Chapter 13
To keep others from hurting me, Aiden specifically arranged bodyguards to watch over me at the door.
Also, Mrs. Rhea Morgan sent her most trusted person to take care of me.
This way, I could rest and recover in peace.
After some observation and two follow-up exams, the doctor said I could go home to recuperate.
On the day I went home, Levi didn't come to pick me up.
I've been thinking a lot lately, and many things have gradually become clearer. Aiden protected me with all his heart, and to give me a stable life, he forcefully pushed me onto Levi.
Levi wanted someone he truly liked.
But my true feelings couldn't get me the so-called stable life. One thing after another, I felt very uneasy inside.
I was afraid that the next time Jessa and I had another argument, Levi would still believe her.
The roses in the yard were blooming beautifully. Celestia came to call me for dinner and pushed me back.
"Mom, I made tonight's soup. You have to try it - it's my special dish made with love."
"You cooked?"
I never let Celestia in the kitchen. I always felt she was too young, and I'd be heartbroken if she got burned.
"Yeah, I wanted to surprise you and take better care of you."
My daughter had suddenly grown up so much.
"Blair, come eat."
Jessa's enthusiasm instantly killed my joy. When did she get here? Why did she suddenly change how she addresses me?
Levi had no expression on his face and had already started eating.
I suddenly felt sick and didn't want to eat anymore.
"Mom, Auntie Jessa is having dinner at our house. We should treat her well, right?" Celestia pushed me to the table.
She pouted and said, "Dad, you didn't wait for Mom again."
My daughter was on my side and caring about me - this was the first time she blamed Levi.
Levi's mouth twitched, but he didn't say anything.
"It was all my fault that day for being careless. I insisted on catching up with Blair, and when Blair slipped, she grabbed me to steady herself. It's also my fault for being too weak - we both fell down."
Jessa put on an act.
"Levi, make Blair forgive me. I get scared when she doesn't talk. Even when we were little, she didn't like me and was always mad at me."
I guess Levi already knew about my relationship with the Greer family, but he had never asked about my past.
Jessa enjoyed the life that should have been mine. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had the chance to go to school with Levi, and then she wouldn't have met him.
"She's fine."
Levi actually forgave her on my behalf!
"Then let's eat." Jessa smiled happily.
Celestia pushed the bowl forward. "Auntie Jessa, try it. It smells really good."
"Thank you, Celestia."
Jessa tapped Celestia's nose, which really bothered me.
I didn't want her to make any affectionate gestures toward my daughter.
I had no appetite and just ate some vegetables.
Celestia gave me a piece of meat. "Mom, the doctor said you need nutrition. Don't worry about getting fat - eat more."
"Okay, good."
This made Jessa a bit jealous. I remember when she first came to the Greer family, she kept asking for meat every day, and the really greasy, fatty kind too.
"Auntie Jessa, I'm so happy you're having dinner at our house. I've been practicing a piece recently - will you listen to it later?"
Celestia's enthusiasm didn't fade. She genuinely treated her as a teacher.
Jessa grinned. "Sure, sure. We'll listen with your dad."
That comment was meant for me. Just now she was trying to avoid suspicion, and now it's "we" again.
Celestia urged, "Then eat up, eat up."
"Okay, okay."
Jessa ate heartily, deliberately acting cute and silly to make Celestia happy, drinking almost half a bowl of soup in one gulp.
Levi had a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. In his eyes, Jessa must be adorable.
"Blair, this soup is really good. Try it." Jessa urged me to drink it.
"Right, right, Mom, try it. I made it myself." Celestia also wanted me to taste what she'd made.
In a daze, I saw Jessa examining the pattern on the bowl - just for a brief moment. I thought maybe it was because the Greer family didn't have such fine tableware.
I took a spoonful and tasted it. It was actually pretty good.
I gave Celestia a thumbs up, and she almost jumped with excitement.
"Dad, Mom says it's good. Try it, try it."
With my approval, Celestia felt confident. She really wanted Levi's opinion - this was her first time cooking, and she wanted his praise.
Levi didn't disappoint and took a taste.
"Levi, it's really good, right?" Jessa's eyes were full of love for Levi.
"Yeah."
Levi was still a man of few words. Maybe when I was around, he just didn't like to talk much.
That day outside the office, I heard him laughing and chatting with Jessa.
"Blair, drink more."
"Don't be so familiar."
I said to her seriously, "I have nothing to do with the Greer family anymore. We're not that close."
I saw that Levi was clearly unhappy with me, but I didn't care.
Jessa looked awkwardly at Levi. "Okay then."
After a while, Jessa's sudden scream broke the dull atmosphere at the table.
"Oh no, my stomach..."
Levi looked worried. "What's wrong?"
Jessa curled up, clutching her stomach. "My stomach hurts so bad."
"Did you eat something bad?" Indigo rushed over.
"It hurts so much... I don't know..." Jessa was in so much pain that she almost rolled on the floor.
I instinctively tried to stand up, but suddenly touched my wound and slumped back down.
"Everyone ate the same food; it should be fine." I tried to calm Indigo down. She looked very nervous.
Levi supported Jessa. "Feeling any better?"
"Maybe Auntie Jessa ate too much. One time I ate too much, and my stomach hurt."
Celestia picked up her bowl. "Since it was Auntie's first time eating at our house, I was afraid she'd be hungry, so I switched her bowl with Mom's bigger portion."
Hearing this, Jessa instantly went limp, but suddenly she used all her strength to grab the bowl from Celestia's hand. Seeing there wasn't much left in the bowl, she put it back on the table.
There must be something wrong with that bowl.
Levi picked her up. "Let's go to the hospital."
He had never been this worried about me, but I was used to it.
Indigo anxiously cleared the dishes. I sent Celestia away, then took the bowl Jessa had used when Indigo wasn't paying attention.
"I'm going out for some air."
"Mrs. Morgan, wait for me. I'll push you out after I finish cleaning up."
"I can do it myself."
I quickly went out and placed the bowl in front of the dog house. The dog must have been very hungry - it quickly licked the bowl completely clean.
Soon, I saw the dog start to convulse...
When the dog finally stopped struggling, I could barely breathe...
If Celestia hadn't been hospitable and switched my bowl with Jessa's, if Jessa hadn't been so busy talking to Levi that she didn't notice the bowls were switched, then I would have ended up like that dog...
She tried to poison me again!