Her Return, His Regret

Hours earlier...

After leaving the Kingsley Group building, Jason called his sister, Isabella and offered to take her for brunch.

When Isabella arrived at the restaurant, her face lit up. She took a seat opposite Jason and said, "This is new. Did you invite me for lunch to celebrate our win? I take it you're now the CEO of the Kingsley Group, congratulations, bro."

Jason didn't respond to those words. He opened a bottle of champagne and poured Isabella some into a glass before handing it to her.

"How well do you know our mother, Isabella?" Jason asked.

Isabella happily received the glass of champagne. After taking a sip, she replied, "I know her very well. We are like best friends. She shares most of her plans with me."

Jason narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. He remarked, "I see."

Isabella didn't notice Jason's grim expression. She continued to sport a huge smile on her face as she remarked, "So, bro, what position will I have in the company? I want to be the Director of Finance. We need to make sure no one is misusing our company funds." Jason arched an eyebrow and glanced at his twin sister. He asked, "A director of finance? You? With what qualifications?"

"Why do I need qualifications when my brother is the CEO?" Isabella answered cockily. "Ryan was too stingy. He wanted all the wealth to himself and never allowed me to work in the company."

"I'm afraid I wouldn't hire you as a director of finance if I want the company to thrive. Ryan was right... you don't have any qualifications, your only achievement is being a Kingsley spoilt princess, why should I risk the company's financial future by putting it in your hands?" Jason responded.

He looked at his sister and added, "Perhaps a job as a cleaner because that's the only job you're qualified to do. Otherwise, I wouldn't risk the company if I were the CEO."

Isabella frowned. "Bro, how could you say that about your own sister? I'm your blood and I deserve to have a high position in the company too. And what do you mean by "if you were the CEO?" Aren't you the CEO?"NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

Jason shook his head. He took a sip of his champagne and replied, "No, I'm not. I've got my own dreams and being the Kingsley Group's CEO isn't one of them."

"What?" Isabella rounded her eyes at her brother. "Are you saying we lost and Ryan is still the CEO?"

"Yes, Ryan is still the CEO, sis. Wake up and stop being our mother's accomplice unless you want to rot in jail with her," Jason said firmly.

"J-Jail? Jason, what are you talking about? Why would Mom and I go to jail?" Isabella stammered, her expression shifting into a worried one.

Jason arched an eyebrow and questioned, "Didn't you just say you and Mom are like best friends? So, it means you know the crimes she's committed while pretending to be a nice person. Don't you know that hiding someone's crimes is being their accomplice?" "Jason... I - I don't know what you're talking about," Isabella replied, her voice shaking.

Jason leaned forward and looked into her eyes. He said, "Mom has lost it, Isabella. I know she's our mother, but no one is above the law. She's committed crimes and she has to pay for them. Only then can we be forgiven for what we've done to Ryan."

"Are you feeling sorry for that jerk?" Isabella asked in disbelief. "He deserved whatever happened to him and I'm glad he's dying!"

"That's mom talking, not you," Jason remarked. "Isabella, aren't you tired of hiding behind our mother? Don't you want to live your own life, free of schemes and evil plots? This is your chance to redeem yourself. The only reason you hate Ryan and Diane is because Mom has been poisoning you. Those two are our half-siblings. We share a father, they are family. I don't see why we should be enemies."

"Did Ryan bewitch you or something?" Isabella asked, raising her eyebrows. "Remember, he married the woman you love."

Jason gave a half smile. He sighed and replied, "He met her first. There's nothing I can do about that."

He paused and then added, "You're

my sister, Isabella, I don't want you to continue down the wrong path. You have a chance to redeem yourself. Help me gather evidence of Mom's crimes and I'll hire a good lawyer for you. Our mother has gone too far... she needs to face the consequences of her actions. As her children, let's help her redeem herself by getting punishment for her crimes."

Isabella bit her lower lip, conflicting emotions coursing through her. After weighing her options, she went for the safest thing to do. And that was, to turn herself and her mother in.

She looked at Jason and requested, "You better help me out. I didn't do anything but just turned a blind eye. I don't want to go to jail."

Jason nodded, "As long as you promise to be a good person from now on. I'll help you."

Hours later, as Jason promised Ryan, he led the police to arrest his own mother at the Kingsley mansion.

Celeste glanced at him in shock and disbelief. She couldn't believe her own son had reported her to the police.

"I am your mother!" she yelled. "I am the only one who's on your side, Jason. Why can't you see that?"

Jason, with his jaw tight, replied,

"Mother, it's time for you to pay for

your crimes. And yes, you might be my mother, but you've never really been a mother to me. I was very happy when you finally asked me to come home and meet my family. However, little did I know that I was just a pawn in your sick game of power. Now that I've seen what your greed has done to you, it's my duty as your son to stop you. This is the only way I can save you."

He looked away, a pained look in his eyes as he told the police, "Take her away."

"Jason! You can't let them take me away! I'm your mother, son! Are you going to be happy knowing you're the reason your mother is in jail?" Celeste yelled as the police cuffed her and dragged her away. "You will always be guilty, my son! Tell them you were mistaken! I can't go to jail... not like this. I need to see that bastard die with my own eyes."

Jason's eyes fluttered shut when he heard his mother's last words, the lump in his throat too painful to swallow. Even in this situation, she wasn't repentant.

"You did the right thing," Charles' voice suddenly echoed in the room.

Jason looked up and found his grandfather approaching him while Miles looked at him with a sad look in his eyes.

"I feel so terrible. Am I a bad son?" Jason asked and Charles shook his head.

"No, you're an upright man. A true Kingsley," he said, reaching him and patting his back. "Have I welcomed you into the family yet? Come and have a drink with Grandpa."

"Grandpa? Can I call you that?" Jason asked and Charles chuckled.

"Of course, sonny. You and Ryan are my precious grandsons," Charles remarked proudly as he led Jason to his study.

Jason smiled, relief washing over him. He felt free after finally doing the right thing. Now, he really felt like he belonged. This place now felt like home.