Real Daughter's Revenge novel Chapter 10

Over the weekend, Rhonda called and invited me home for dinner.

“Jessie, we haven’t seen you in so long. Your dad and I miss you.”

I thought it over and agreed.

It was time for the truth to come out.

When I arrived, the whole family was there.

Lena greeted me with an especially bright smile. “Jessie, you’re here!”

“Yeah.”

Dinner started with a surprisingly pleasant atmosphere.

That lasted until Nolan suddenly said, “Jessie, we’ve been talking and decided to set up an education fund for both you and Lenny.”

Rhonda chimed in, “One million dollars each. You can use it for grad school or to start a business someday.”

Lena immediately gushed, “Thank you, Mom and Dad!”

I set down my fork. “You don’t need to give me anything.”

“Why not?” Nolan frowned.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about a mere million dollars.

“Because,” I said, pulling out the voice recorder, “I think you should listen to this first.”

I pressed play.

Lena’s voice echoed through the dining room. “Mom and Dad are so clueless. They still haven’t figured out I’m just acting.

“That Jessica, acting all high and mighty. Isn’t she just after money?

“Heart problems? I’m perfectly healthy. I just fake it for them.”

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10:56

Lena’s face went ghostly white.

She lunged toward me, trying to snatch the recorder. “It’s fake! That’s not me!”

I dodged her. “We all know exactly whose voice that is.”

Rhonda stared at Lena in disbelief. “Lenny, is this true?”

“Mom, I…” Instantly, Lena’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t mean to, I just…”

“Just what?” Nolan’s face was thunderous.

Bernard stood up. “Lena, you’ve been lying to us all this time?”

“Bernie…”

Nolan slammed his hand on the table. “Tell me right now–is your heart condition real or not?”

Lena bit her lip, silent.

“Answer me!”

“It’s… It’s fake,” she whispered.

The dining room fell into a deathly silence.

Rhonda clutched her chest, swaying. “All these years, you’ve been lying to us?”

“Mom, I swear, I didn’t mean to!”

Lena dropped to her knees. “I was just so afraid of losing you!”

“So you faked being sick? So we’d ignore Jessie because of your ‘illness‘?” Bernard’s laugh was bitter.

Lena sobbed, her cries tearing through the room. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!”

I stood up. “I’m done eating.”

“Jessie, wait.” Nolan stopped me.

“Is there something else?”

He looked at me, guilt heavy in his eyes. “I’m sorry. We were wrong.”

“Yes, you were,” I said calmly. “But that’s not my problem.”

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10:56

“What do you mean?”

I glanced at Lena, still kneeling on the floor. “You loved her for 18 years. If you got fooled, that’s on you. I’m not interested in getting involved in your family drama.”

With that, I turned and walked out.

Behind me, Lena’s sobs, Rhonda’s sighs, and Nolan’s shouts echoed through the house.

So much chaos.

Thankfully, none of it had anything to do with me.

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