Lifetime Debt

"Why hasn’t Miss Becker agreed with your idea regarding Theodore?"

"Father, I'll have her approval soon. You don't have to worry about this."

"Tell me if Miss Becker is not willing to help you. We can find another woman to make Theodore stay away from you."

"No, father. It will be difficult to find a woman who can attract Theodore's attention." For some reason, Alicia appeared to be in a deep dilemma when Alistair shared his idea of another woman. "No, you won't find somebody else, only Jessica can do this. Theodore will not fall easily on any woman. Jessica is the best choice we have. Theodore already knows her and it will not be difficult for Jessica to win his heart with her appearance."  

It's a tough word. If it weren't for his father, Alicia wouldn't even want to say it. There are probably a lot of women like Jessica out there, but at least, she knew that Jessica didn't have the slightest lust for Theodore. That silly girl can be said to be safe enough to carry out the task… Just in case Alicia's heart wriggled at the last second and couldn't let Theodore go.

"If so, then get Miss Becker's approval immediately." 

After talking to her father. Alicia knew she couldn't choose an easy and straight path.  So after some contemplation, she went to the intersection and came up with a shortcut to get Jessica under her control.

…

The end of the month is a busy period as there is a lot to report on. Jessica put all her attention to the report that Alicia had to give. Since morning her phone keeps ringing and interrupts her work focus. For some reason, Jessica was able to ignore the few phone calls that were set in a certain tone.  

She easily knows which calls to pick up and which not.

Seeing the phone, there were several missed calls from her mother, Michelle Becker.  Although not on good terms, Jessica remained attached to her mother and her younger brother Michael. 

There’s no such father figure to support the family's financial burdens. Not in a literal sense, there was a long story about her father that even Jessica didn't want to remember.

Michelle Becker barely manages the family by working at the salon as a beauty therapist. As the eldest daughter, Michelle demands Jessica to shoulder the financial burden. Every month Jessica had to send some money to her account. What else did Michelle want by contacting her continuously?

Michelle Becker won't contact her for pleasantries. There are only two possibilities, the good news or bad news.  First, the so-called good news is mainly a report of how well Michael’s doing at school and how he’s making achievements. 

Second, the bad part is, Michelle will come to ask her for more money to pay the loans that are never ending. Her payroll never suffices to pay the household bill, even after Jessica contributes her salary, Michelle always has a way to raise the bill with her lavish lifestyle. 

Jessica immediately found her mother after the first ring of the phone.

"Aw, my beloved daughter, thank you for the money you sent. I can't believe that you were so generous to your brother. I should have asked you from the start." What? 

As soon as the phone connected, Michelle Becker immediately showered Jessica with praise and gratitude.  Like Jessica had done something noble that pleased her mother.  She hadn't heard her mother give thanks in a long time.

All that came out of Michelle Becker's mouth were complaints or grievances about how hard life was and how painstakingly she was raising her children with all the meticulous care.  To this day Jessica will not forget how calculated her mother was. About how much Michelle Becker had to spend to send her to school or feed her.

It was like a debt that Jessica had to pay for a lifetime, or if Jessica got rich suddenly, she could cover her mother's mouth with money so she could learn to be grateful.

"What money, mom? Who gave you the money? I thought I had sent you this month."

"Don't feel ashamed of yourself. I know you love your brother so much. You may regret scolding me last time. Take it easy, I will always forgive you, my girl. No matter what you do to me, you are still my daughter and I am so proud of you."

Jessica became increasingly clueless about her mother's words.  "Mom, seriously! What money are you talking about here?"

"Your brother's tuition of course. Thank you again, girl. Oh my, I didn't even think you had that much money. Is it all yours, is there anything left? Ah, did you press the wrong number and send it all to me?  Should I send the excess money back to your account?"

"No way! I never sent another money into your account. Whose money are you talking about here?"