Chapter 3

To the Stewart family, Jessie's very return was treated like a debt owed to Mia. After all, Mia had gone from being their beloved daughter to merely the adopted one, and it was all Jessie's fault.

But none of this had been Jessie's choice.

She wasn't the one who had found the Stewart family. The Stewart family had found her. They were the ones who brought her back home, only to treat her like an outsider.

Jessie had often wondered if they believed Mia was so perfect and irreplaceable, why even bother bringing her back at all? Was it just to make her watch them fawn over Mia or to make her feel like a mistake?

Her eyes brimmed with biting sarcasm. Mark's expression darkened with frustration. "If you hadn't been so willful, none of that would've happened to Mia."

"What happened?" Jessie asked flatly.

Mia's face went pale. "Mark, today's Jessie's homecoming. Let's not talk about the past. Henry, didn't you say you wanted to see Grandpa? Let's go."

Henry gave Jessie a long look. His voice was as cool as ever. "Aren't you coming?"

Jessie's eyes lit up. Her answer was immediate. "I'm coming."

Henry nodded. "Then let's go."

As Jessie moved to follow them, Mark suddenly grabbed her arm. The force made her frown in pain.

"You're going to see Grandpa dressed like that? Are you planning to play the victim again?" Mark sneered.

Jessie didn't think there was anything wrong with her outfit.

It wasn't fancy, but it was at least clean and neat. Still, she didn't feel like arguing with Mark. "I don't have any other clothes to change into."

In prison, she'd only worn a uniform. This dress was the one she'd worn three years ago when she went in. It was only normal for it to have faded.

"Keep up," Mark said and turned to walk away.

There was a torn look in his eyes.

Jessie followed him.

After three years, the Stewart family estate had changed a lot. It felt unfamiliar now.

When they arrived on the second floor, Mark's expression changed a little.

"Since your room's been vacant for three years, we turned it into Mia's walk-in closet."

Jessie blinked and simply nodded. "Got it."

Her indifference made Mark bristle.

He looked like he wanted to snap at her but held back. After all, on this point, they were in the wrong.

He opened the door. Inside was a lavish dressing room, filled wall to wall with glass wardrobes and designer clothes. It looked like a luxury boutique.

It was clear how much the Stewart family spoiled Mia.

Mark went to the corner, pulled out an outfit, and tossed it to Jessie. "Mia didn't like this one. She doesn't like clothes worn by others. Wear it and don't bother returning it. Toss it if you want."

Jessie changed into the outfit. The slim-fit sweater was still a bit loose on her. She straightened her hair and stepped out.

"I'm ready," she said.

Mark gave her a strange look. "Let's go."

Jessie didn't care about his cold tone. Her heart was pounding at the thought of seeing David again.

Mark walked fast. Before Jessie could even reach the stairs, he had already disappeared.

She didn't mind. She knew where David's room was. Her steps quickened with excitement until she was suddenly stopped at the door.

"Jessie, you're finally back."

Laura's eyes welled with tears when she saw Jessie. Her voice cracked.

She reached out to grab Jessie's hand, but Jessie stepped back.

Laura froze. She looked sad. "Jessie, are you angry at me?"

Jessie didn't know why she was asking that.

Shouldn't she be angry?

After all, they were the ones who threw her into prison. They let her suffer for three whole years. Wasn't she allowed to be angry?

"Mrs. Stewart," Jessie said in a hoarse voice. "I'm here to see David."

Laura swayed as though the words had struck her like a blow. "Jessie, what did you call me? You really are angry with me."

Her tears began to fall.

Even crying, Laura remained elegant and poised, though now tinged with a fragile sadness.

Jessie had once admired Laura for her beauty, poise, and grace.

Back then, Jessie had wished over and over that Laura would treat her the way she treated Mia, with gentleness. Like a real mother.

The one time Laura did treat Jessie as gently as she treated Mia was when she asked her to take the fall for Mia and go to prison.

How utterly pathetic.

"Mommy, why are you crying?"

Mia rushed over and clung to Laura. Her eyes filled with concern.

"Jessie, if you're upset, take it out on me. Don't make Mommy cry. She hasn't been able to eat or sleep well because of you. She's lost so much weight. Even if you don't care, I do."

As Mia spoke, tears gathered in her eyes, just like Laura's.

Laura, naturally, couldn't bear to see her beloved daughter cry. She wiped her own tears quickly. "Mia, I'm fine. Don't cry, sweetheart. Don't puff up those pretty eyes."

"Mommy, it's okay. Jessie has every right to hate me. If not for me, she would've had all your love to herself."

Mia bit her lip and was about to cry again. She looked utterly pitiful.

"This isn't your fault, Mia. Don't overthink things," Laura said softly.

To anyone watching, they looked like the perfect representation of a relationship between mother and daughter.