Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 8: 8 ... nothing has changed

Jessica's return to the Brown family wasn't anything to be proud of. Looking at the house standing at the far

distance like a fortress, her heart felt cold.

As the car drives into the wrought iron gate she couldn't help but wonder if she had made the right choice of

honouring the invitation to return home. The car pulled to a stop, the Brown family butler stepped forward and

pulled the car door open for Jessica "Welcback Miss". He said his face indifferent. Jessica alighted the car

with ease and a maid just cout to throw the yesterday's trash; on seeing her the maid blotted back into the

house to announce her return yet no member of the family cared to cout of the house. It was as though

they are all dead.

With heavy steps she climbed the few staircase to the foyer with the suitcase in her hand which nobody cared to

take from her. She had thought her return will be something she did be proud of but now it seems that is not the

case, she had always remained the unloved and abandoned daughter of the Brown family. As a matter of fact

nothing has changed. This family had finally dashed her hope of seeing them as one.

The living room was deserted and nobody to acknowledge her arrival, she made her way to her bedroom. Her

feet dragging on the staircase with trepidation with a push, the door creaked open revealing a room with a dusty

smell that sent her coughing abruptly. Waving in the air to clear the musty scent, she stepped into the room.

Standing at the middle of the room memories of her mother's tease and laughter made her choke with tears.

This room now shrouded in coldness had once being filled with laughter and happy memories.

"Mom, | am back and this t| will make you proud", she muttered.

She walked to the window and pulled it open letting in the rays of sunlight to brighten the room. Without any

hesitation, she began cleaning up the room. As she opened her wardrobe she found out the safe in her room had

gone missing. The safe had contained her mother's belongings and sdocuments, her fist clenched.

She need not be told whose handwork it is but then she isn't bothered because she must reclaim all that is hers

with not one bit left.

By the tshe finished the cleaning and discarding the waste it was already evening.

Jessica sat down beside the window gazing at the flowers dancing in the garden—the daffodils, it has been her

mother's favorite flower.

A raspy tap on the door brought her out of her reverie, she stood up and opened the door. The maid stood there

waiting with a mocking smile on her face "Dinner is ready", she stated.

"Okay", Jessica replied her voice devoid of any emotion.

Dinner was set in a grand dining room with its design and furnishings to suit the taste and class of the Brown

family. A long polished mahogany table with chairs set around it glistened under the light.

George sat at the head of the table with Clara his wife and Risa his daughter flanking him on both sides. Looking

at the arrangement, it was a clear display of a family of three. Jessica sitting down at the table made it odd since

she couldn't pass as a member of the family. She smiled mockingly at herself.

Various dishes were laid out according to everyone's preference excluding Jessica preferences. As a matter of

fact, the dishes before her were Risa's favorite.

"Sister, | hope you will find the meal to your liking", Risa chimed sweetly as Jessica picked her cutlery making her

hands pause briefly.

"Risa, your sister has just returned and it's understandable if the meal won't be to her liking as the meal at the

countryside is sure different from here", Clara stated with a mocking care in her tone yet the sacarsm embedded

in it wasn't lost on Jessica.

With her head lowered making it impossible to see the glint in her eyes "Don't worry sister, am not picky to go

without a meal", she retorted.

Though, she had returned before the tof the dinner preparation; it is clear she wasn't taken into

consideration but then it is not surprising—she had never been counted as a member of the family and with

Risa's smirk she understood it must have something to do with her. But this time, she promised herself not to let

them see her pained.

With the meal nearing its end, George cleared his throat to attract their attention.

"Jessica", he called prompting her to look at him inquisitively. "I hope you had a good twith your grandma at

the countryside".

Jessica felt her stomach churn, how can a father be this heartless not to even care about his daughter's life or

death for the past fifteen years but yet he is here asking if she had a good tor rather had expected her to

have a good time. "It's quite ridiculous”, she thought.

