Chapter 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 Jessic. "Welcome ba, Miss". He said his fawas ce indifferent. Jessica alighted from the car with ease, and a maid just came out to throw yesterday's trash; on seeing her, the maid bolted back into the house to announce her return, yet no member of the family cared to come out of the house. It was as though they were all dead. With a heavy set, she climbed the few stairs to the foyer with the suitcase in her hand, which nobody cared to take from her. She had thought her return would be something she would 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. Nothing has changed. This family had finally dashed her hope of seeing them as one. The living room was deserted, and nobody acknowledged 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 in the middle of the room, memories of her teasing and laughter made her choke with tears. This room, now shrouded in coldness, had once been filled with laughter and happy memories. "Mom, I am back and this time I 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 that the safe in her room had gone missing. The safe had contained her mother's belongings and some documents, 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 time she finished the cleaning, discarding the waste, it was already evening. Jessica sat down beside the wi, 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. Erie 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 Clar, his wi, 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 preferences, excluding Jessica's preferences. The dishes before her were Risa's favorite. "Sister, I 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 in the countryside is sure different from here", Clara stated with a mocking care in her tone, yet the sarcasm embedded in it wasn't lost on Jessica. With her head lowered, making it impossible to see the glint in her eye, she "Don't wor, sister'm not picky to go without a meal", she retorted. Thugh, she had returned before the time of the dinner preparat, on; 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 famil,y and with Risa's smi,rk 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 time with your grandmother in 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 time, or rather, had expected her to have a good time. "It's quite ridiculous", she thought. With a smile etched on her face, "Y, D addad, I had a good time, though I assume you might have wished me dead", she answered, drawing her gaze back to her meal. "Why talk to your father that way, Jessic? 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 Jessic to give such a retort, but the years he had spent in the business world had shaped him so that it had become more 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 I care about you. But now that you are back, it's time you 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 was insinuating, but saw none. Yet, she had a feeling —not a good medicine is sold in his gourd. While her thoughts were ravelling, his voice shattered her thoughts. "You are getting married to Davis Allen tomorrow". Her cutlery falls from her hands with a clatter, her gaze burning with fury as she clenches her fist to suppress her rage. "Dad, are you serious—like you want me to marry Davis Allen a cripple?"She asked in her icy tone. "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 a while and have 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 her business alliance, and to be a stand-in bride for her step-sister. "What a flawless plot! "And if I 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, a nd as far as he is concerned, Jessica must fulfill the arrangement to the last letter. Jessica smirke,d though she has been in the countryside for a long ti, me shasn'tn't forgotten who her father is— a man who fears the strong and bullies the weakGeorge'sge eruption has given her something to work on, a weakness he doesn't want to acknowledge, yet it is there and she must make good use of it. "Why don't I dare to say no when I 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 pressed with her face devoid of emotion. Clara and Risa's faces paled. It seems Jessica won't be easy to handle this time, but what has changed? Why isn't she as obedient as she is used to being? 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 of 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,ily I will do all of the bidding, but I remember that Risa here had always played the role of an eldest daughter, why should I 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 made its way under Clara's skin "Jessica, have you lost your manners? Your father remains the head of the family and what he says goes. So, you must marry the Allen family son and that is final", she said meeting her gaze head on as they both engaged in a silent battle of wits. "Agreed", she answered immediately, making them look at hers skeptically, but as they saw her unflinching gaze. They breathed a sigh of relief but then "on one condition otherwise I will reveal your plot to the Allen's family and watch how your precious daughter —marry a cripple", she said making their heart skip beats. "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 I leave for the Allenss", she said icily.