Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Lena furrowed her brows, sprawled across the bed, eyeing Josefina with the wary watchfulness of a person facing an adversary.

Josefina held a silver needle in her hand, watching Lena with a smile. "Lena, weren't you out cold? How come you're up and about so quickly?"

Flushing with embarrassment, Lena sat up, trying to project calm. "I just snapped awake, is that a problem? What about you, with that needle in your hand? You're not planning on doing me harm, are you?"

"Is it I who wishes to harm you, or you who wishes to harm me?" Josefina advanced step by step to the bedside, her clear eyes locked onto Lena, sending a shiver down her spine.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"I'm well aware of your intentions to mess with me," Josefina continued.

Lena, rooted to the bed, met Josefina's gaze, aware that the machinations they were entangled in were of Josefina's doing.

Lena had plotted against Josefina, only to be outplayed in turn. If she hadn't passed out so quickly, who knows how things might have ended.

Taking a deep breath, Lena steadied herself, her voice gaining strength. "I don't know what you're implying, Josefina. I haven't done anything to you, so stop spouting nonsense."

"Really? Were those five guys not your doing?" Josefina inquired with a smile.

Lena would never confess, but Josefina's words caused her heart to skip a beat.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Josefina. If you keep making up stories, we're going to have a problem." Lena snapped, her fury propelling her off the bed to stand by the door.

Lena glanced at her, her voice trembling with a sense of hurt as she burst into tears. "Josie, why would you think so poorly of me? I..."

Before Lena could weave a tale of her inner torment, she heard Josefina cry out in distress. Josefina swiftly moved closer, sitting at Lena's feet, looking up pitifully. "Lena, how can you speak of me this way? I am the biological daughter of the Harrison family, but I've only just returned. How can you treat me this way?"

Hattie stood at the doorway and saw Josefina sitting pitifully on the ground, her eyes filled with tears, looking as miserable as could be.

Lena was taken aback. Josefina had stolen her lines in the blink of an eye.

Hattie rushed in, helping Josefina to her feet with concern. "Josie, are you alright? Let me have a look."

Josefina, with her reddened eyes, looked so pitiable that Hattie's heart was torn in agony.

"Josie, what happened? If you're not feeling well, you must tell me. You can't just tough it out," Hattie implored, frantic with worry.

Lena was left speechless. Her own pitiful expression paled in comparison to Josefina's, failing to elicit the same sympathy. "Mom, I've no clue what's gotten into her, She just plopped down next to me and gave me quite the scare." en.s.net

Hattie glanced at Lena, then back at the fragile Josefina. How could she choose?

But the choice was clear. Josefina looked like she had been hurt.

"Lena, I'm going to take your sister out for a bit. You stay here and rest."

As Hattie and Josefina left the room, Josefina turned back with a mischievous arch of her brow, her playful demeanor in stark contrast to her previous display of vulnerability. Lena bit her lip in frustration, feeling on the verge of madness. Lena had never expected Josefina to have a deceitful side.

Hattie accompanied Josefina to her

room. "Josie, did Lena say

something to upset you? That child

has been spoiled since day one, a bit headstrong and proud. Oh dear, maybe it's our fault." en.s.net

Hattie sighed, recalling how after three sons, she had doted on her only daughter - only to learn later that she wasn't her biological child. The bitterness of that revelation left Hattie feeling particularly desolate. en.swñovels.net

"You shouldn't blame yourself. It's not your fault."

Studying Josefina's delicate features, Hattie was reassured. This was her daughter.