With a smile etched on her face "Yes dad, | had a good tthough | assyou might have wisheddead",

she answered drawing her gaze back to her meal.

"Why talk to your father that way Jessica, he has always cared about you and was worried but as a busy man it is

not easy for him", Clara replied with a flicker of anger on her cold face.

George didn't expect Jessica giving such a retort as an answer but the years he had spent in the business world

had shaped him that it had becmore difficult to detect his difficulties through his expression.

Without much expression on his face, he leaned forward with his arms stretched on the table and hands clasped

together. His tone devoid of warmth and guilt "Well, it is always clear that | care about you. But now that you are

back, it's tyou fulfill your role as the eldest daughter of the Brown family".

Jessica snapped her head up searching his face for any clue of what he is insinuating but none. Yet, she had a

feeling —not a good medicine is sold in his gourd. While her thoughts were ravelling, his voice shattered her

thought.

"You are getting married to Davis Allen tomorrow".

Her cutlery falls from her hands with a clatter, her gaze burning with fury as she clenched her fist to suppress

her rage.

"Dad, are you serious—Ilike you wantto marry Davis Allen a cripple?"She asked her tone icy.

"Jessy, don't make it sound so foul—we are all family you know and Davis ... is okay", Risa smirked.

"Jessica, it is not as bad as you think. You have been in the countryside for awhile and has been far from the

elites. Your marriage to Davis will make way for that". Clara said with anger laced in her voice.

She didn't expect Jessica to question the arrangement because it is unlike her.

Looking at their faces, she understood it all. Her coming back was an orchestrated plot for her to take the fall for

the family, to serve as a chip for business alliance and be a stand in bride for her step-sister. "What a flawless

plot!

"And if | say no?", she asked, her aura intimidating that Risa had to gulp down nervously.

"You don't dare", George boomed. He didn't want to imagine the consequences of offending the Allen family and

as far as he is concerned Jessica must fulfill the arrangement to the last letter.

Jessica smirked though she has

been in the countryside for a long

f |

tshe haven't forgotten who her

father RT a roan Who ears the

strohly and bullies the weak. George

eruption has given her something to

f

work on, a weakness he don't want to

acknowledge yet it is there and she

must make a good use of it. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

"Why don't | dare to say no when am being sold off to slavery? Why are you so resistant to my objection?" —or is

it my sweet sister that was asked for?", she pressured with her face devoid of emotion.

Clara and Risa's face paled. It seems Jessica won't be easy to handle this tbut what has changed? Why isn't

she obedient as she is used to? With no answer coming their way. They decided to play it by the ear.

"Jessica, the arrangement between the Allen and Brown family isn't something we can back out because—we

might lose everything about the Brown family and as a good girl you wouldn't want that right?"

"Yes, as the good girl of the Brown family | will do all of its biding but | remember that Risa here had always

played the role of an eldest daughter why should | stand in for her when she is the face of the Brown family", she

retorted.

"It is traditional for you to fulfil this arrangement as the rightful eldest lady and not your sister?" He thundered.

"Yes, you are right. The rightful eldest lady in marriage alliance with a cripple and then the discarded in

opportunities". She smirked.

Her smile and composure finally

q ' q

made its way under Clara's skin

I" :

Jessica, have you lost your m

manners? Your fatfiér sil femains

the FealoFthe family and what he

says goes. So, you must marry the

q q 0

Allen family son and that is final", she

said meeting her gaze head on as

they both engaged in a silent battle of

wits. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

I" [1 : :

Agreed’, she answered immediately

making them look at her skeptical but

as they saw her unflinching.gazen

They breathed aslgh SFrelaf but

tier! ‘on one condition otherwise |

9 |

will reveal your plot to the Allen's

family and watch how your precious

q " 3

daughter —marry a cripple", she said

making their heart skip beats. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

"What condition, I will try to fulfill it?" George stated with confidence.

"I want my mother's belongings and the safe which have been moved from my room before | leave for the

Allen's", she said icily.