Chapter 1657: She’s living a good life

"I want to know how you did it, why you’re coming back into Nina’s life after years of hiding, and where the doctor you schemed with is. I want answers — I need them. Now."

Priscilla was quick to shut her mouth at Penny’s questioning.

"Tsk tsk." Mint shook her head, catching the subtle reaction. "You, of all people, should know it’s better to start talking now. Especially if the reason you’re reappearing in Nina’s life is... bad news."

Another wave of silence settled over them, thick and pressing. Priscilla scanned their grim faces and gulped — the sound echoing in her ears.

She huffed faintly, her neck taut. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came. After another deep exhale, she finally lifted her gaze to meet theirs.

"After working for them for a long time, I might’ve picked up a trick or two to stay hidden," she began quietly. "I moved constantly — always to places they’d avoid. I didn’t have much money since I gave it all to the doctor to keep him quiet."

She paused for a beat. "I took all sorts of jobs to stay afloat, then moved again every three months. Each time, I changed something about myself — a haircut, hair color, a scar, anything to avoid being recognized."

"Of course, they nearly caught me many times," she went on. "That’s why I studied every place I stayed in. I always had to know the exits. That was my life for the past decade... and every time I thought they were done chasing me, they’d prove they weren’t the kind to forget."

Penny and Slater exchanged a glance before eyeing Mint.

To them, Priscilla was clearly downplaying her survival story. Anyone who’d survived this long didn’t do it by just changing cities and hairstyles. She was leaving things out — probably things they didn’t want to know.

"I was planning to live like that for the rest of my life," she muttered. "But then... I heard from a contact that someone might be targeting my daughter."

Her eyes glinted as she met theirs. "I don’t know why. But I’m not taking any chances. When word starts spreading like that, there’s always a grain of truth. And I’m not letting them get to her."

"That’s why you came back into Nina’s life?"

"No." Priscilla shook her head. "My daughter — Pen — Nina has a good life."

She paused, and a misplaced smile ghosted across her face. She had been watching Nina from afar and could see the kind of woman she’d grown into — well-mannered, graceful, surrounded by good friends and engaged to a decent man.

Priscilla couldn’t ask for more.

"I don’t think that’s what Aunt Jessa thinks," Penny said, tilting her head. "From what I remember, you showed up at her house to take Nina away. At least, that’s what she told me."

And Penny was never wrong about things like that.

"Jessa... that witch—"

"Hey!" Slater barked, pointing at her. "If anyone gets to insult her, it’s us. Say one more thing about Aunt Jessa, and I’ll call her up right now! Let’s see if you can even say another word if she’s standing here in front of you!"

If Slater hadn’t kept a sliver of self-control, he would’ve knocked her out just to blow off steam. But Priscilla was old. Awful, sure — but fragile.

If Jessa were here, she would’ve already dragged her by the hair.

"I know." Priscilla closed her eyes and exhaled heavily. "But... Jessa never gave me a chance to explain. Whatever she thought I was going to do — it wasn’t my intention."

"Then what was?" Penny asked.

Priscilla pressed her lips into a thin line. "I came to Jessa to warn her. I wanted to suggest taking Nina with me — just until I figured out what they wanted from her. I wasn’t going to force her. It was a suggestion. I was always open to a better resolution."

Penny and Mint exchanged a glance again before Mint looked back at her.

"I see..." Mint said, a hum laced in her voice. "Well, I don’t know about that, but you should’ve known Aunt Jessa wouldn’t listen to you. You wrecked her life."

"She’s living a good life," Priscilla sneered bitterly. "I don’t see what I ruined."

"Aunt Jessa planned to go to college — to become a doctor, if I remember right," Penny said, her tone sharp. "But because of you, she gave up that dream. Back then, when you and Jason were destroying yourselves, she was the one who had to deal with the fallout."

"If Aunt Jessa’s doing well now, it’s because she chose to do better," she added, her voice biting. "Unlike you, she didn’t pick gigs based on fast money."

Priscilla pressed her lips together and looked away, defiant. It was obvious she disliked Jessa — but that feud had started long before any of the people in this room were even born.

Jessa and Priscilla were far beyond reconciliation.

"Anyway — on to the most important part." Mint cleared her throat. "I looked into the baby swap. The doctor listed in the documents has already retired. The nurse who was arrested didn’t say much — just that it was a mistake. That let the doctor off the hook."

"You’re talking about a different doctor," Priscilla said quietly. "The one in those papers isn’t the one who helped me."

Everyone’s brows lifted.

"That doctor... he died. Car crash. Just a few months after I gave birth."

She paused again to collect herself. "Everyone who knew about the swap — and the surrogacy tied to it — either got silenced or taken in. That swap... it connects back to the organization. From small gangs to the big syndicates, keeping them in line."

"And... there are big names in this," she added. "Politics. Law enforcement. Senator Smith, for instance. You think he doesn’t know about the orphanage? He’s forcing his granddaughter to take the fall because he knows if this case ties back to him, he’s done. They’ll kill him."