Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 23: Can | trust you?

~Earlier~

Despite the cold welcthey received as they arrived the Brown family, Jessica never thought that anything

would go wrong or that her hcoming might be another ploy set by her sister but Risa’s confident smirk

made her think and recall.

After her mother’s death, her stay in the Brown becpainful and sorrowful. It was a nightmare that she would

never ask to revisit. She had grown under the meticulous care of her mother and never experienced the

hardheartedness of man.

George who is her father never regarded as his daughter. Whenever a report is presented to him, he will find a

reason to blame. "Don’t be unreasonable Jessica, she is your younger sister", his tone cold and devoid of any

emotion.

With no one to support her she was being plotted against at all tby Risa.

At first, she was wondering how her father will never believe her even when she is telling the truth but for Risa a

little tear will make her the wronged one and despite her feigned tears she will smirk and challenge Jessica,

sometimes she will taunt her and if she retorts she will be beaten as though she is a criminal.

With no one to back her up, she will retire to her room in tears, as tgoes on that confident taunt and smirk

becetched in her mind and had beca warning light for Risa’s action or planned action. It can be said to

be the attitude of her knowing her enemy well. She will be a fool if the smethod is to be used against her

again and again.

But today is a different case, Davis Allen is with her and she must protect him and not let him suffer from Risa’s

plot. Observing Risa’s confident smirk and her subtle glance at Davis she decided to find out the medicine she is

selling in her gourd. With the excuse of going to her room to pick something she proceeded to investigate and

luck was on her side that she didn’t search much.

As soon as she stepped into the hallway she saw a maid coming out of Risa’s bedroom clutching a nylon bag in

her hand. Her steps flattering and her hands trembling as her eyes darted around the hallway making sure no

one is in sight. She was nervous— a point that sold her out to Jessica. On seeing Jessica she flinched in shock but

quickly masked her fear taking a bold step to bypass Jessica, who abruptly pulled her into her room without

warning and the door shut with a thud.

The maid looked at her with fear, small beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, her hand trembling as she

clutched the nylon tightly as though her life was dependent on it. Jessica gazed intently at Marina — the maid

coldly sending shivers down her spine. Seeing the girl her age trembling incessantly at her voice Jessica

wondered the kind of eyesight Risa had in picking people to work for her.

Marina felt her heartbeat accelerate to the point that she might pass out, she did not expect the task to be this

difficult, looking at Jessica's cold face she made a mental note of going to thank God should she escape from her

while she reveled in her predicament, Jessica's voice rang in her ears and she stiffened.

"Tellwhat you are doing in Risa’s room?" Jessica questioned coldly, her eyes blazing a stark contrast to the

harmless, obedient and simple girl that had left the Brown family few days ago after being called back from the

Countryside.

Marina shook her head repeatedly, she wouldn't dare admit whatever it was she is asking. She dare not reveal

the truth. "Ma-ri-na--" Jessica called tentatively. Marina's eye widened in shock, her heart skipped a beat. "No,

she didn’t know my name, it’s just a guess, it's just a guess", she murmured to herself.

"Are you planning on signing off your life to Risa and after use she will keep you under her thumb coercing you

into doing things more dangerous than this or possibly discard you like spiece of rag?" Jessica questioned, a

tinge of amusement in her tone while her eyes shone with mischief.

The question dropped like a bomb, shattering her resolve. Marina felt conflicted and confused on what to do, she

had witnessed Risa’s heartless and wicked nature. She had over heard her talk about Jessica and her plans to

destroy her. She couldn't help but doubt her own existence... May be it is better to accept Jessica's advice and

tell her the truth. But—the consequences of her actions she will not dare to imagine. Though with the face of an

angel, Risa is more heartless than a cat playing with a dying mouse.

Jessica observed her face changing with unspoken expressions. She got up from the bed and made for the door,

as her hand touched the knob, Marina’s voice halted her "I will tell you but | might lose my life?" She quivered.

Jessica smiled gently, she understood the maid's plight. Dealing with Risa is already exhausting for her let alone

a maid that has her family as weakness. "Why do you think you will lose your life?" Jessica chimed.

"She is dangerous and not to be trifled with and you also have to be careful of her", she answered. Marina don’t

care what Jessica might think of her- she only want her alive so as to protect her from Risa’s fury and revenge.

Jessica looked at her briefly, her brow raised "why do you agree to her demands when you know they were

wrong?".

Marina sighed helplessly "It’s a long story but my mother is in dire need of a medical surgery and no one to

support while the money | have been earning are going to the hospital but then Risa cforward and promised

to take care of it." She narrated sadly.

At the initial stage, She felt it was a prayer answered, may be or just may be that Risa wanted to help her out of

good will but her illusions were shattered when she made her request known. Marina felt like a fish taken out of

the water - it was too late to retract her step.

"What exactly did she want you to do?" Jessica asked with a frown settling on her face. She still finds it baffling

that after marrying in her stead, she is still unhappy and is still plotting against her.

"Letadd this to the drink | will serve Mr. Allen", Marina said stretching out the package in her hand. Jessica

took the content and sniffed it, her face twisted in anger, her hands clenched and eyes blazing with anger.

Seeing her reactions, Marina confirmed her suspicion "Is it deadly?" Her voice trembled. Jessica couldn't bring

herself to say the details but glancing at Marina "did she tell you the effects of this?" She asked with doubt.

Marina shook her head frantically. Jessica nodded "that’s more like it", she muttered.

I" : n :

Marina, can | trust you?" Jessica

asked with all seriousness making

Marina startled, she has expected her

telling Mr. Allen or aghe dealing!

feng es breathe as

she studied the lady Jessica, she is

quiet different from Risa- simple and

refined. It seems to be more

profitable to stand with her in this

battle of the titans- she must make

this one decision. She nodded her

[1 [1 f

head "You can trust me", she said.

Jessica nodded lightly. Marina might have agreed with Risa’s plot but she was a good girl- a conviction she had

as she watched her tremble at the weight of the ridiculous plot Risa placed on her. "Don’t bother about what my

sister will do. I will take care of that."

Marina nodded, it was as though a large boulder had been taken off her shoulders. She sighed in relief but she

couldn't help but worry "What will happen when she didn’t see the result she expected, don’t you think she will

cafter me", she queried.

Jessica smiled at the analysis; that

proves she is not at all useless. She

closed her eyes briefly and when she

opened them adam Ws Gyered

7

with frost Marina flinched, she was

a] q q

afraid. "Marina, Just proceed with her

plans. | will receive the drink from you

in the living room only what you have

to do is to tellthe cup containing

cn 0 2

the tampered drink", Jessica said

icily. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Marina nodded lightly sighing in relief

that the plan will still proceed. She

looked at Jessica FY LRetgu

H H n

pepieadeey fer'worries "When you

are done, leave the premises to

somewhere else. Someone will

contact you for your safety and your

, lal :

mother’s bills" she said. The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

In a one fluid motion, she opened her wardrobe and picked out the old worn toy and made her way downstairs.

Marina clutched her chest in relief and after gathering herself, she left the room.

~Back to Present~

Jessica's question left everyone stunned, how can one person be poisoned when they all had the sdrink?