fantishu
Chapter 257
Lena felt there was something off about Josefina. "Hey Josie, is the office really that hectic? Still on calls dealing with stuff at night?" Lena remarked as she flopped onto the couch. Josefina just hummed in response, continuing to sip her mint lemonade.
Lena settled in as Regina placed a bowl of mint lemonade in front of her, accompanied by some pastries and fruit.
Lena chuckled, "Regina, how come you didn't get any of these treats for my sister?"
Regina smiled at Lena. "Miss Lena, you should save these for yourself. Ms. Josefina didn't live here with all these luxuries in the past, and I worry that her stomach might not be used to it." Josefina looked up, with her arms crossed, eyeing Regina. "You seem to think of everything, don't you?"
Regina met Josefina's gaze, unafraid. "Ms. Josefina, I'm just someone who likes to tell it like it is."
Lena teased, "Josie, Regina is an old hand at the Harrison estate. She's always been on top of things. And she's right. Some indulgences might not sit well with you." Josefina scoffed, "What indulgences are beyond my reach? Oliver?"Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Lena fell silent. That was a stab straight to the heart! Her eyes flared with a venomous glare, but her voice remained soothingly sweet, "Oliver's just chasing a novelty!"
Josefina continued, "Is that so? My status as the daughter a of the Harrison family isn't exactly a novelty, is it? If it's novelty he wanted, he should fancy you, the fake golden girl. How exciting that must be!"
The rest of the Harrison clan wasn't around, so Lena didn't bother to hide her true feelings anymore. Her gaze was piercing. "Josefina, you're just the daughter a who was recently found by the Harrison family. I've been their daughter for eighteen years! How can you compare to me?"
Josefina leaned back in her chair. "Why should I compare myself to you? And how can you compete with me? You do realize I am the real daughter of the Harrison family. Once my identity is made public, what do you think you can do?"
Lena was stung by these words, and her anger flared. Regina also couldn't stand it anymore. "How can you speak to Miss Lena with such disrespect!" Josefina laughed, "Seems like you haven't figured out where you stand. What gives you the right to talk to me? Your place here is at my whim."
Regina snorted, "I don't buy it. I've been with the Harrisons longer than you have!"
Lena watched Josefina with a smug satisfaction, relishing the chance to vent all the day's frustrations. What a rush!
Regina felt the same, seizing the opportunity to belittle Josefina in the absence of the rest of the family, also taking delight in it.
How did Josefina get to be the golden girl of the Harrison family and steal the man Lena adored? She was nothing but a jinx!
Despite their barbed comments, Josefina remained unflappable, as composed and cool as ever. Her lips curved into a smile. Her makeup-free face was still strikingly beautiful, stirring Lena's envy.
Josefina called out softly, "Mom, Dad, you're back."
Regina's and Lena's faces mirrored each other's fear as they whipped their heads around. Hattie and Garrett had returned. Garrett's cheeks flushed with a hint of alcohol. Regina and Lena inwardly cursed, not expecting their return to be so soon.
Hattie eyed Regina suspiciously, "What are you all chatting about?"
Hattie knew Regina treated Lena differently; after all, she had watched Lena grow up. When Hattie was busy with work, it was Regina who kept Lena company at home. Now,
and
she saw Regina at Lena's side
they seemed a united front against Josefina.
Hattie was worried Josefina might be getting the short end of the stick. Her precious daughter had just
come home, unfamiliar with the family and its ways. If she was being picked on, she would surely not fight back, as Josie was so timid and tender.
Hattie's eyes brimmed with tears. She hurried over to Josefina, sat beside her, and took her hand in a gesture filled with concern and love.