Chapter 4
695 Words
The next day, as expected, the Chase family sent someone over.
Joseph's mother, Diana Wells, brought a pile of gift boxes and sat on the sofa drinking coffee.
She glanced at the bracelet on Jenna's wrist and paused.
"Isn't this bracelet the one Nina's grandmother left her? How did it end up on Miss Reed's wrist?"
My mother forced a smile. "There's only one. We can't slight Jenna."
Diana shook her head and said no more. "Forget it. Anyway, my son specifically asked to meet your second daughter. A mere bracelet is nothing to the Chase family."
My mother grabbed Jenna's hand and quickly added, "Yes, yes! My Nina certainly won't disappoint."
Jenna opened her mouth, then closed it again.
I curled up in a corner, dead tired.
Diana smiled. "Look how sleepy this child is. Come here and let me take a look."
I was about to move when my mother darted in front of me, wearing an ingratiating smile. "Please don't take offense. This child was raised away from home since she was little. She's clumsy and careless, no match for Jenna. She's only got her looks going for her. Sorry for the embarrassment."
I stood in place without moving.
I'd heard these words too many times; they didn't hurt anymore.
Diana ignored her, her tone calm and even. "I find this child quite likable. She's not as bad as you say."
I looked up at her, and my heart stirred.
In my previous life, when I married into the Chase family, she treated me like her own daughter.
When I was gravely ill, she searched everywhere for doctors and medicine, saying she would trade her own life for mine.
But I didn't even make it to twenty-five. What happened after, I don't know.
Thinking of this, I gave her a smile. My mother thought I was being too eager and quickly sent me away.
As I walked out, I heard Diana's voice. "Joseph is almost here. He'll meet with the second young lady on the way."
I quickened my pace. The moment I got back to my room, I locked the door from the inside.
That jinx of a man—even if I saw him in another life, he'd still make my skin crawl.
I rolled up my sleeves and sat on the window seat, continuing to weave the unfinished bracelet.
Two more, and I'd have enough for a batch. I'd ask Mia to list them online for me, and then I'd have the money for travel expenses.
Mia slipped in, hunched her shoulders, and leaned close to my ear, waving her phone. "Joseph just called. He said he wants to meet the second daughter right away. Do you think they got it wrong and think the second daughter is..."
I poked her forehead. "You little scatterbrain. Jenna is two years older than me, and my mother explicitly said she's now the second daughter, remember? Forward the message to her."
She started, "But..."
I shook my head. "No buts."
Anyway, Joseph would never come to see me. And I was trying to avoid him anyway.
Who else could make him so eager to meet, other than Jenna—the one he'd always had on his mind in my previous life?
After forwarding the message, Mia sat down next to me and watched me weave the bracelet.
She rummaged through the material box and couldn't help asking again, "Back then, you'd fight for everything Jenna had, even a hairpin. You'd go eight rounds over it. But now, with such a catch like Joseph, you wouldn't even lift a fork?"
I raised an eyebrow, leaned in, and lowered my voice. "You don't know, but he's no good."
Mia let out a chuckle. "Nonsense. You never say anything serious. So tell me, have you got someone in mind?"
I thought for a moment, then grinned. "I do, I do."
The moment the words left my mouth, the door banged open.
Mia and I looked up at the same time. Joseph stood in the doorway, his face completely expressionless, the white roses in his hand clutched so tightly that the stems were snapped in two.
- Writer
