Slowly, Jeslyn ascended the stairs, remarking, âI donât want to eat if thereâs no class.
â
Albert remained silent.
Jessie was once again taken aback.
Elsie hurried downstairs and pleaded, âMiss Green, please stay and continue teaching Miss Jeslyn.
Sheâs been preparing for this all afternoon and waiting eagerly for your arrival.
Sheâll be so disappointed if you donât teach her.
â
Jessie responded stiffly, âThatâs not my concern.
â
Albert remarked casually, âYouâre correct.
My daughterâs well-being has no bearing on you.
You donât need to worry about her.
Your career success is inconsequential as well.
After all, youâre destined to be a doctorâs wife.
â
Jessie bit her lip and retorted, âDonât provoke me.
â
Recognizing it as a trap, she refused to be manipulated and departed without glancing back.
Exiting the hall and the villa, she vowed never to contact Albert again, completely disregarding the past.
She believed that she might need to adopt the same level of detachment that Albert seemed to
possess.
In the living room, Elsie anxiously turned to Albert as she observed Jessieâs departure.
âMr.
Waston, what should we do?â
Albert casually picked up the newspaper and resumed reading.
Suddenly, Jeslyn rushed downstairs like a whirlwind.
Albert smiled.
In the parking lot, as Jessie prepared to enter her car, she was stopped by a pair of slender arms wrapping around her thighs from behind.
A fragile voice behind her pleaded, âPlease donât leave.
You canât leave.
â
The tone was both commanding and sorrowful.
Jessie froze in place.
Despite whatever Jeslyn had experienced, Jessie considered her the one she should despise the most.
Even after all these years, Jessie vividly remembered the moment Daisy, heavily pregnant, had slapped her across the face.
Jessie lifted her head slightly and said softly, âYouâre correct about one thing.
I donât like you.
Not at all.
Why would I?â
With that, Jessie freed herself from Jeslynâs grasp, hurried into the car, and swiftly started the engine.
After driving for a distance, Jessie glimpsed in the rearview mirror to see the slender figure of the small child standing in the twilight, clad in a stunning dress, yet her face betrayed deep sadness.
Jeslyn remained stationary, observing the car as it drove off, showing no intention of returning home.
âMiss Jeslyn is simply adorable.
Sheâs so well-behaved and charming.
â
âKnowing youâd be here, she insisted I give her a bath and carefully style her hair.
I believe sheâs quite fond of you.
â
Elsieâs words replayed in Jessieâs mind.