Chapter 8
Janie’s words made Zion livad. He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Did you hear that? What kind of nonsense is she spouting? She’s actually defending that sickly wimp! And she has the nerve to say I deserve it!”
As his voice rang out, Janie’s gaze turned ice–cold.
“11) admit I made mistakes in the past. I didn’t teach you properly, and I can understand why you’ve fallen short in some aspects” said Kathy. frowning at Janic. “That from now on. I’ll make sure to guide you better, Janir”
Zion shot Janie a gloating look hearing Kathy’s words, while Xena, visibly flustered, jumped in, “Please don’t blame her! I know it’s all my fault.”
Zion’s brows furrowed, his irritation bubbling to the surface. “Xena, quit blaming yourself! This has nothing to do with your
“Oh yes! And what exactly have I done wrong?” Janie chuckled dryly. “What makes you think I wasn’t raised properly
Zion sneered, Tor starters, just the fact that you’ve been sniffing around that sickly Alvarez guy shows you’ve got no class.
The room fell silent. Clearly, the others agreed with him.
“So you really don’t understand human language, do you?” Janie’s voice dropped a degree. “All I did was taking a look at his aura. There was no impropriety. So how, pray tell, does that count as flirting?”
Zion was fuming. “You’re babbling about that weird aura thing
aura thing again?”
Janie didn’t explain further but showed a sharp, mocking smile. “Tell me, how are you any different from those sleazy creeps who spread vile rumors about women“”
Zion was utterly pissed. “How dare you compare me to them!”
step. He didn’t mean to accuse
Xena’s voice came in soft and timid. “Calm down, Janie. Zion’s just worried about you. He’s afraid you’ll take a wrong step. you unfairly
Janie almost laughed. “And there it is. You play the same card every time. The second you open your mouth, your brainless brother Zion feels sorry for you. It only makes him more convinced you’re the perfect sister while I’m nothing but a villain”
Zion’s anger skyrocketed “Who are you calling brainless?”
“Enough“” Kathy couldn’t bear the chaos any longer. Her disappointment was written all over her face as she looked at Janic. “I thought that since you were separated from us for so many years and weren’t properly raised, I should cut you some slack. But you’re just too much“”
Xena tugged gently on her sleeve. Kathy softened, patting Xena’s hand affectionately before turning back to Janie with a stern face,
“Listen, Janie, now that you’re back, you’ll have every opportunity to broaden your horizons and get the kind of education you’ve been missing” She said. “It’s all for your own good. Xena genuinely sees you as her sister. You don’t need to treat her like the enemy.”
Janie’s expression didn’t waver. Kathy frowned, but continued, “And as for Spencer Alvarez, his health is far too fragile. He’s not a good you. Don’t let his looks fool you. Not to mention their behavior today was anything but well–mannered”
She said it all with what she likely thought was motherly patience. Janje’s eyes flickered briefly, but her gaze quickly turned frigid.
match for
“I don’t think so, they’re very well–mannered” said Janie, “Mrs. Jenkins, is it because your children lack proper upbringing that you feel the need to judge others“.
Kathy was stunned by shock, “How dare you say that
“They’ve done nothing wrong” Janie felt bad for lening those who had treated her kindly be slanderest. “They were only helping me–the one you seem to despise
Kally stumbled over her words, clearly caught off guard. “That’s pot…
The rest of the Jenkins exchanged uneasy glances, their brows slightly furrowed.
“Alright, rough of this, Frank said, his tour solter as he glanced at Janie. “Jante, your mother’s just looking out for you. Don’t hold a grudge. Let’s just focus on getting along as a family from now on.
Kathy, realizing she had been to harsh, allowed h
her expression to soften.
Sensing an opening, Xena stood up and walked toward Jande with a smile. “That’s right jande, let’s make an effort to get along, alright”
But her smile froze–Janie sidestepped her approach without hesitation.
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Chapter 8
Kathy’s disappointment only deepened. “Are you intentionally trying to go up against us?”
Janie let out a sarcastic laugh “Mrs. Jenkins, your ability to spin this narrative is almost impressive
Her voice grew sharper as Kathy hesitated. “Who’s really the hostile one here? You have an impressive talent for selective blindness. Zion’s nasty attitude? You completely ignore it. Nenas exaggerations? Somehow, those just slip past you too.”
Kathy froze, her lips twitching as if to reply, but Janie continued, “And guess what? The moment I push back, it’s blown out of proportion. You’ve got the nerve to act all self–righteous, completely blind to your own double standards. It’s honestly impressive,”
Xena turned pale. “Janic, L
“Stop saying my name like that,” Janie interrupted, her tone sharp. “Do you honestly think you deserve to be called my family?”
Xena’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I know you hate me. T’in not even a real Jenkins. I should’ve left a long time ago. It’s my fault for not being able to let go of my family. I shouldn’t have stayed:
The Jenkins rallied around her, feeling for her. Kathy pulled Xena into a hug, her voice warm and reassuring. “My poor Xena” You’ll always be my daughter.
