Chapter 26
I thought that after this incident, Jessa would finally back off.
When I finished my work and was about to take a lunch break, Celestia suddenly called me.
"Hello, Celestia, did you eat lunch properly?"
"Mom, I'm with Auntie Jessa right now."
My heart instantly jumped to my throat. What was Jessa up to now...
"Mom, Auntie Jessa says she wants to talk to you about something. Are you free now? We're at the pizza place near your office."
How could the family just let Jessa take my daughter out like this? Did she get Levi's permission?
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Celestia was so innocent. She really thought of Jessa as a good person, both a teacher and a friend.
I ran into Nola on my way out. She asked where I was going, but I didn't have time to explain. I just told her to have lunch on her own.
Those two had gotten into a physical fight a few days ago. I couldn't let Nola stand up for me again.
The pizza place was playing soothing music. When Celestia saw me arrive, she ran over happily.
"Mom, come quick! We saved you some stinky durian pizza!" Celestia said while giggling.
There were quite a few people there. I looked around, and to avoid disturbing other diners, I kept my attitude toward Jessa relatively mild.
"Blair, come eat!"
Inside, I was seething with anger, but seeing Celestia unharmed, I let my guard down a bit.
Jessa got straight to the point. "You and Nola are close. Everything between us has just been misunderstandings. Talk to her again about the collaboration."
"I've already made myself clear."
I was fixing Celestia's hair, not wanting to hear another word of her nonsense.
"Mom, just help Auntie Jessa. You and Auntie Nola are so close anyway. If you ask, Auntie Nola definitely won't refuse."
"Celestia, who taught you to say that?"
My tone was a bit harsh, which startled Celestia.
Celestia looked at me with hurt in her eyes. "Auntie Jessa said if I..."
"Celestia, I'm sorry, I didn't think this through. Since your mom doesn't want to help me, let's just forget it. Don't be sad, okay?"
Using my daughter to threaten me?
Jessa was trying to teach my daughter to pressure me into agreeing to the collaboration...
"I'm saying this for the last time - don't even think about it!"
I grabbed Celestia's hand, ready to leave.
But Jessa wouldn't let it go and followed us. "Blair, for Celestia's sake, please agree. This is such a small thing for you. Sisters are supposed to help each other..."
Was she trying to make bystanders think I was cold-hearted?
"Mom, slow down, Celestia can't keep up."
I was walking ahead on my own, forgetting about Celestia's little steps. I slowed down a bit, but that gave Jessa an opening.
She grabbed Celestia away from me!
"Mom, ah, my arm..." Celestia cried out in pain.
Jessa instinctively let go, and Celestia fell to the ground.
"Celestia!"
I crouched down to help my daughter, looking up and glaring at Jessa. "You've gone too far! Celestia's wrist is still recovering. If you have a problem, come at me - why are you touching my daughter!"
"I, I didn't mean to. I just wanted to talk to you. I didn't expect..."
Jessa came over to help Celestia, but I pushed her away.
"Don't touch Celestia!"
Celestia had probably never seen me lose control like this. She burst into tears.
"Mom, Celestia's hand hurts..."
I was furious, but the most important thing right now was to get the child to the hospital.
"Don't be scared, Mom will take you to the hospital right now."
I tried my best to comfort the child, hoping she could be strong.
"Mom, call Dad quick. Celestia wants Dad. Can Dad come with me to the hospital?" Celestia sobbed.
"Okay, okay..." I panicked. I opened my phone to call Nola and have her bring the car around.
When Jessa heard I was about to call Levi, she suddenly snatched my phone away.
"I'll go to the hospital with you. Your dad is very busy. I feel terrible about this. Let me make it up to you, okay?"
"Give it back!"
I was going crazy. Jessa was like a plague, always disrupting my life.
"I'll take you to the hospital. My car is nearby. I'll have my assistant bring it over." Jessa probably knew she'd messed up and wanted to make amends.
"Are you out of your mind? Give me my phone..."
Just as we were at a standoff, Elliot suddenly appeared...
"Miss Greer, taking someone's phone isn't appropriate, is it?"
Elliot looked at Jessa gently. "Give her back her phone. I'll take the child to the hospital right now."
"Who are you? Mind your own business."
Jessa knew she was in the wrong but kept acting tough.
"Who I am doesn't matter. The facts are right in front of you. Don't delay the child's examination, or the consequences could be serious." Elliot was warning her.
"Fine, here's your stupid phone."
Jessa threw the phone on the ground. I didn't have time to argue with her anymore.
Elliot picked up Celestia. "Take my car."
His driver had already brought the car over. Both Jessa and I followed behind.
"Blair, I sincerely wanted to talk to you, but you refused. Now look, Celestia got hurt by accident."
I took a deep breath. I was afraid I'd lose control and punch her.
"I'm warning you - if you touch Celestia again, I will never let you off!"
Jessa laughed at me without restraint. "What can you do against me? You believe me or not, Levi will only think you didn't take good care of Celestia."
"Miss Greer, show some mercy when you can."
Elliot placed Celestia in the seat, then turned around and gestured for me to get in first. Thank goodness he showed up, or Jessa would still be harassing us.
"Who are you to her? Are you keeping a man behind Levi's back?"
"You..."
"Miss Greer, if we talk nicely, we can work things out. As for jewelry sponsorship, my company can provide it."
Elliot was going to sponsor Jessa?
"Oh?"
Jessa perked up with interest.
"Blair, see that? Plenty of people are willing to sponsor me. Regret it now? We offered you free advertising, and you didn't want it."
Elliot instructed the driver, "Take them to the hospital first, then come back for me."
Jessa was about to get in the car, but Elliot blocked her and closed the door.
"Miss Greer, let's talk."
"I need to go to the hospital too. Don't stop me. We can talk later!" Jessa looked around anxiously. "Why isn't the car here yet!"
I watched them get farther and farther away through the window, feeling empty inside.
Then suddenly, I remembered Celestia's hand, and heartache washed over me.
"Celestia, when you went out with her, did your dad know?"
"I called Dad. Auntie Jessa said she'd take me to practice piano, and he agreed."
Did Levi trust Jessa that much? He dared to let Jessa take the child out alone...
And with all the gossip going around, by allowing them to be together, was he trying to tell everyone that Jessa would become Celestia's stepmother?