Chapter 87
“What are you doing out here in the cold? Get back inside,” Janie scolded, dragging Spencer toward the house.
Spencer’s expression softened. “I just came out when I saw you arrive. I haven’t been out here long.”
Janic continued to tug him along. “You better not have been!”
Noah trailed behind them.
Jackson emerged from the car, feeling utterly ignored.
Have they forgotten I exist? That Spencer! He charms Janie every single time he shows up!
Jackson rolled his eyes and followed the group inside.
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Inside, Jackson regaled Noah with a dramatic retelling of the day’s events, complete with animated gestures. Noah listened with rapt attention.
Meanwhile, Janie focused on administering acupuncture to Spencer.
Despite the commotion, Spencer remained still, his gaze fixed on Janie’s concentrated expression.
‘She’s so focused, as if this simple acupuncture treatment were some complex procedure, Spencer thought, a plan forming in his mind.
“All done,” Janie announced.
Jackson instantly appeared, holding a bowl of dark, pungent medicine.
“Here you go, Mr. Alvarez, your medicine. Enjoy!” he said, barely concealing his schadenfreude.
Spencer accepted the bowl with his usual calm. “Thank you,” he said before downing the bitter concoction in one gulp, his expression unchanged.
He didn’t even furrow his brow, as though he had just drunk water.
Jackson gaped. ‘Could it be that it only smells bad but doesn’t actually taste bitter?‘
Spencer, long accustomed to such remedies, hardly noticed the bitterness.
With Janie nearby, everything seemed sweet.
Janie offered Spencer a candy, and Spencer naturally opened his mouth…
Jackson felt a pang of envy.
He glanced at Noah, who was grinning foolishly beside him. ‘Isn’t Noah supposed to be the head of the guards? Why does he seem so…simple?‘
Jackson couldn’t stand watching Janie and Spencer’s affectionate display any longer, nor Noah’s goofy grin, and turned to leave for his room.
Passing the medicine stove, he paused, curiosity getting the better of him. He took a sip of the remaining liquid.
The bitterness made him want to jump
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Chapter 87
“Damn, that’s bitter!”
Janie, Spencer, and Noah all turned to look at him.
Jackson felt a blush creep up his neck, but he marched toward Spencer, putting on a brave face.
“You were just pretending it wasn’t bitter so I’d try it, weren’t you?” he accused, his voice lacking conviction.
Noah shot Jackson a sharp look.
“Mr. Moore, that’s absurd.”
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Janie was also speechless, but thankfully the medicine was just a tonic, so even if Jackson drank some, it wouldn’t cause any harm.
Spencer, looking at Jackson, said calmly, “I wasn’t pretending. It really wasn’t bitter. Maybe you just can’t handle it.”
Jackson was rendered speechless.
Noah chuckled.
Janie, looking at Jackson, said with a teasing smile, “Yeah, Jackson, you’re just not cut out for it.”
Jackson, feeling utterly defeated, decided to make a dramatic exit.
Just as he was leaving. Janie suddenly said, “Don’t drink medicine randomly in the future. It’s lucky this time it was just a tonic. Next time, if you drink yourself silly, I won’t care about you!”
Jackson’s eyes lit up. He shot a triumphant look at Spencer. ‘See? Janie still cares about me!‘
Jackson beamed, “Alright, I got it. Goodnight, I’m going to bed!”
“Goodnight, Janie replied.
With Jackson gone, Noah quickly excused himself as well. Without Jackson around, he felt like an eyesore.
“Let’s go, we’ll head into the Space,” Janie said to Spencer.
Spencer nodded obediently.
Janie tilted her head, “Why do I feel like you’re becoming more obedient?”
Spencer’s demeanor was gentle. “Don’t you like it when I’m obedient?”
Janie blushed.
“Let’s go quickly!”
She mumbled, then added softly, “I do.”
A smile played on Spencer’s lips.
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*****
A heavy silence blanketed the Jenkins family.
The video, delivered anonymously, played on a loop, depicting Xena’s shocking behavior. Six faces, etched with disbelief and hurt, stared at the screen.
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Chapter 87
Xena herself seemed frozen, a statue of guilt.
Zion’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “That can’t be Xena,” he thought, his mind reeling. ‘My sister, sure, she can be a bit spoiled, but never cruel
Ryan and Ethan remained silent, processing the revelation.
Frank’s voice boomed, shattering the silence. “Xena! How could you treat Janie like that?”
It dawned on them all–it wasn’t Janie who couldn’t tolerate Xena, but the other way around.
Tears streamed down Xena’s face. “Dad, I… I don’t know what came over me. I was jealous, I envied her, being your Mom’s real daughter. But I never meant to act like that! I… I think I’m cursed! Maybe we should call a master?”
Silence again.
They wanted to believe her, but the evidence was undeniable. They weren’t fools.
Xena sobbed harder. “I was so scared of losing you all! Janie’s your real daughter…”
Her cries grew faint, and then she collapsed dramatically.
Panic erupted.
They rushed to her side, but Kathy’s face had turned an ashen gray.
She clutched her chest, gasping for air.
Ethan’s eyes
“Mom!”
narrowed.
Xena’s faint seemed theatrical, a familiar performance.
But Kathy… Kathy looked genuinely ill.
The family scrambled, calling 911, searching for medication.
Kathy’s breathing grew shallow, her eyes glazed over.
Xena peeked through barely–closed lids, a flicker of fear in her eyes.
She dared not reveal her charade, but resentment simmered at being ignored.
Kathy’s voice was gone, her body struggling.
The family was frantic, Zion openly weeping.
Suddenly, Ryan remembered the pills Janie had given him. He pulled them out, ready to give one to Kathy.
Frank recoiled. “What is that?”
“Dad, there’s no time!” Ryan urged. “Just trust me! It’s from Janie.”
Janie’s name gave Frank pause, but Ethan grabbed his arm. “Give it to Mom!”
With a deep breath, Ryan placed the pill in Kathy’s mouth.
Kathy’s eyes fluttered closed.
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Chapter 87
Terror gripped the room.
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Frank shoved his sons away. “Are you crazy?! Giving her some random pill! What good could possibly come from Janie?”
As if on cue, Kathy’s eyes snapped open. The color returned to her face, the pain vanished.
Janie’s medicine had pulled her back from the brink.
AD
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