Phillip was left speechless by her words, visibly embarrassed.
Anna quickly piped up, “Jessie, we need to be respectful to our elders. You shouldn’t speak to Dad like that.”
“Shut your mouth, Anna Hickman!” Jessie shot her a sharp glare, sneering, “Oh, you want to talk about morals, right? Where was that sense of morality when you were climbing into your brother–in–law’s bed?”
Anna turned pale. She hadn’t expected the usually meek Jessie to suddenly snap back like this. Jessie, I…‘
Jessie spat, “You make me sick. And all that talk about being my younger sister–since when did I have a sister like you? Do we even share the same blood?
“Your mother was just a maid. You’re nothing but a cuckoo in the nest. You only have the title of the Hickman family’s daughter because it was given to you out of pity, so don’t get too full of yourself and know your place!
“If your mother hadn’t switched us back then, you’d still be just a maid here, yet you dare say you’re my sister? Who do you think you are?”
Her words stunned everyone into silence. Was this really the same timid Jessie they knew?
In the Hickman household, Jessie had always been invisible to the point where even the staff
didn’t take her seriously. She had always been easy to pick on. But right now, it was like she had become a completely different person altogether.
Even Brandon found her unfamiliar–but somehow more alluring. The old Jessie had been quiet and timid. She had never made an effort with her looks and was downright dull. But now, she was shining with a brilliance that couldn’t be ignored.
Without realizing it, Brandon got up and walked over to Jessie. “Jessie, I…”
Before he could touch her, Jessie smacked his hand away. Glaring icily at him, she snapped, Brandon Kerr, don’t touch me with your filthy hands! Of all the women in the world, you had to sleep with Anna? Was that to spite me?”
Brandon blurted out, “Jessie, it’s not like that. She came on to me. I…‘
With Phillip and Liliana still around, the already humiliated Anna couldn’t afford to let this get worse. “What are you saying, Brandon?”
Brandon came back to his senses, shocked at what he had just admitted out loud. Wasn’t Anna the one he cared about most? How could he have said something so damaging to her?
As Jessie watched Brandon waver between her and Anna, her mocking smile deepened. She really had been blind back then to have mistaken this man as her savior.
Liliana questioned coldly, “Jessie, what do you mean by that? What’s all this about Anna climbing into Brandon’s bed?”
Jessie spelled it out for them. “The Anna you’ve all been so proud of made a move on my husband the moment she came back. Oh, wait, I should say ex–husband now. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Since Anna likes trash so much, you all can have him.”
Brandon’s expression grew darker by the second.
Anna was so ashamed she couldn’t even lift her head.
Liliana was shocked, but when she saw Anna crying, her heart ached.
Anna fell to her knees, tears cascading down her face. Those not in the know would’ve thought Jessie was picking on her. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry. I’ve brought shame to you. I just couldn’t forget Brandon…”
All the harsh words Liliana had wanted to say never made it out of her mouth. She merely let out a resigned sigh. “You silly girl, how could you do something so foolish?”
wrong this
Then, she turned to Jessie with a conflicted look. “Jessie, your sister was in the time. She’s still young and doesn’t know any better. You’re her older sister, so you should just let it go. We’re still family. Must we let things get this ugly?”
