Once the Forgotten Wife, Now His Biggest Regret

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: How the tables have turned

Gasps echoed in the vast dining area, and my parents dropped the utensils they were holding in their hands with a loud clank. Both my father and stepmother immediately stopped whatever they were doing and turned to look at my sister with eyes as wide as saucers.

"What?" My father’s voice boomed as tension started to thicken in the air between us.

I watched with satisfaction as Jessica’s face turned pale in an instant, a ghastly white as though all the blood had been drained from her. She was fiddling with her hands, stumbling over her own words. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"I...I..."

I knew I could bet on her not telling my parents the truth. My reveal must have caught her off guard.

The frown on Eleanor’s face deepened as she looked at her daughter. "Jessica, is she telling the truth? Are you actually pregnant?" She gasped again, her hand flying to her mouth before she lowered it. "What on earth is going on? Do you have a boyfriend you are not telling us about?"

"I’m really disappointed in you," my father continued. "How am I going to face the people now? Everyone is going to know and talk behind my back, and the reporters are going to hound me with questions. Do you know what I have to deal with?"

Eleanor let out a loud sigh beside him. "I can’t believe this, I thought you would protect yourself well and not make mistakes like this. How could you—"

I stayed quiet the entire time, watching the entire scene unravel before my eyes as Jessica turned bright red next to me, clenching her fists beneath the table.

"Evelyn’s lying!" The words burst out of her mouth. "I’m not pregnant, she just wants to take away the spot at Hart Group from me!"

I didn’t get angry at her false accusation, instead, I continued to feign innocence as I raised a brow. "What? If you aren’t pregnant, then why did you need to move into my place with Lucas and Kayla? So had he been lying to me this whole time?" I pretended to sniffle. I could play the victim, too.

"What?" I heard my stepmother’s voice reach my ears. "So that’s where you moved to and refused to tell us?"

Jessica averted her gaze as she stuttered. "I—I just didn’t think that—"

I reached up to wipe away my crocodile tears as I placed a hand on my sister’s shoulder. "If you are unsure of your pregnancy, then maybe we should go to the clinic together and check it out." I turned to my parents, forcing a concerned expression. "Don’t you think so?" I asked, knowing full well they would agree when it comes to Jessica’s wellbeing.

As expected, they nodded without hesitation.

I smiled. "That way, we can all be there for you, and you wouldn’t have to be scared or worried anymore."

She quickly pushed my hand off her shoulder, the chair screeching across the cool marbled floor as she rose to her feet. Her features were twisted into a look of panic. "I’m not going!"

"Why not?" I continued to poke at her buttons, continued playing my role as the concerned sister. "You don’t have to worry about—"

She squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out the words. "Fine! Fine! I am pregnant!"

Finally.

I knew she would cave eventually.

"Happy?" She huffed and plopped back down into the chair.

Eleanor’s sharp features softened once she saw the tears glistening in her daughter’s eyes. Rising from her own seat, she made her way over to Jessica, her hands gently resting on her daughter’s shoulders.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to..." Her words hung in the air for a while. "I was just worried about you. Do you know who the father is?"

Jessica’s lips were still trembling when she nodded. "But he doesn’t want anything to do with this baby. I tried, mom. I talked to him, I tried reasoning with him, but nothing worked. He wants me to abort my baby, I just couldn’t do it."

Tears continued to stream down her rosy cheeks while her mother patted her back soothingly, and my father watched from his seat, his expression unreadable.

"Alexander, dear," my stepmother started, her voice jumping an octave. "Say something," she urged. freeweɓnøvel.com

My father barely budged, his face still wore the same stern expression.

"Alexander, please. Jessica already feels bad about the whole situation." As if on cue, Jessica let out a soft sniffle that was just loud enough so that my father would hear her sobs. "I’m sure she learnt her lesson. Please go easy on her."

"Have I not been easy on her already?"

"Yes, yes, of course you have been," Eleanor paused, and her eyes lit up for a split second. "I was just wondering if you could let Jessica work in the Hart Group instead?"

There it is.

"She would need all the experience she can. She may be pregnant, but I’m sure she’s capable and able to work things out quickly. And remember how you promised me that you would do anything for me?"

Jessica looked up from her hands as she lightly shook her head. "No, no...I don’t deserve this." There she goes, playing the victim once again. "I’m sure Evelyn will be able to do a much better job than I."

An incredulous laughter slipped from my lips as I looked at my stepmother still cradling Jessica in her arms, both of them putting on a pitiful act. Honestly, I think they should be getting an Oscar for their excellent performance, because it seemed that my father was buying into it.

But instead of staying silent, I spoke up. "I agree with Jessica. I think I will be able to do a better job." A smirk touched my lips upon seeing the looks on the mother-daughter’s faces.

A sigh rushed out of my father’s mouth before his eyes settled on someone.

"I made up my mind. You can work at Hart Group."