Chapter 154: Dinner

"Auntie, why do you hate me so much?" Nina covered her lips as soon as she realized the question that flew out of her mouth. Her eyes shook while gazing at Jessa.

"What do you mean?" Unbothered by the question, Jessa simply arched a brow.

Nina cleared her throat and observed her auntie first before clarifying. "If you hate me so much, why do you want me here?" Did Penny ask her?

"Who said I hate you?"

"What?"

"You’re a brat and everyone’s annoying at your age, but I don’t hate you."

Nina’s brows knitted in confusion. "But even from the start, you kept calling me that "wench" child, and that I’m a bad fruit from a bad tree."

"I did because it’s true."

"??" Nina tilted her head a little to the side, mystified by her auntie’s answer. One thing, Jessa was saying she didn’t hate her but then she also admitted to saying all those harsh things.

Giving up, she changed her line of questioning. "Then, why did you slap me in front of many people?"

"Do you prefer to be slapped without anyone looking?" Jessa’s already raised brows elevated even more.

"No," Nina’s voice was meek. "I don’t want to be slapped at all."

"Then be nice, you brat." Jessa snapped her tongue and looked away. "If I hate you, you’d know I hate you. But I don’t. The person I hate is that wench — the one who gave birth to you. That bitch... she makes me angry even after death. What a talent."

Nina played with her fingers, now curious about her birth mother. "What is she like? My mother?"

"Hah. Don’t ask. She’s a thousand times worse than you."

Nina frowned at the blatant insult. "What did she do to you for you to be so angry at her?"

"Hah!" Jessa sneered as a sharp glint flickered across her eyes. "That bitch... took everything away from me."

What did that mean?

Was she like Penny too?

Jessa glanced at her niece and scoffed. "No, she’s not like Penny and you."

"Huh? How did you know -- " Nina blurted out and quickly bit her tongue.

"I can read you. Did I say I can see through you before?"

Nina pressed her lips and slid her eyes to the corner. "Penny took away everything from me."

"She took nothing from you, you narrow-minded kid."

"I’m not narrow-minded! Auntie, why do you always say harsh stuff?"

"Harsh because they’re the truth, duh?" Jessa rolled her eyes again, rendering Nina speechless. "Deep in your heart, you know what I’m saying is the truth. Everything you had... isn’t yours. Your family name, your clothes, your life, your everything — those things aren’t meant for you. If not for the nurse’s mistake, you wouldn’t even have a taste of it."

Nina bit her inner bottom lips, lowering her eyes. It was true. Deep in her heart, she knew everything Jessa said was nothing but facts. Nina just didn’t want to accept it because if she did... then she had nothing to hold on to. If she accepted it, she would have to let her family go.

She didn’t want to let go.

"Nina, I don’t hate you." Suddenly, Jessa’s voice changed into a more solemn one. Nina slowly gazed up at her again, only to see countless unspoken words in Jessa’s eyes. "But I will if you end up becoming like that wench. That woman, who gave birth to you, is so selfish and wicked. It’s why I would not hesitate to humiliate or slap you without caring who is watching if you’re wrong. At the same time, I will also stand up for you if I see fit."

"Don’t be like your birth mother," she continued. "She’s the worst of the worst."

Slowly, Jessa faced Nina and looked at her deep in the eye. "Be grateful for the thirteen years you had with the Bennets. They saved your life... just like how their daughter saved mine. So, if you truly care for them, give way."

"If you don’t, you’ll end up regretting it. Trust me." She nodded mildly. "Holding on to them, scheming, and letting yourself get drowned by hate and denial without taking accountability for your actions and thoughts will only push away the people who truly care for you."

Tears slowly coated Nina’s eyes until her vision blurred. "But I can’t," she blurted out under her breath. "Auntie, how can I just accept that they’re abandoning me just because I’m not their family?"

"Who is actually abandoning anyone with their actions here? First, you stir trouble and end up causing chaos and misunderstanding in the family. Second, you tried to kill someone. Even if you failed, you tried. No one told you to do all of that but yourself. Now, who is miserable? Greed will take you nowhere, kid."

Tears once again rolled down Nina’s cheeks. Jessa might not be yelling or intimidating her. But her words struck her straight into the heart. Was it because she didn’t expect Jessa to speak so kindly despite the harsh truths?

"What a pathetic kid." Jessa reached out and ruffled her hair. "Penny is more suited as a little beggar and you should be in a charity. I guess that means they’re the same meaning."

Even Jessa’s touch somewhat felt warm, Nina thought.

How could someone she had been treating so terribly to make Jessa send her back carry such warmth? Earlier, she was skeptical when Jessa said she didn’t hate her. But right now, she believed it. Jessa’s warmth might be a little confusing, but knowing her personality, it was comforting.

"What if... they completely abandon me?" she asked pitifully.

"Do you think after thirteen years, the Bennet Family is like that?"

Nina didn’t answer; she couldn’t answer. It was the first time someone asked her that question.

"Well, then it can’t be helped. Be grateful you have this peasant family to feed you." Jessa retracted her hand and rolled her eyes. "Just another mouth to feed, but I guess this is much better. Penny would’ve eaten this family’s income to oblivion."

Nina chuckled a bit.

Jessa cleared her throat and smacked her lips. "Anyway, let’s go in. I made some warm soup that’s good for sore muscles." She then pushed herself up, gazing down at her. "Let go."

Nina just gazed up at her auntie before the latter clicked her tongue and reluctantly offered her hand. A subtle smile turned up on Nina’s face as she reached out, letting Jessa pull her back up.

"Goodness. Of all the places you could go crying to, why out here? Geez! My favorite granny dress is now dirty!" Jessa complained as they went in, but somehow, Nina didn’t think her auntie blamed her for it.

Once they got in, Jessa told Nina to change and wash up. But for the first time, Nina came down on time and ate with them without making a huge fuss.

Nina didn’t know if she was just hungry, but after taking the first sip from the soup, her face softened. ’It’s delicious.’

Seeing her smile, Jessa’s husband and the twins looked at each other.

Was the world ending? Why was Nina not only making unpleasant faces and doing indirect tantrums, but she was also smiling?

The twins and their father inevitably shifted their questioning gaze to Jessa. Jessa, who saw the look on their faces just rolled her eyes.

For the first time since Nina’s arrival in the Cortez Family, they had a peaceful dinner.