Even though Cynthia was marrying Theodore, Zac didn’t seem to have the change in attitude toward his daughter that one might expect. He remained as indifferent as before.
After Zac left, Cynthia said flatly, Jen, is my room unoccupied?
Yes. No one’s been in it. Come with me, Jennifer turned and went upstairs.
Cynthia followed her up.
Cynthia’s room was exactly as it had been before, with servants regularly cleaning it. None of the belongings inside had been touched.
See? No one’s touched anything in your room, Jennifer said.
Cynthia said, That’s good. I was worried that after I left, someone else might have taken this room.
There are plenty of rooms in this house. No one would take yours. Not everyone is out to get you or take your things. What belongs to you will always be yours. The Zellers won’t shortchange you. But if you insist on wanting more, that’s just being greedy.
Cynthia frowned. Jen, you’re aware of my social status, right? After I marry Theodore, I’ll be Mrs. Spencer. Even though we don’t have the same mother, you should treat me better.
Jennifer sat down on a nearby chair. Do you think my attitude toward you is because we don’t share the same mother?
Isn’t it? Cynthia retorted.
Jennifer chuckled softly. You, me, and our brother, Quinton, weren’t born from the same mother. My mother is the legitimate Mrs. Zeller, while your mother and Quinton’s mother were mistresses.
So, you finally admit it, Cynthia sneered. You look down on me because you think my mother was a mistress and that I’m an illegitimate child.
Jennifer responded, Quinton is also
an illegitimate child, but I still treat
Pet
him as my brother. Being an illegitimate child isn’t that big of deal. In families like ours, men are alway@messing around outside, which does upset women, but it can’t be stopped. Who knows how many illegitimate children Dad has out there?
If that’s the case, then why do you dislike me? Are you afraid I’ll threaten your position?
Threaten my position?
Jennifer sneered.
I’m the legitimate daughter of the Zellers. I started interning at the company when I was 18, helping Dad with business affairs, and led the company through many tough times. No one can threaten my position. Dad may be a
philanderer, but he’s ex
He
wouldn’t risk the future of the Zellers just because he dotes on some illegitimate child.
Cynthia, you always think I dislike you, but the truth is I don’t. I can’t be bothered because I don’t want to waste my energy. The one who really dislikes you is Dad.
Cynthia sat down. Go on, I’m listening. I want to know just how much you all dislike me.
I don’t remember much from when we were young, Jennifer began. But when I was five, a woman came to our house. She was holding a little girl and making a scene, claiming that the girl in her arms belonged to Dad. That child was you. You really are his biological daughter.
Dad was indeed unfaithful, but he treated my mother well and never used those affairs to upset her deliberately. His mistresses never dared to appear in front of my mother.
But that year, my mother fell ill, and your mother, who didn’t follow Dad’s instructions to abort the baby, secretly gave birth to you and brought you to our house. She made a commotion trying to secure a better position for herself. Instead of gaining any status, she ended up angering my mother to death.
As Jennifer spoke, her eyes
narrowed, and a flash of anger crossed her face. Think about it, your mother angered my mother. Imagine how furious Dad was. He beat your mother, and drove her away. You were still a baby when your mother left you here. After all, you’re my father’s biological daughter, so he couldn’t just abandon you.