<b>Chapter </b><b>59 </b>
Jeffrey paused. “Who?”
“Jessica’s father,” Andrea replied, watching his face carefully, worried he might show disdain. “Eugene Scott.”
Jeffrey lifted his gaze to meet hers.
Andrea nervously twisted her fingers. “My mother told me.”
Jeffrey seemed momentarily taken aback but quickly regained hisposure. “Does he know you exist?”
“No.” Andrea thought back to their earlier conversation and decided it was better to tell him everything.
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She continued, “When he found out my mother was pregnant, he offered her money to terminate the pregnancy. But my mother couldn’t bring herself to do it, so she kept me a secret.”
The truth wasn’t really about maternal love. Andrea’s mother had realized that Eugene’s generous offer of 300 thousand dors for the abortion was a sign of his immense wealth. Seeing an opportunity, she decided to use the child as leverage for future gains through inheritance.
Butter events showed Eugene had no tolerance for such schemes and would punish anyone who kept secret heirs.
By the time Andrea was born, there was no turning back. She kept it all hidden, afraid of the consequences.
“Do you want to acknowledge him?” Jeffrey asked, reading her expression.
“Is that possible?” Andrea asked hesitantly.
Jeffrey nodded. “I’ll have Gregory arrange for an expedited paternity test. Once the results are in, we’ll meet him.”
“But… what about Reba?” Andrea hesitated. “Jessica is her best friend. If I suddenly show up in the Scott family-”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jeffrey said tly.
Unaware that her best friend was about <i>to </i>hit her lowest point, Reba left the Reed residence and went to the hospital. She spent half the day with Amelia before heading home.
When she arrived, she found Jessica sitting quietly on the balcony chair. Putting down her bag, Reba walked over and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Jessica replied, staring out the window, her voice unnervingly calm. “My dad just called and said I might have a
sister.”
Reba was taken aback. “Didn’t you say your parents haven’t… in almost two years?”
At this point, Reba suddenly realized something and hesitantly asked, “You mean this sister wasn’t born to your mom?”
Jessica responded absentmindedly, “Hmm.”
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“But they agreed not to have any secret children,” Reba said, well aware of her parents‘ situation. Their marriage had been a mere arrangement, one where they’d decided to live their own lives after Jessica was born.
“What’s the point of agreements?” Jessica said bitterly.
Reba hugged her tightly.
Jessica pushed her back, locking eyes with her. “He told me something else.”
“What is it?” Reba frowned, sharing her frustration.
“He said we both know this person, and the age gap isn’t that big.” Jessica still hadn’t figured out who it could be.
Reba sat beside her, thinking about someone they both knew.
Jessica sighed and started to think again, mentally running through everyone she knew, but she couldn’te up with anyone who seemed likely.
“He’s already met them,” Reba said, her suspicion growing.
“No, the mistress texted him saying there’s a child,” Jessica replied. She only knew what her father had told her, but she understood he had left some details out. “She said the child woulde find him to acknowledge him in a couple of
days.”
Reba parted her lips hesitantly, words stuck in her throat.
Jessica waved her hand dismissively. “Just say what’s on your mind.”
“Could it be…” A sense of difort rose in Reba’s chest. “Andrea?”
Jessica nearly jumped out of her skin. “Who did you say?”
“Andrea never mentioned her father once during university,” Reba exined. “If their rtionship wasn’t unusual, your father wouldn’t have said we both know the person. She also never filled out the father section on any forms.”
Given Andrea’s personality, she’d openly called her mother cruel at school, but it didn’t make sense that she’d never talk about her father unless she didn’t know him or that she didn’t dare to talk about him.
“Hell, no!” Jessica growled, grinding her teeth. “If it’s really her, I’ll beat her to a pulp.”
Reba hoped it wasn’t true, but too many things lined up. Most importantly, Andrea shared the Scott surname.
“I need to go home,” Jessica said, her anxiety showing. “I’lle find you after I confirm this. If it really is Andrea, I’ll help you take her down.”
Reba looked concerned. “Do you want me toe with you?”
“No need. Your presence would hold back my fury,” Jessica replied, dead serious.
Reba hugged her tightly. If Andrea really was Eugene’s daughter, peace would be forever lost in the Scott family.
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Before, Andrea alone couldn’t cause any trouble, just like the years when everyone quietly minded their own business.
But now, Andrea had Jeffrey’s support. Her mother’s sudden revtion about Andrea’s parentage had likelye from knowing that Andrea had someone powerful behind her.
This thought suddenly weighed heavily on Reba’s heart.
The truth came out the next afternoon. Reba had just finished a sketch when Jessica’s message popped up on her phone. [Holy shit! It’s really that bitch Andrea.]
As if the message hadn’t conveyed her frustration, Jessica called before Reba could even respond. Without giving her a chance to speak, Jessica yelled through the phone, “I’m so pissed! She actually wants to join my family.”
“What did your father say?” Reba asked, her heart grew heavier.
Jessica looked at her father, who was still talking downstairs with Jeffrey, and her irritation was bubbling up. “They’re still talking.”
“I’ming over,” Reba said, worried about her friend.
Jessica had once told her that when emotions ran high, it helped to have friends around.
“Don’t!” Jessica immediately refused. If Reba knew that Jeffrey hade with Andrea, it would just make things worse. “I’m fine, really. It’s my dad I’m worried about.”
Reba paused and then quickly put the pieces together. Although she didn’t know Eugene well, Jessica had told her enough stories to understand that he wouldn’t waste time legitimizing a child like Andrea unless he had reasons.
“Did Jeffrey bring Andrea there?” Reba asked, voicing her suspicion.
Jessica peeked downstairs again. “How did you guess?”
At that, Reba’s heart sank even further. She knew Andrea had always been ambitious. Besides wanting her father’s affection, Andrea was probably after shares or assets through this reunion.
Eugene wouldn’t give Jessica those things alone, but with Jeffrey’s influence, it could happen.
“He might make unreasonable demands on your father,” Reba said, determined not to let Andrea mess with Jessica’s future.
“Sc
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