In the side hall, Selma had prepared some coffee. Jessica gulped down an entire cup, her throat dry, her stomach growling. She was hungry and thirsty, but she dared not leave her room for fear the people outside would burst in ande for her. Seeing Jessica in such a state, Selma said, "I saw you working diligently just a couple of days ago. How about I make you a bowl of noodles?"


    "Thank you," Jessica murmured softly, her voice thick with tears as she watched Selma leave.


    Her eyes were swollen, and the toll of exhaustion had taken its full effect. She looked like someone utterly defeated, stripped of all dignity.


    "Everything I could give, I gave. I paid my debts," she muttered, her voice t. "I still owe people so much money. I know I don''t deserve any sympathy. I''m no good, but do you really think that as a so-called duchess in Ironridge Estate, I could do anything evil?


    "My mother-inw hates me, my husband doesn''t care for me, and I don''t even have control over the household. When my mom was around, I spent twenty days a month at Harmony Pce. After they took my mom away, the Kingsley family fell apart. I was demoted to amoner, and even in Ironridge Estate, I endured everything that happened there. Even when I was upset, I kept my mouth shut."


    Tears streamed down her face. "I didn''t have anything against that woman who married into the Marquis of Ironridge''s family. I had no say in the matter anyway. Maybe I would''ve cared before, but not now. When Serena came into the family, I hated her. Carissa, I know you think I brought all this on myself, because the one she wanted was Rafael. So yes, it''s karma."


    Jessica wiped her eyes and nose with her sleeve, choking on a sob. "I did hit Serena, but she deserved it. She was vile, using every dirty trick to vie for favor. She''d do anything to get attention, and even my mother-inw knew about it. She punished Serena more than


    once.


    "As for Flora, she never offended me or anything before. After she came into the household, she always behaved herself. She would address and treat me respectfully whenever she saw me. If it weren''t for her, I would''ve pped her mom long ago. Why would I harm her child? Think about my situation there. Why would I bother-"


    Having been listening to her ramble, Violet interrupted, "What did Flora''s mom do to you?"


    Jessica''s eyes red with anger. "That woman is vicious. She stole my royal jelly soup. She said I was like a useless hen who couldn''ty eggs, so I shouldn''t even bother eating it. She said it would be better if her daughter, who was carrying the marquis'' precious heir, ate it. She said as a lowlymoner, I had no right to such luxuries."


    Carissa furrowed her brow. "A concubine''s mom dared to say that about you? Where did you hear this? Could it be that someone was trying to nder her in front of you?"


    "I heard it with my own ears!" Jessica''s voice grew louder, thick with fury. "She said it right to my face. When I yelled at her, she turned around and started packing to leave. Then, my mother-inw and my husband scolded me.


    "How could I defend myself? Should I go to Madam Margaret andin that Flora''s mom called me a hen who can''ty eggs? Even if I did, they wouldn''t believe me. They never believe anything I say."


    Carissa watched as tears welled up in Jessica''s swollen eyes again, as though she were on the verge of breaking downpletely.


    She quickly asked, "What kind ofxative did you give her? How much did you use? Who did you ask to do it?"


    Jessica sniffed. "I told Serena to do it. I don''t know how much she used. I just said that vicious woman should be made to suffer for two full days."


    Violet gaped at her. "You asked


    Serena to do?t? Are you out of your mind? You treated Serena horribly and always made her life miserable. She''s bound to hate you for it, and you still asked her to give someone axative? I don''t even know what to say to you."


    Jessica was vicious and stupid!


    "What do you mean I made her miserable? Since she came into the family, I''ve only hit her three times. After that, figured things were set so I let it go. But sometimes, when she behaved badly in front of me, I''d snap at her-maybe a dozen times? More, maybe. But she got used to it, and even said I was ''teaching'' her when I scolded her."


    Jessica sniffed hard, then stretched out her hand as if to ask for a handkerchief. But when she saw their fine clothes and looked down at the simple, rough fabric of her own outfit, she quickly pulled her hand back.


    "Even though don''t like Serena, this


    has nothing to do with her. It''s a fact that I told her to do it. The reason pushed her into theketer was because she sold me out and revealed I was the one who told her to use thexative." novelbin


    Carissa and Violet exchanged a nce, both unsure of what to say next.