Jane stood there, watched the scene unfold and smiled faintly. “What a touching display of mother–daughter love. Truly a sight to behold
Frank, his patience wearing thin, snapped. “Janie, why are you always being so sarcastic?”
Jame chuckled dryty. So they did know how to tell sarcasm after all.
“It’s not Xena who should leave, Zion suddenly blurted out, “It’s Janie!”
Janie turned to him.raising an eyebrow,
You
Zion sneered, “Are you trying to play dumb?”
mean the Janie right in front of you now?”
The others, aside from Xena, visibly tensed. Even they thought he’d gone too far. But Janie remained unruffled. “You know what! You’re absolutely right. That’s exactly what I was thinking”
The room fell silent, everyone caught off guard. But Janie continued, almost to herself, “I never should’ve come here. I’ve disrupted your family’s peace and made everyone uncomfortable. I truly feel regret for that. But honestly, you haven’t treated me any better, so I don’t owe you an apology
Xena, nestled in Kathy’s arms, couldn’t hide a fleeting smirk while others fell silent. Maybe this is it! Let everything go back to square one she thought
moment, frowning. “Janie, that’s not what we
© Ethan stepped in at
at that mo
“Then what do you mean?” Janie stared blankly, her expression unreadable, “Are you seriously telling me you can’t even express yourselves clearly! Is that too much to ask?”
The Jenkins had no response until Frank chimed in, “What’s with this attitude? What kind of talk is that?
Xena merkly paped up, “Jane, you really shouldn’t talk to Mom and Dad like that “
Janie shot her a cold look “Who are you in lecture me? If you’ve got so much time to waste, why don’t you go reunite with your real mom and talk her into turning herself in That sounds mote productive than trying to tell me how to behave.”
The Jenkins went pale, and Xena, feeling cornered, put on a wounded, guilty look. Linley Carter was a sensitive subject for them–one they would
Jever wand the truth about to come in light
Frank sighed heavily and spoke slowly. “We just want you to do well, that’s all.”
Janie chuckled, the stand almost mocking “And what makes you think I’m not doing well?”
the found it genumely funny. Sure, life had been a struggle, but she knew was doing her best, working hard, always aiming higher. She didn’t
vas lacking in any way.
The room grew quiet as Frank fell silent, unable to respond
“I’ll admit, I didnot get the kind of fancy education you all received, and yes, things were harder with Lindsey” Janie’s voice was matter–of–fact
you
know what I’ve put
han most. My grades are fine, my character is solisl, and I’ve never done anything wrong. So tell i how exactly.am (being ill–mannered? What’s so wrong will how Eni leaning?”
Xena, sensing the situation spiraling, hurried to intervene. “Actually, Jante hasn’t done anything wrong. She has every right to hate me. Zion, you
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12.09 PM c
Chapter S
should stop picking on her all the time.
Zion shook his head in frustration. “You’re just too kind–heartedl“:
Nena lowered her head in guilt. Tve wronged her, I know.”
Watching the drama unfold, Janie couldn’t help but scoff. Just because you two are close doesn’t mean you can toss around the word kind–hearted. Has she done anything out of kindness! It’s true that when it comes to foolishness and malice, you two are siblings after all.
Zion and Xena froze, processing her words
Xena burst into tears, while Zion was on the verge of exploding. “How dare you say that?”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Jamie said, feeling a surge of relief after speaking her mind. “I’ll say it again—no insults, just an honest assessment.”
But Zion, his face turning red with rage, struggled to find words. His teeth clenched, and he spat out, “You really have no manners!”
Janie smirked, Tm way more polite than you could ever dream of
Zion leaped up, furiously pointing a finger at her. “You-!”
But Janie smoothly dodged his finger. His hand trembled in the air, making him look foolish
Frank and Kathy looked completely drained in the chaos, sharing the same thought. Their family had been so harmonious before, so why did everything change when Janie came into the picture? Why did their children have to be at each other’s throats
Ryan and Ethan exchanged worried glances, also stressed. Frank, already overwhelmed by work, was now at his wit’s end. He tried to remain calm.
Enough, you’re siblings,” he sighed, exasperated. “Why does it always have to be like this? Just apologize to each other, shake hands, and let’s try to get along from now on.”
“Exactly. We want peace in this house, Kathy added. “Your father and I just want you all to get along”
But Zion crossed his arms, clearly unwilling. “I’m not doing it! Who wants to be her sibling?”
Janie shrugged with a bored smile. “Well, if you don’t want to, I certainly don’t either. I wouldn’t want you as a piece of garbage, let alone my blood” Zion’s face went purple with rage. With Janie, he could never catch break, and he was about to lose it completely.
Janie yelled Frank, “What’s with this ‘garbage comment? Show some respect!”
Kathy’s disappointment was palpable, her eyes shimmering with hurt, Xena immediately rushed to her side, wrapping her arms around her in a comforting embrace.
But Janie, standing off to the side, watched the scene unfold with an icy i indifference.
“If you hate our family so much, Zion suddenly broke the silence, “Then just leave! Why bother sticking around?”
