This is the last of Part 1 of this prequel (just a total of 2, don't worry). Thank you so much for the wonderful comments! Your efforts are very much appreciated, really. Just don't hesitate and share your thoughts. You do inspire me. :D

For those who are not fans of angst, I sincerely apologize.

Is she really dead?

Did she really leave me?

This... This could just be a dream...

Yes. This could just be a nightmare.

I chuckled bitterly as tears rolled down from my eyes again. Yes. This is just a nightmare. How could multiple tragedies happen in a day? God must love toying with me.

She could be alive. I think I just need to wake up.

"Jessica." Aunt Joo-Hyun called me, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Just calm yourself down, okay? I will never leave you, okay?"

It was already hours after since my mother passed away. Aunt Joo-Hyun stayed with me and decided to help out on arranging the release of my mother's remains from the morgue.

"Th-thank you, Auntie..." I uttered weakly. Still, I sobbed. "Thank you for being here..."

She smiled apologetically. She then reached for my hand and squeezed it. "Your mother is my best friend and she trusted me to take care of you. I will never leave you, okay? I will take care of you from now on."

"I don't want to be a burden, Auntie."

"You will never be a burden to me, okay? You're already like a daughter to me too." She then handed me a bottle of water, "You've been crying for hours. You need to be rehydrated, dear."

"Thank you..."

"It's going to be okay, dear."

I started to cry again as I confessed, "I killed my mom, Auntie. It's my fault that she died."

"Stop saying that, Jessica. It's not your fault."

"This wouldn't happen to her if I didn't start a fight with her." I broke down again. "This is all my fault." Aunt Joo-Hyun pulled me into her arms. 

Someone suddenly uttered, "What?" 

We broke away. The owner of the voice was my older half-sister, Krystal. She's looking at me with fury drawn on her face. My dad's younger sister, Joanne, whom she decided to live with instead of staying with us, was also with her.

She rushed towards me and grabbed me by my upper arm, "What did you say?!"

"Unnie..." I called as I sobbed, "I'm sorry..."

"What did you do to mom?! What did you do?!!!"

"I... I didn't mean to infuriate her. I didn't mean to. I couldn't control my emotion that time, I--- I blamed her for my break up with Taeyeon. I got mad--- I--- I didn't know it will trigger her heart attack---"

"You stupid!" She started to hit me physically. "You selfish idiot!" I fell on my knees from her hits. "You killed mom because just because of a man?! You killed her just because of a man?!" she repeated. Aunt Joo-Hyun started to help on pulling my sister away from me. Yet, she was not successful.

"You stole my life! You stole my family! Now, you've taken my mother away from me too?!" She then pulled my hair out. 

I was then in so much tears due to the pain. It was not only physical but emotional as well.

She was right. I killed our mother just because of my obsession with a man. I chose to hurt my mother, throw spiteful words against her, merely because of my naiveness.

The security inside the hospital has started to interfere. That was only the time I was spared from my sister's assaults. Then, she spatted to me, "Leave! Don't ing show your face in the family again, you filthy mongrel!"

Aunt Joanne said to me coldly, "Leave, Jessica. We will take over from here. Don't ever show your face to us ever again."

Krystal-unnie shot me a glare as she declared, "Don't even bother to show your face even at mom's funeral. I will never allow her own murderer to be there."

Aunt Joo-Hyun helped me to stand by my own feet and held me as we walk away. "It's going to be okay, Jessica." she said to me in a whisper. "I will try and talk to them to allow you to see your mother, at least."

---

My father was not given visitation rights for a period after he was arrested. So then, it was only after a few days when Aunt Joo-Hyun and I was able to visit him.

"I'm sorry this happened." my dad, Vincent, said as he met us at the visitation room. We were situated on a table and Aunt and I sat opposite of him. "I am already having talks with my lawyer. I promise I'm going to get out of here soon." he continued.

Aunt then responded, "If ever you need help, just tell me, Vincent."

He smiled faintly at her, "Thank you, Joo-Hyun." Then, as he gazed at me, he asked, "Jessica, what's wrong? Why are you gloomy?" Then, he realized and asked, "Jessica, where is your mother? Why isn't she with you?"

I couldn't answer. I couldn't even look at my father.

"Vincent..." Aunt-Joo-Hyun uttered. Her eyes started to tear up.

"What's going on?" he asked.

Auntie nudged me, signaling me to say it. I looked at my father. Tears started to form in my eyes. "Dad... Mom has passed away..."

"Wh-what?"

I looked down, avoiding his gaze, "She died on the day you were abducted by the police."

"Wh-what... Jessica... D-don't kid like that. Joking about death is not a good thing to do."

"I'm sorry..." I broke down in tears again. "I'm sorry, dad... It was my fault... I killed mom... I killed mom..."

"No... That is a lie. That is nothing but a lie." Tears have fallen from his eyes. "Anna... Anna..." he kept on repeating mom's name. He then buried his face in his hands. "Anna!!!" he cried. He got weak as he broke down. He had fallen from his seat and stumbled on the floor. "Why... Why... Anna... No..." he kept on uttering.

I went to console him. I hugged him tightly as I sobbed, "Dad, I'm sorry