Chapter 842: Chapter 841

Keira froze for a moment. “Why did this happen? Isn’t it because of you?”

Jake wasted no time. “The truth is, she didn’t want to go along with the marriage the family arranged for her. She removed her own uterus. They broke her legs for it. And the scars on her face? Those are because of you. Back when you disappeared suddenly in Clance for about a year, the South family thought you betrayed them. That’s why they tortured her.”

Keira stared at him in disbelief. “How could this…” Her voice faltered.

Jake sighed heavily. “She didn’t tell you because she didn’t want you carrying the burden of guilt. Even though she stole you away and only raised you for three years, she truly cared for you. Children are rare in the South family, and she… she genuinely adored you.”

Keira fell silent.

But no matter how deep that love was, it didn’t justify stealing her sister.

If Jessica hadn’t taken her sister, maybe she and her sister could have lived happily in Oceanion with Jodie. If her sister were still around, the whole ordeal of being switched by Poppy might never have happened.

As she mulled over these thoughts, Jake seemed to sense what was on her mind. He spoke bluntly. “Do you think your mother and sister stayed hidden in Oceanion for so many years by sheer luck? Jessica was covering for them. It was only when you decided to go see them without permission that they were exposed. Your every move is monitored. How could you be so reckless?”

Keira was stunned.

All those years of safety in Oceanion, even her mother and sister’s peace of mind, had been orchestrated by Jessica?

She clenched her fists tightly.

Jake sighed again. “You’ve come home after all this time. Stay with her. She’s been keeping tabs on you this whole time. Even though you never returned, she hasn’t missed a single thing about your life. When you married that scumbag, she was so furious she screamed at the walls for three days straight, losing her voice in the process. When you gave birth to Amy, she was ecstatic, staying up all night and day, going through her assets to see what she could leave for the little girl.”

After finishing, Jake patted her shoulder and walked away.

Keira remained where she was, trapped in a storm of emotions.

Coming back to the South family had finally made her feel closer to Jodie, her mother. But stepping outside would mean being discovered. If she didn’t leave, though, how could she ever find her mother?

She lowered her gaze in deep thought.

She could only stay for a week. No–if she accounted for travel, she really only had five days in the South family’s home.

If she did nothing in those five days, if she couldn’t even step outside, how could she uncover the truth about the South family?

Keira took a deep breath.

Matthew came up beside her. “Go rest for now. Let’s deal with tomorrow when it comes.”

She nodded, following him upstairs into Keera’s old room.

Keera’s room still retained its childhood decor. The space was painted in soft pink tones, looking every bit like a princess’s room.

Keira had come back not only to gather information on the South family and to see Jodie but also for another critical reason: to find Keera’s account credentials.

Those credentials were the only key to securing a claim to the South family’s inheritance. While the nature of the final contest and what it entailed were unclear, without that account, she wouldn’t even have a chance to compete.

She started searching through the room.

Though the room seemed large, it didn’t actually have many hiding spots for storage.

Since the account information was said to be stored within the house, it was most likely in Keera’s room.

Carefully, she combed through every corner.

Keera had been three years old. There weren’t many belongings from that time–certainly not journals. Most of what remained were toys and clothes. Keira quickly went through everything but found no clues.

Frustration bubbled within her.

She walked out onto the balcony, hoping to take in the view and get a better sense of the South family’s location.

All she could see were more buildings.

The faint light of dawn broke over the horizon.

Keira stepped out onto the rooftop. The house was only three stories tall, so she climbed to the top to get a better look.

The city around her was unmistakably modern, with tall buildings stretching endlessly, blocking her view of the city’s layout.

As she craned her neck, trying to see further, Jessica rolled up beside her in a wheelchair. “I know exactly what you’re planning.”

Keira’s eyes darkened.

Jessica lowered her gaze. “You’ve always been determined and ambitious. Now that you’re back, you’d never just sit quietly at home. You don’t have to let Jake’s words scare you. Do what you need to do. As for me… I’ve been wanting to die for years. If not for the fact that taking my own life would bring disgrace to the family and drag you down with me, I would’ve ended things long ago. If you’re caught and I’m executed for it, that’s a relief for me.”

Hearing this, Keira turned to her, startled. “Fortune favors the bold. I came back this time to see who the other heirs are. Do you have any leads?”

Jessica responded calmly, “Tonight, once it’s dark, make your move.”