Chapter 432 The Ring
The wind on the rooftop grew stronger.
Worried about the children catching a cold, Jannie finished burning the last of the paper money and returned to the hospital room.
The two children, frightened and anxious from the day's events, quickly fell asleep in the bed.
Chris adored Jannie; the world's worries never soiled her hands.
But now, without a staff, she had to face difficulties head-on, despite her inexperience.
Jannie struggled to change the kids' clothes, wiping their faces, hands, and feet until her hands trembled with exhaustion. As if that wasn't enough, she accidentally stepped on Charles's backpack, her feet slipping out from under her, sending her tumbling to the floor.
Pain enveloped her body, an overwhelming rush that seemed to come from everywhere all at once.
Her frustration burst forth unchecked.
She lifted her arms to cover her eyes, her tears falling silently.
How could she be so foolish? Without Chris around, she couldn't seem to do anything at all – not even avoid tripping over something as simple as a backpack.
Useless!
Completely useless!
At that moment, her burner phone, the one Chelsea had given her, started vibrating.
With difficulty, Jannie sat up and reached for the phone.
Only Chelsea would be calling this number.
"Chelsea, you're still up?" Jannie tried to sound typical, but Fiona, on the other end, could hear the tears in her voice. "What's wrong?"
"No... nothing. I just tripped over a backpack." Jannie couldn't hold back her tears anymore as she confided, "Chelsea, I feel so useless. I can't even dress the kids properly, and I can't even boil water..."
"Jannie, just hang in there a bit longer. Once you get back to Armie Country, there'll be staff to help you." Fiona's voice was gentle and comforting.
"I don't need staff, I..." Jannie gripped her hair in frustration.
If she could, she would give up all her wealth and live without any staff – she would care for her family independently.
What she truly needed was Chris, her beloved!
"I understand what you're going through. With grandma's fate uncertain, I'm in anguish every second," Fiona spoke softly, "But you're doing well. Grandma always said that uncle still doted on you like a child even after twenty years of marriage. Before coming here, I never imagined you'd escape that place. Given your timidity, I thought Ken would completely control you. But you didn't give up. Not only did you leave, but you also bravely brought the kids to me."
Jannie's sobbing intensified.
"If your uncle were still with us, he would find many ways to praise you."
"He definitely would!"
He had always been so complimentary, even for something as simple as frying an egg.
"So, don't blame yourself," Fiona continued, "Your children will become who you are. If you're optimistic, they'll follow your lead. The opposite also holds – they will learn from your negativity and complaints."
The realization took Jannie aback.
Caught up in her sorrow, she hadn't considered the impact on her children.
She glanced at Charles, who was deep asleep on the bed, and the truth dawned on her like a revelation.
"I get it now, Chelsea. Thank you. And if you need anything, ask!" she paused and then continued, "Though I'm not sure what I can do for you."
“When you don't know what to do, do nothing for now. Take a hot shower, slip into some cozy PJs, and get a good night's sleep. Maybe you'll know what to do by the time you wake up."
"Okay!"
After the call ended, Jannie visibly perked up.
She wiped away her tears.
Reminiscing about the way her husband used to compliment her, she gathered her spirit and picked up Charles's backpack and the scattered items on the floor to put them away.
She looked determined, but her clumsiness remained.
She had just placed the backpack on the table, but just as she turned around, the backpack toppled to the floor.
She scrambled to pick it up.
However, the contents spilled out as it landed upside down.
The little peace she had just recovered plummeted.
"Why am I so clumsy?!"
She knocked on her head in frustration, then squatted down to collect the items that had fallen out.
Then, she suddenly noticed a ring among the scattered things.
"Isn't this the ring my mother always wore?"
Janna loved wearing rings and had several on her fingers during this visit.
This ring had always been on her hand.
But...
How could her mother's ring end up in Charles's backpack?
Flashes of insight blazed through Jannie's mind, finally settling on the image of her niece mentioning that her grandmother would leave clues.
"Clues!"
Jannie hastily ran back to grab her phone and called Chelsea back immediately.
"Jannie? What's wrong?" Fiona answered promptly.
Jannie, breathless, exclaimed, "Chelsea, I've found the clue Mom left behind!"
"I'll be right there."
*
The following morning
Fiona was seated on the couch, chugging a mug of strong black coffee in one gulp.
Darwin looked on sympathetically.
"My little cousin just gave me a piece of candy. Want one?" he asked softly.
Fiona shook her head.
Her gaze fixed on the screen.
She was intently following the developing story that Ken had kidnapped Janna, as Ken had posted on social media late at night that there would be an update on Janna's condition early in the morning.
The live broadcast would also show Janna's current state to the public.
"It's starting!"
The live feed suddenly appeared on the screen.
The location was indistinct, resembling European architecture.
Several masked staff members moved about, adjusting cameras and confirming positions.
Directly opposite, a podium adorned with flowers and a microphone was set up.
Shortly after, Ken and Alice, hand in hand, made their appearance.
"They’re somewhere around here," Fiona said assertively. "Ken and Alice haven't left the city."
"Has the live stream started?" Alice asked gently.
"Ma'am, it has already started; we're just waiting for the dean to arrive," someone answered.
Alice purposefully walked up front, reading a few of the kindly-meaning comments on the livestream. "Don't worry, folks. All of your questions will be answered today," Alice said once she finished.
Suddenly, she seemed to hear a noise and immediately looked in a specific direction. Although the camera was fixed, it hadn't moved. It did appear as though someone had arrived. Alice walked toward the newcomer, and in a fleeting moment, it sounded like she called out a name—something doctor—but it wasn't entirely clear.
After briefly exchanging a few words off-screen with the doctor, the figure approached the podium. The tall silhouette, clad in a white coat, momentarily appeared in front of the camera, causing Fiona to pause in surprise.
"That silhouette..." she muttered to herself.
The next instant, the person reached the podium, turned around, and faced the audience. Darwin glanced at Fiona, a look of recognition crossing his face.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Dagmar, and I'm the head of the medical team for the Rhoads family health group. I'll be filling you in on the recent health crisis of our esteemed Janna Rhoads and her current condition."
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