Chapter 4

Jessie had no interest in watching their little show of love. She brushed past them just as Mark came walking up. When he saw Laura in tears, he quickened his pace. He sounded angry when he spoke.

"Jessie, what did you say to Mom?"

Jessie met his gaze and remained expressionless. Her voice was calm as she countered, "Maybe you should ask your mother what she said to me. I only said one thing."

Mark clearly didn't believe her.

He was about to argue when Laura cut in.

"Mark, be nicer to your sister. I'm fine. I was just overjoyed seeing Jessie again."

Rebuked by their mother, Mark shot Jessie a displeased look but held his tongue.

"Jessie, I had new clothes and shoes prepared for you. Why are your clothes still so ill-fitting?"

Laura frowned after glancing at Jessie.

Jessie lifted her gaze and answered in an irritable manner. "No need. These are fine. I want to see Grandpa."

She moved to leave, but Mark stepped in front of her.

"Grandpa's resting."

"That's not possible. Henry's still with him, isn't he?" Jessie's voice grew anxious. After three long years, she was desperate to see David.

"Henry already left."

Mark sounded annoyed as if she'd ruined their dinner plans with Henry.

"Be patient, Jessie. You can see Grandpa tomorrow," Laura said in a gentle tone while trying to calm her down.

Jessie looked away in frustration. If not for them, she would've made it in time to see David.

Saying nothing more, she turned and walked off.

"Jessie, your room is ready. This time, I want to make things right," Laura said gently.

Jessie didn't want to stay, but she hadn't seen David yet.

"Fine."

Laura was overjoyed. Her gaze shifted to the worn backpack in Jessie's hand. She felt sorry for Jessie.

"Mark, have you set up her room? Let her rest first."

Mark looked uncomfortable.

"There wasn't enough time to get it ready. She'll have to stay in the maid's room for now."

"What did you just say?" Laura couldn't believe what she had just heard.

Mark fell silent.

"Where is the maid's room?" Jessie asked.

She had no desire to argue with them.

After getting directions, she carried her bag and headed into the room on the first floor.

Laura wanted to say something more, but seeing Mark's expression, she held back.

Jessie shut the door. The maid's room was modest, but everything was functional. For a wealthy family like the Stewart family, even the maid's room wasn't too shabby.

Jessie wasn't picky about her living conditions. After all, she'd survived three years in prison, even the solitary confinement cell. This was nothing.

She tidied up a bit, plugged in her phone to charge, and was just responding to a few messages when a knock came at the door.

"Jessie, Mom asked me to come get you for dinner."

Mia stood outside, all smiles.

Jessie could clearly sense the hostility in her eyes.

"I heard you. Let's go."

At the dining table, Laura was overly attentive, piling food onto Jessie's plate. Jessie instinctively raised her hand to cover her plate.

A piece of cauliflower fell onto the table.

Mark sounded irritated.

"Jessie, what are you doing? Mom was just trying to serve you."

"Sorry. It's just a habit."

In prison, whenever someone reached across your plate, it wasn't to serve food. It was to snatch your meal or drop garbage onto it. If you didn't protect it, you didn't get to eat.

Mark let out a cold chuckle.

"Seriously? That's your excuse? You think we're going to buy that?"

Jessie calmly set down her fork and spoon. "Whether you believe me or not, that's your choice."

Laura jumped in quickly.

"Mark, she didn't mean it like that. Let's just eat before the food gets cold."

Mark held his temper, though the glare he gave Jessie was like a blade.

Jessie ignored it. She'd survived worse.

"Jessie, why aren't you eating? Is it not to your liking?"

Laura seemed awfully concerned. Jessie couldn't understand why she was suddenly so attentive.

Three years ago, that would've thrilled Jessie. She used to long for her mother's love and attention, but not anymore.

"I'm not used to the flavors. It's too rich."

The food on the table wasn't greasy, but it had a strong sweet-and-spicy taste. This was clearly Mia's favorite.

Mark sneered.

"You used to eat this just fine. Now it's too much?"

Jessie looked at Mark and spoke calmly.

"I didn't have stomach issues before. After three years of prison food, where being hungry was the norm and eating fast was a survival skill, developing a stomach illness was inevitable."

Mark stiffened. Laura's eyes welled up with tears.

"Jessie, why didn't you call us? I thought you were doing fine in there."

Jessie almost laughed. 'Fine? In prison?'

They hadn't lifted a finger after sending her in.

There was no support. In prison, the weak were trampled by the strong.

She had no money and no power, so of course she suffered.

She certainly tried calling.

"I did."

"That's not possible. We never got a call," Mark uttered.

He then paused.

Jessie sneered. "Two months in, I called home. A maid answered. She told me you said I should focus on serving my sentence and stop calling."

Everyone at the dining table fell silent.