ting Fang gasped.

  “What happened? I’m so glad you did, baby…” Ting Fang held Jazzlyn’s hands in hers as Jazzlyn explained the whole incident, including Mandy and Ethan’s past.

  “You have been through so much alone, Wei Wei… Mum wished I could hold you like this when days are tough.” Ting Fang blinked away her tears as Jazzlyn hugged her tighter and sobbed.

  “I miss you when the Wang’s family treated me so well…” Jazzlyn admitted.

  “Did you cry in front of them?” Ting Fang teased her as Jazzlyn pouted, admitting to it. Ting Fang pinched her cheeks slightly. “Oh, my poor baby…” Ting Fang kissed her forehead.

  “Come to the registration… Alone… in two weeks, alright?” Jazzlyn whispered to her. Ting Fang was happy and sad at the same time.

  “If only your second sister in law is still around…” Ting Fang lamented at the times when she was around to accompany and care for her while tolerating Ting Fang’s mischiefs.

  “Mum, I think Ollie forced the divorce…” Ting Fang quietened her and shook her head. Their gaze told each other that there was definitely more to it, and they did not want Dato Su to know. They never knew whose ears were around.

  Dato Su was fuming in his study and had not noticed the arrival of a trio. Isla led Ellie and Ethan as she was familiar with the Su’s family house grounds. She had often come over to rescue Jazzlyn a couple of times. It wasn’t Isla’s first time using the hidden route to Jazzlyn’s room.

  Some guards were passing by as Isla quickly signalled them both to lie low till the guards passed by. When the coast was clear, Isla signalled them to move faster towards the second-floor window on the right side of the house.

  It was still the same old look. Hidden by the neighbour’s big tree was the old faithful ladder that was still there, leading up to Jazzlyn’s window. Isla made those two wait while she climbed.

  “How did she know this way so well?” Ethan questioned Ellie in a low voice.

  Ellie chuckled. “We often come to rescue her this way.” Ethan muffled his laughter with Ellie before he made his way to the main entrance.

  “Hey! Where are you going?” Ellie panicked.

  “To officially meet the in-laws. It’s a must. Rescue her well.” Ethan said before confidently making his way to the main entrance, leaving Ellie quickly climbing up the wobbly ladder, half-cursing at her weight slowing her down.

  Glossaries:

  *Guo Da Li: meant the betrothal gifts in Chinese. It’s a traditional Chinese betrothal ceremony symbolising a formal union of both families. It is more common for the groom's side to visit the bride’s family as a form of respect.

  * Hui Li - return of gifts in Chinese, and is done by the bride’s family to reciprocate with the Groom’s side's generosity and signifies the acceptance of the couple’s marriage