Chapter 8
"I'm not used to eating it."
I refused her, which made Levi actually look at me properly. He probably wanted to see how bold I was to speak like that.
After all, I used to be very obedient.
Jessa put the fruit plate on the table and took out a tissue from her bag to wipe her hands.
I was speechless at this behavior of hers - the water stains had already gotten on her limited edition bag.
"There's nothing going on at the company today; you can go home first."
Levi was telling me to go home?
Did he really think I had been on a business trip? I had taken my suitcase away, and I had taken everything from my drawer.
"I happen to miss Celestia too, can I go back with you?"
Jessa was going back with me - what kind of situation was this?
"Is that okay, Levi?"
She only asked for Levi's opinion, not caring at all about me, the lady of the house. Was she being this obvious?
My brain was about to crash. Jessa, were you so eager to enter my family? And you missed my daughter - did you deserve to?
"Mm, okay."
Levi agreed!
I froze completely. What right did he have?
At this moment, my self-respect felt like it was being trampled under his feet and crushed.
Regarding the rumors about them, Levi offered no explanation, and now he was making me take Jessa home? Outsiders might not know about our relationship, but Jessa knew perfectly well.
What was Levi's logic?
If he wanted to be with Jessa, there was no need to torture me like this. We could have an honest conversation anytime, and I could make room for them at any moment.
But now? It was like I was eating raw meat, and Levi was blatantly forcing Jessa on me, and I couldn't even refuse.
"Let's go. I brought a gift for Celestia. I was going to have Levi give it to her, but now I'll make the trip myself."
Jessa adjusted her bag and came to my side, linking her arm through mine.
God knows how sick I felt at that moment. I didn't want her touching me at all.
I pushed her hand away, barely holding back my discomfort.
"I saw the news. Isn't it inappropriate for me to take her home now?"
Levi frowned, "No need to make a big deal out of it. She's just a violin teacher."
"Levi..."
Jessa wasn't satisfied with that title, but she couldn't be too eager. Marrying into the Morgan family wasn't something to rush.
I could see her displeasure. She did need time to integrate into the Morgan family, and besides, Levi and I were still legally married on paper.
I didn't want to say anything more. Levi had his reasons for everything anyway, and I was going to divorce him anyway, so I should just leave here first.
Bringing up resignation now wasn't the right time - first, Levi wasn't in the mood to talk to me, and second, I suddenly didn't want to let Jessa be happy too soon.
"Blair, wait for me!"
The underground parking garage was very quiet, making Jessa's voice calling me especially loud. I didn't want to spend another second with her. I wanted to leave immediately.
She ran over and grabbed my hand as I was opening the car door.
"Didn't I tell you to wait for me? Did you hear me or not?"
"Let go!"
I had no pleasant face for her. Without Levi here, I didn't need to save any face for her. I was only compromising in front of Levi to make the divorce go more smoothly later.
Jessa rolled her eyes at me, "Blair, I'm riding in your car."
"That bit of gas money isn't even as expensive as those cherries. My car doesn't match your status. Please move your hand." I was holding on to my last bit of patience with her.
"If we go back together, it's good for Celestia too. When Levi and I get married, she'll accept me more easily. Don't worry, if you behave well, I'll be a good stepmother." Jessa finally showed her true colors.
I turned around, "Jessa, if you don't mention my daughter, I can still give you some face."
"Blair, you giving me face?" Jessa mocked, "Do I need you to boost me up? I'm just giving you advance notice so you can be mentally prepared."
"Where does your confidence come from?"
Jessa looked proud, "From Levi!"
Yes, with just one word - "Levi" - I instantly deflated. If it weren't for Levi's tacit approval, how would she dare to so blatantly want to be Celestia's stepmother?
"Do you think Levi likes someone like you?" Jessa poked my chest, "Blair, Levi has always liked someone like me from the beginning."
"Look at yourself, dressed so frumpy, all you know is to make Celestia read and study. Do you know what Celestia says? She says you're boring."
Jessa continued to provoke me, "Celestia likes me too. We've been getting along great lately. She follows me around like a little shadow, almost calling me mom."
"Shut up!"
I really couldn't listen anymore. I had imagined such scenes before, but hearing it from her mouth really made me unable to breathe.
"I'm going to say it!"
Jessa took out her phone from her bag and showed me photos of her and Celestia. In every one, Celestia was smiling beautifully, and there were also photos with Levi...
They were taken on Levi's birthday night. Jessa was dressed casually, Levi was holding a cherry cake, with a smile on his face...
"See? Levi is only happy when he's with me, and Celestia will accept me, too."
I smiled bitterly, "So what?"
"So divorce him as soon as possible!"
I hadn't expected Jessa to be so impatient. She was pressuring me to divorce Levi so she could replace me as Celestia's mother.
What a well-calculated plan. She wasn't even pretending anymore.
"Blair, don't even think about what's mine. Last time you snatched Levi away because I let my guard down. This time I'm determined to win."
"Levi is a thing?"
I found her quite ridiculous. At least I had never treated Levi as an object. Even though he had no warmth toward me, I hadn't objectified him.
"Levi will be my husband!" Jessa's expression changed, "Blair, you're just like your mother. Don't dream that Levi will continue living with you!"
"Jessa, watch your mouth!" I couldn't tolerate her insulting my mother.
But she kept going.
"Blair, give up now and save us the trouble of dealing with you. Leave the Morgan family quietly, and I promise to treat your daughter well."
As Jessa spoke, she came to poke my forehead again. I instinctively pushed her hand away, but unexpectedly, she fell to the ground as if she were fragile.
"Blair, you've gone too far. Levi, I just said I wanted to ride in her car and she wouldn't let me, why did she have to hit me..."
I turned around and met Levi's dark face.
I understood instantly - Jessa's acting skills deserved an Oscar.
"I didn't."
My quiet defense melted into Levi's tenderness. He gently helped Jessa up and thoughtfully smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress.
"Levi, I'd better not disturb you two. I'll visit Celestia another day."
Levi didn't even glance at me and walked toward his car with her.
"Ride in my car."
His voice echoed in my ears. I was breaking down...