Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Chapter 61

Lena was the green-eyed monster personified, her features twisted with envy, eyes flickering with malice. Her friend Sylvie gave her arm a playful slap. "Lena, what are you staring at?"

Lena turned, her voice laden with a mix of disappointment and self-pity. "I saw my sister with Oliver. He... he seems to really like her."

"Ugh, that adopted girl again? She's such a pain. Haven't you and Oliver known each other forever, with a little spark between you? How dare she swoop in like this. I mean, love doesn't work on a first-come, first-served basis, but still, her audacity is just shameless."

Lena felt like Sylvie's righteousness was a subtle dig at her.

"Lena, you should talk to your folks. She's just an adopted girl. You don’t have to be so nice to her? It's already more than generous to give her a life of luxury. What more does she want?" © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Lena suddenly regretted having said that to Sylvie.

"Sylvie, my parents are quite fond of her. It wouldn't be right for me to speak ill. As long as she treats Oliver well, I can tolerate it." Lena relied on the fact that the Harrison family wouldn't go public about Josefina's status and spoke without restraint.

Sylvie scoffed. "Hmmph, like we would include her in our circle. Even if she's playing the Harrison family's darling now, she's got no real talent. Oliver will see through her eventually."

Lena nodded, smiling and linking arms with Sylvie as they walked on. "Sylvie, let's go grab some lunch, shall we?"

"Sounds good."

As the two dined together, Lena's thoughts were elsewhere. She had hoped that Billy's little family would succeed, yet to her dismay, not one of them proved competent, leaving her exasperated.

...

Ruby returned home, seething as she recounted to Lauren how Josefina had stolen her fiancé.

Lauren was taken aback. She never imagined that after being cast out, Josefina would turn against them. "Well, that's just great. I raise a viper in my own home! I help her find her biological parents, and this is how she repays me."

"Mom, the man standing up for Josefina today looked loaded. She's got a knack for finding powerful men, one after another."

Without a second thought, Lauren agreed. "That Josefina's nothing but a gold-digger, what a disgrace! My dear Ruby, she's no match for you."

The mother-daughter duo plotted their next move, seeking Billy's counsel only to be met with his ire. "Stop causing me trouble! The company is finally on track. If you provoke Josefina and she has any dirt on us, do you realize what legal hell we could be in?"

Yet, Lauren was undeterred by his warning. "Never mind your father. I'll handle your marriage arrangements."

Ruby hugged Lauren's arm, her spirits lifted. "Thanks, Mom."

...

Josefina sat across from Oliver in a cozy café. She slid the check back to him. "Oliver, what's with the grand gestures? What are you up to?"

Even without Oliver's intervention, she was confident she could have handled the situation.

Oliver's handsome features warmed with a smile. "Isn't my intention obvious?"

Josefina?

"What do you mean, exactly?"

"I'm courting you."

Josefina gazed at Oliver in disbelief, scrutinizing him. The man had a rugged, enticing aura, but his eyes were surprisingly tender?

She stood up, her tone brimming with annoyance. "If you think I'm different from the women you've met before and you want to play games, I suggest you drop that idea. Consider this a friendly warning!" With that, Josefina turned on her heel and left.

Oliver was confused. He rose to follow her, but his phone rang, halting him. It was his grandfather calling.