Piper’s POV
My heart skipped a beat at the sight of Megan standing near the sofa. Her sharp eyes and body language like a soldier ready for battle made me uncomfortable. Somehow, I felt like I was the one at fault. Fortunately, they’re not bound by marriage. If they were, then I was in the wrong, and that meant I was the one who had taken Jay away from Megan.
“Yes, let’s talk things through. Piper, sit here,” Jay said. He asked me to sit next to him.
“Tsk, a few days together have made both of you look like envelopes and stamps. It’s ridiculous,” Megan said.
“Sit down, Megan. Let’s talk about this as adults,” Jay pleaded. She complied.
“Megan, there has been no relationship between us from the beginning. I let you stay here solely for Jessie’s sake because I thought you were her biological mother. However, all the facts have come out now. I will not dispute the past to maintain a good relationship between us. However, I expect you to leave this mansion and live a new life and let me, Piper, and our two children live our new lives. However, you will not leave empty-handed. I will compensate you with a large sum of money and an apartment in the center of Valdirra City and consider all of this to be our thanks to you. I hope you’ll accept it,” Jay replied as he touched my hand.
Jay and I looked at each other. None of this was easy. The relationship between us three adults was complicated. Megan was still silent and had said nothing. Megan’s silence made my heart beat faster until I could hear my heartbeat.
“Megan, please say something,” Jay pleaded.
I saw Nick standing behind Megan, while Ken stood near the kitchen with the other two maids. They were whispering to each other. Maybe they were gossiping about us or my sudden entry into the family.
A surprising thing happened. Megan said nothing, but she laughed loudly. Very loud. I didn’t know which part of Jay’s words she found funny. And her laughter gave me goosebumps.
Jay and I looked at her in surprise. We stayed silent and waited for her response. A few minutes later, she stopped laughing, then let out a long breath. In her arrogant way, she then said, “You’re too much, Jay. What did you think of me all this time? We made love many times and spent the night together. Do you think of me as a whore? You can get rid of me once you get bored. Tell me!”
“You misunderstand, Megan. Don’t you know that there is no love between us? I refused your invitation to make love repeatedly, but you insisted. And it all happened with our conscious consent, without coercion. We are adults and we know the risks of our actions. I hope you understand. So, do you accept my offer?” Jay asked.
“Accept your offer? And leave everything to my stupid cousin? Never! Besides, my position here is innocent. I’ve always been loyal to you, and I was forced to do all that to Piper seven years ago,” she replied innocently.
“Loyal? Nick, give her all the evidence,” Jay said.
Nick put a bunch of photos and files on the table. A picture of Megan making love to Ethan on top of a car. So, my guess was right, they had been in a relationship since that incident.
“Jay, you’re spying on me. You’re mentally ill!” Megan exclaimed.
“I just wanted to get to know you better. Now, do you know what the word ‘loyal’ means?” Jay asked. Megan turned her face the other way and didn’t answer.
“I also have an array of evidence of what you did to Piper and my two children. Confess and I won’t sue you,” Jay said. Megan remained silent and refused to admit, and even remained arrogant. I couldn’t hold my temper any longer.
“One more thing. Forced? How can you say all that so easily? You’ve ruined my life and my mom’s life. And until now, Grandma never wants to see me. Where is your guilt?” I exclaimed in a lofty tone of voice. Her defense annoyed me. She said it as if it was all a small thing with little impact. For seven years, I lived in misery with Mom and Jensen, while she lived in luxury.
“Because I envy you, Piper. You have everything. Beauty, care, affection, intelligence. In fact, at the time grandma was planning to leave all of her wealth to you. Grandma never considered my existence. In her eyes, there was only you. And I never felt guilty for you. You should be the one thanking me for finally getting together with Jay, the number one rich guy in Valdirra. Everything happened because of my interference,” she replied with a big smile.
She was so annoying!
“You’re so mean! I don’t have a cousin like you,” I exclaimed.
“Whatever you say, I will neither confess nor deny. Deduce it yourself,” she said.
“Tsk. You’re so shameless. Is your heart made of stone? Oh, I am wrong, you’re far more evil than a demon,” I demanded with an outburst of emotion that I could no longer contain.
“You bastard! I need to beat you up so you know how to say nice things,” Megan said.
And she rushed toward me, grabbed my arm, and then grabbed my hair forcefully. I screamed as loud as I could. Jay and Nick tried to help me and separate us, but Megan’s strength was too much.
I screamed in pain while Megan laughed loudly.
“I’m going to take the hair off your head. I hate you, Piper,” Megan exclaimed.
I couldn’t get a word in edge-wise. All I could do was scream and try to get away from her, but her grip was too strong.
Moments later, I heard a slapping sound, and Megan released her hand from my hair. I looked up and saw a red bruise on her cheek and Jay was in front of her staring intently at Megan, and vice versa.
I guess things were getting complicated.
“You dare to slap me? What did I do wrong, Jay? Tell me!” Megan exclaimed to Jay.
“You never realize your mistakes. All the evidence I gave you earlier have shown everything. Is it still not enough? I saw the scene on the beach with my own eyes and Nick heard the testimony of the people you paid to hurt Piper and our kids. Is it not enough?” Jay asked, with eyes flashing like flames. He was trying hard to contain his emotions.
Megan didn’t argue or admit her guilt. She laughed loudly, so loudly that I shuddered with fear. Was she the Megan I had been close to as a child?