Chapter 5
“If you’re mad at me, I’ll apologize. I shouldn’t have gotten together with Eden back then, when he was still with you. But Eden told me he has no more feelings for you so I did the unforgivable with him. It’s all my fault,” Jasmine said meekly. She wore an apologetic look and the sincerity on her face was authentic, so much so it could easily move people’s hearts.
Jeanne no longer cared about the so-called fatherly love. She said plainly, “If you want me back here and marry some guy, you better be kinder to me, or else outsiders might think that you’re selling your daughter off for money. We wouldn’t want such rumors to tarnish your reputation, wouldn’t we?”
She simply said, “When I was abroad, did you give me anything at all? No, not even a penny. I don’t know anyone, I have no certs, I don’t have any connections or contacts. When I was sleeping on the streets, where were you? I think I did great for getting back in one piece.”
Jeanne was traumatized by what Alexander did to her seven years ago and the trauma haunted her for a long period. She had no idea how far a man would go when rage was behind the wheel but her father told her the answer, physically, seven years ago.
Jenifer noticed the awkwardness in the air and she swiftly said, “Look at you and your temper. Jeanne just came back and you’re getting all riled up. What do you think it’ll do to her? Keep your temper and it’s time for dinner.”
There was an unspoken rule in the Lawrence family. At dinner, if the father of the family did not start, no one could start eating. If the father of the family did not stop, no one was allowed to stop either.
Jeanne stood. She turned around and said, “It’s up to me to decide whether I want to marry Thedus or not. If I said no, it won’t happen even if you beat me to death, like what you did to me seven years ago.”
Since Master Lawrence was wheelchair-bound, he usually had meals in his room. Without Master Lawrence’s presence, Alexander became the most powerful figure in the family. He acted up to his position fully.
Alexander also noticed Jeanne’s presence. He said with a heavy tone, “Do you know what time it is now? Where are your manners? You went abroad for so many years and this is what you’ve learned?”
It was then she saw Alexander, her father that beat her up and threw her out of the house seven years ago, and her stepbrother, Joshua, who was the golden boy of the family.
Jeanne upheld her nonchalance and said, “If you can shout at your older sister, it proves that the Lawrence family didn’t educate the younger ones as well. Poorly educated.”
George was a gift from the heavens. He was only six years old but he was independent. Not only did he take care of himself but he also took good care of his mother.
“JEANNE!” Alexander was furious. Jeanne talked back to him in front of the others and even picked on his weak spot. There was no respect for the man.
He knew Jeanne’s feisty attitude and her plain acceptance of the wedding surprised him. He even thought about ways to force her if she disagreed.
The Lawrence family wanted to look generous, so they arranged a huge room for her that had a grand bathroom equipped with a full-length mirror.
“Enough! You weren’t summoned back to question me! If you’re half as obedient as your sister, this relationship wouldn’t be like this.”
