Chapter 2

The black sedan blocked the road ahead. The window rolled down and revealed one side of a man's face.

That face was all too familiar to Jessie.

Henry's voice was cold. "You won't reach the Stewart family estate heading that way. Are you really planning to walk back on your own?"

Jessie looked at him, unsure of what to say.

Her plan had just been to get far away from prison and figure out transportation afterward.

"The city's changed a lot in the past three years. You won't make it on foot. I'm on my way to the Stewart family estate."

Jessie didn't know what to make of it. Was he offering her a ride?

She hesitated. Henry had matured. He no longer looked like the cocky young man from three years ago.

For a moment, memories swept over her, leaving her silent.

Henry, however, was quickly losing patience. His expression darkened as he stepped out of the car and blocked her path. "Get in. I'll drive you back.

"How much more time do you plan to waste here?"

His words made her ponder in silence. Jessie still didn't know why Henry was here, and she didn't really care. But when she thought of David Stewart, her grandfather, she turned and got into the car.

The interior was filled with an unfamiliar scent. It left her dazed.

She had ridden in Henry's car before, but back then, it had always smelled sweet. He used to keep candy in the glove box for her.

Because of the candy, she once believed she was special to him. She once believed they had feelings for each other.

Unfortunately, she overheard him speaking to his friends about her in disdain.

"It's just some cheap candy. She fell for it so easily. I only did it because I pitied her.

"As for the engagement? Please. That was just some joke between the older folks. It's not like the Stewart family only has one daughter."

Everyone laughed and agreed. Mia, who had been raised in wealth and privilege, was clearly more suitable for Henry.

As for Jessie? She was just a convenient distraction, someone to pass the time with out of pity.

Back then, Jessie had noticed that the gifts Henry gave Mia were completely different from the candies he gave her.

Now it all made sense. The difference in intention was obvious.

She hated forcing anything, even if the engagement was rightfully hers.

She had once brought it up to David and asked to break it off.

David, who had always loved her dearly, thought she'd been wronged and was ready to storm off and scold Henry. She stopped him and asked him to let it go. David agreed.

But before the engagement could be annulled, she was thrown into prison in Mia's place.

It was then she finally realized that in their eyes, she was disposable.

Truth be told, the entire Stewart family, including Henry, never really welcomed her. Her return was an intrusion that disrupted their perfect little world.

They never said it out loud, but their actions showed it clearly. But what had she done wrong?

She'd clawed her way up through life in an orphanage, and even after being adopted, she lived carefully. She thought they'd searched for her all those years because they loved her.

Reality hit her hard.

They already had a daughter they loved, Mia. They doted on her endlessly, unlike Jessie, who came from poverty. They looked down on her and despised her. If not because of their blood ties, they would never have taken her in at all.

Back then, only Henry seemed to notice when she was upset. Only he would offer her candy to cheer her up.

To Jessie, Henry was a beam of light, but it had only ever grazed her in passing.

Three years in prison was her way of repaying the Stewart family.

As for blood ties, she was done with that.

She was done with Henry too.

The car pulled into the Stewart family estate.

As it stopped, a girl in a pristine white dress appeared. Her face beamed with delight.

"Henry, you're finally here! Mark and I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Mark followed close behind and draped a coat over her shoulders.

Mia's smile froze the moment she saw Jessie sitting in the car. Her expression soured like she'd been wronged, and her eyes turned misty.

"Jessie? Why are you in Henry's car?" Mark immediately asked with a frown.

"I ran into her on the road. Didn't you send someone to pick her up?" Henry's question left Mark silent.

What was he supposed to say? That he had gone to get her, but left her there in anger because she was too cold and distant?

"It must've slipped his mind. Jessie, why didn't you just call home? Good thing Henry found you," Mia said softly.

To anyone listening, Mia's words sounded thoughtful and kindhearted.

Jessie had once thought the same when she first returned to the Stewart family.

But after being framed time and time again, she saw through it.

Some people wore kindness like a mask, pretending to be innocent and understanding.

The Stewart family ate it up.

To them, Mia was the ideal daughter and the perfect sister.

"Jessie, it's really great to have you back. Mom, Dad, and our brothers are all so happy."

Mia smiled sweetly, and Mark looked at her with nothing but affection in his eyes.

Jessie didn't know if they were really happy. Frankly, she didn't care.

The only one who mattered to her was David. He would be happy to see her again.

Just the thought of him lifted her mood.

"Jessie, Mia's talking to you. Didn't you hear her?"

Mark glared at Jessie like she was an enemy.

Mia bit her lip and tugged on his sleeve. "Mark, don't be like that. Jessie never liked me. It's not surprising she's ignoring me. I'm used to it."

That only made Mark angrier.

He barked at Jessie, "Mia doesn't owe you anything."

Jessie let out a cold chuckle. "She doesn't owe me anything. Likewise, I don't owe her anything."