Real Daughter's Revenge novel Chapter 5

Then came the chorus of comfort.

The same old act, every time.

Chapter 5

That night, Rhonda knocked on my door.

“Jessie, can I come in?”

I was reading, not bothering to look up. “Come in.”

She walked in, carrying a mug of soup. “I just made this. Try some.”

I didn’t take it. “I’m not hungry.”

She set the soup on the desk and sat at the edge of my bed. “Jessie, I know you’re holding a lot of resentment.”

“I’m not.”

“Just hear me out.” She sighed. “Lenny really does have health problems. She was born with a congenital heart defect. The doctors said she might not live past twenty.”

I looked up at her.

“So, all these years, we’ve spoiled her. We just wanted her to be happy while she could.”

Rhonda’s eyes were red with tears. “Jessie, can you understand?”

I met her gaze, calm and direct. “So what?”

“So, could you try to go easy on her?”

I laughed. “Mom, let me ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“If I had been born with a congenital heart condition, too, would you expect Lenny to go easy on me?”

Rhonda froze.

“You wouldn’t,” I answered for her. “Because to you, Lenny is the daughter you’ve raised for 18 years. I’m just a stranger you happen to share blood with.”

“That’s not true!”

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I closed my book. “Mom, you should go. I’m tired.”

Rhonda looked like she wanted to say more, but in the end, she left, carrying the untouched mug of soup.

Late at night, I heard piano music coming from the room next door.

It was Lena practicing.

She was playing “Für Elise“-and still getting it wrong.

The next morning at breakfast, Lena looked exhausted. “I practiced piano too late last night. Didn’t sleep well.”

Rhonda fussed over her. “Don’t push yourself so hard; your health comes first.”

Bernard piled food onto her plate. “Eat more, you need the nutrition.”

I sipped my soup, saying nothing.

“Jessie.” Lena suddenly looked at me, “you play piano too, right?”

She must’ve known I heard her last night–now she was trying to provoke me on purpose.

“A little.” I replied flatly.

“That’s great!” she clapped her hands, all excitement. “Could you teach me? There are a few parts I just can’t get right.”

Rhonda jumped in immediately. “Jessie, if you have time, help Lenny out.‘

I set down my mug. “I don’t have time.”

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Bernard frowned. “What’s the harm in helping her?”

“It’d be a waste of my time.” I stood up. “Her fundamentals are all wrong. I’m not interested in teaching someone from scratch.”

“How do you know my basics are wrong?” Lena protested.

I glanced at her. “At the third measure of Für Elise,‘ your fingering was off Seventh measure, your rhythm was wrong Eleventh measure, you lost control of the dynamics. Want me to keep going?”

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10:54

Chapter 5

Lena’s face went pale.

I’d only listened once last night, but I remembered every mistake she made.

That’s my talent.