Chapter 28: Can’t have it both ways

Initially, the Bennet couple went to see Jessa to settle this matter like adults. However, her tactless and ruthless way of talking to a child quickly discouraged the couple.

"You should also thank me! After all, I’m also doing this for your sake since I’m giving you a valid reason to send that child away. You should think of what Penny feels for having to share with the person who shamelessly stole the life she should have without remorse!"

Allison clasped her hands on her lap as she said, "Mrs. Cortez, with all due respect, we raised Nina for thirteen years. Although she is not our biological daughter, we loved her as our own."

"Then should I take Penny back!?" Jessa fumed. "I also raised Penny for thirteen years, and even though she’s not my biological niece, I treated her as my own!"

"Treat her as your own?" Allison’s shoulders shook in anger. "How could you say you treated our daughter as your own when you’ve exploited her since she was young?!"

Charles clasped his wife’s trembling fist because Allison’s voice was also raising. "Ali, calm down."

"No." Allison was adamant, the corner of her eyes was red with suppressed anger. "Mrs. Cortez, is that how callous you talk about a child? Regardless if your relationship with Nina’s mother is not good, what’s a child had to do with it?"

Jessa crossed her arms and kept her chin high. She looked like an evil mother in Allison’s presence.

"Don’t tell me how to talk because, for one, you don’t know that wench. Second, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. You don’t know this yet, but what I know you know is that you two are greedy people! How could you want your daughter back and still keep the other one that isn’t even yours?! You can’t have it both ways just because your pockets are deep!"

Jessa snorted as she added. "No wonder that fake daughter doesn’t have the decency to give way to the real one! She took after her mother, and is nurtured by the likes of you!"

"You —!"

"Allison." Charles’s hand squeezed Allison’s hand, his voice was stern. He shook his head when his wife faced him.

Allison’s face was now red in anger. She never felt this agitated for a long time to the point it made her tear up a little. Yet, Jessa wasn’t even fazed by everything that was said. If anything, Jessa had this arrogant smirk on her face.

"Mrs. Cortez, I know we’re being greedy for wanting to keep the two of them," Charles spoke up with a calm tone. "Penny is our real daughter and, on the other hand, Nina is a child we have raised since she was a baby. Can we have another resolution for this? My wife and I promised we’ll look after both of them equally."

Jessa snorted. "You don’t understand me, do you? Why would you need to look after them equally? This is nonsense! I’m going to take Penny back."

"You can’t do that!" Allison scoffed. "You signed an agreement!"

"I did, but I also got a lot of money now. I can hire the best lawyers and once I told them about this, they’d surely think I have a stand on this." Jessa grabbed her luxury bag — an item she was able to afford because of the couple’s money — and stood up. "I’m giving you two goody two shoes a chance. Give me back my niece or send away that wench’s daughter. Also, I want to see Penny and see how she is doing. I don’t trust people like you to treat her well and I’ll only believe she’s not being abused if I confirm it with my own eyes!"

After saying her piece, Jessa walked off... in style.

Silence quickly enveloped the private dining room as soon as the door was slammed closed. Allison felt weak, propping her hand on the table with her other hand on her temple. Her anger reached her head, making it throb. She felt dizzy and suffocated.

"Ali." Charles held her shoulders carefully.

Allison looked at him with eyes red in equal anger and disappointment. She opened her mouth, but her voice didn’t come out.

Jessa’s way of talking and arrogant presence was aggravating. However, the couple silently couldn’t help but admit there were some truths in her words. No matter how offensive the words were spoken, there were some harsh truths in them.

They were greedy and wanted both ways when, in fact, they knew they shouldn’t. They couldn’t have the best of both worlds.

"Charles..." Allison’s voice shook as she pressed her pale lips. "What should we do now?"

Charles’s eyes brimmed with worry and uncertainty. "To be honest, I don’t know, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out. I’ll think of a way to calm Mrs. Cortez so we can have agreeable terms."

"Oh, Charles." She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. "I can’t believe our child is raised by that woman. We can’t let Nina go to her because I’m afraid she’ll vent her anger on her."

Charles didn’t answer, but he also shared the same sentiments.

The way Jessa talked about Nina’s mother carried a deep sense of resentment. They could already imagine the horror Penny had to go through while she was under Jessa’s care. The couple felt deeply sorry for their daughter, but at the same time, their conscience wouldn’t let them give Nina back while knowing she might get maltreated by Jessa.

What a tricky dilemma.

When Allison calmed down, the couple didn’t even have the appetite to eat. So they went home straight. Once they arrived, Charles was assisting his wife because Allison didn’t feel well after that talk with Jessa.

At the same time, Penny was walking back from the library to her room while hugging a book.

"Huh?" she tilted her head to the side.

Allison looked pale while Charles’s face was gloomy. They were only away for an hour, but the couple looked like they were met with a catastrophe.

What could’ve happened in that one hour they were away?